Adaptive radiation often occurs after a mass extinction. If you were examining fossil beds and found evidence of the rapid appearance of new species in an apparent adaptive radiation event, could you conclude that a mass extinction had occurred?
A. Yes because the presence of adaptive radiation means that there must have been newly vacated niches to fill.
B. Yes because the appearance of new species always means that adaptive radiation has occurred, and no further data is needed to answer that particular question.
C. No because speciation and adaptive radiation can occur for other reasons, such as substantial environmental changes; you would need to examine earlier fossils to know more.
D. No because there is not enough evidence to know whether speciation occurred.
1 answer
C. No because speciation and adaptive radiation can occur for other reasons, such as substantial environmental changes; you would need to examine earlier fossils to know more.