WANI Dictionary

Adaptive radiation

Adaptive radiation is a type of evolution, in which many new species rise from one species.

Adaptive evolution typically happens when a species invades multiple habitats of different environmental conditions and evolves in each habitat.

Definitions in the literature

• the rise of many new species in a relatively short time; may occur when a single species invades different habitats and evolves in response to different environmental conditions in those habitats [1].
• The evolution from one species of animals or plants of a number of different forms. As the original population increases in size it spreads out from its centre of origin to exploit new habitats and food sources [2].