Adaptive radiation is often triggered by what type of changes in the environment?

Adaptive radiation commonly occurs when a species encounters new resources or habitats, allowing for diversification in response to different ecological niches. This type of environmental change provides opportunities for organisms to exploit new food sources, occupy unfilled ecological roles, or adapt to different lifestyles. For example, when a single species colonizes a new area that offers different conditions or resources than its original environment, it can evolve into multiple descendant species that are each specialized for a particular niche.

The introduction of new habitats, such as islands or a newly formed freshwater lake, can lead to the rapid evolution of diverse forms as organisms adapt to the varying conditions and resources available. These newly available niches often lead to the development of distinctive adaptations, promoting speciation. Adaptive radiation is thus largely driven by the availability of diverse ecological opportunities that require organisms to adapt, leading to a blossoming of species diversity within a relatively short evolutionary timeframe.