| adaptive radiation n. Diversification of a species or single ancestral type into several forms that are each adaptively specialized to a specific environmental niche. |
adaptive radiation
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) evolution of a number of divergent species from a common ancestor, each species becoming adapted to occupy a different environment. This type of evolution occurred in the Tertiary manuals and the Mesozoic reptiles
adaptive radiation ( -d p t v) The evolutionary diversification of a species or single ancestral lineage into various forms that are each adaptively specialized to a specific environmental niche. Adaptive radiation generally proceeds most rapidly in environments where there are numerous unoccupied niches or where competition for resources is minimal. See Note at adaptation. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | adaptive radiation - the development of many different forms from an originally homogeneous group of organisms as they fill different ecological niches radiation - the spread of a group of organisms into new habitats |
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