Evolutionary process, giving rise to new species adapted to new habitats and ways of life, is called as adaptive radiation, for example

Options

A. Darwin's Finches in Galapagos islands
B. Australian maruspials that radiated to form new species
C. Wolf and Tasmanian Wolf
D. Both (1) & (2)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Adaptive Radiation:**
- Adaptive radiation is an evolutionary process where organisms diversify rapidly into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments and lifestyles. This often occurs when a species colonizes a new habitat with varied ecological niches.

2. **Common Ancestor:**
- Species that undergo adaptive radiation typically share a common ancestor. Over time, as they adapt to different habitats and food sources, they evolve into distinct species.

3. **Examples of Adaptive Radiation:**
- **Darwin's Finches:** One of the most famous examples of adaptive radiation is seen in Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands. These birds evolved from a common ancestor and adapted to different food sources available on the islands, resulting in variations in beak shapes and sizes.
- **Australian Marsupials:** Another example is the adaptive radiation of marsupials in Australia. They evolved into various species, such as kangaroos, koalas, and Tasmanian devils, each adapted to different ecological niches within the continent.

4. **Evaluating the Options:**
- **Option 1: Darwin's Finches in Galapagos Islands** - This is a correct example of adaptive radiation.
- **Option 2: Australian Marsupials** - This is also a correct example of adaptive radiation.
- **Option 3: Wolf and Tasmanian Wolf** - This is incorrect because wolves are placental mammals and Tasmanian wolves (thylacines) are marsupials, which do not share a common adaptive radiation lineage.
- **Conclusion:** The correct answer is **Option 4: Both 1 and 2**.