adaptive radiation
Noun
Meaning
the development of many different forms from an originally homogeneous group of organisms as they fill different ecological niches
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
An exceptional example of adaptive radiation would be the avian species of the Hawaiian honeycreepers.
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are a large, highly diverse species which have been part of a vast adaptive radiation, that began as the Hawaiian Islands started to form.
It has been observed by many evolutionary biologists that fragmented landscapes oftentimes are a prime location for adaptive radiation to occur.
However, more research is needed, especially to fully understand the many factors affecting adaptive radiation.
Other factors play a role in what sort of adaptive radiation will develop.
The climatic changes of the late Jurassic and Cretaceous provided for further adaptive radiation.