Asked by paisley
A museum exhibit explains that the fossil record shows mass extinction events followed by periods of rapid diversification. What does this pattern reveal about life's response to environmental catastrophes?
Question 3 options:
Mass extinctions permanently reduce biodiversity with no recovery possible
Mass extinctions only affect large animals, never plants or microscopic organisms
Major environmental changes eliminate many species but create opportunities for survivors to diversify
Environmental catastrophes strengthen existing species but prevent new ones from evolving
All Answers 1
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Correct answer:
Major environmental changes eliminate many species but create opportunities for survivors to diversify.
Brief explanation: mass extinctions remove many competitors and free up ecological niches and resources. Surviving lineages then undergo adaptive radiation, evolving into new forms and filling those vacant niches (e.g., mammals diversifying after the dinosaurs’ extinction). The other choices are incorrect because biodiversity often recovers over time, extinctions affect a broad range of organisms (not just large animals), and catastrophes do not generally prevent evolution of new species.
Major environmental changes eliminate many species but create opportunities for survivors to diversify.
Brief explanation: mass extinctions remove many competitors and free up ecological niches and resources. Surviving lineages then undergo adaptive radiation, evolving into new forms and filling those vacant niches (e.g., mammals diversifying after the dinosaurs’ extinction). The other choices are incorrect because biodiversity often recovers over time, extinctions affect a broad range of organisms (not just large animals), and catastrophes do not generally prevent evolution of new species.
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