Question

Describe what is meant by adaptive radiation in terms of chordate evolution and then explain how the development of the jaw in fishes is an example of this.

Answer 1

Ans - Adaptive radiation is basically a process in which organisms are found to be diversified from an ancestral species into various multiple new forms , specially when there is change in environment which makes new resources available along with new challenges.

Adaptive radiation in terms of chordate means emergence of different group of organisms from an ancestral form in various different forms which then become adaptive to those various environments.

Development of jaw in fishes is an example of adaptive radiation as differences in pharyngeal jaw expression was observed between different groups of Midas cichlids .The reason for these differences was found to be diet's mechanical resistance.