Meaning & use
adaptive radiation
The rapid evolution of many new species from a single ancestor, each adapted to a different environment.
See it in a sentence
Darwin's finches are a classic example of adaptive radiation on the Galapagos Islands.
Scientists studied adaptive radiation in cichlid fish across the lakes of East Africa.
A note on using this word
Adaptive radiation typically follows access to a new habitat with little competition, allowing many niches to be filled quickly.
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