adaptive radiation
noun
: evolutionary diversification of a generalized ancestral form with production of a number of adaptively specialized forms
Examples of adaptive radiation in a Sentence
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Maritime species outnumbered those on land by six-to-one, and the adaptive radiation that existed on land didn’t exist at depth and had slowed the evolutionary processes, granting biologists like her a glimpse into ancient evolutionary patterns.
—
Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2024
The lizards have spread across the Caribbean through a process called adaptive radiation.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
Such intense diversification is indicative of what biologists call an adaptive radiation, which occurs when many new species rapidly proliferate from an ancestor, changing aspects of their appearance and behavior to take advantage of new environments or opportunities.
—Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022
In my opinion, this shows that the adaptive radiation of birds was under way long before Archaeopteryx, says Feduccia.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2021
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Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2024
The lizards have spread across the Caribbean through a process called adaptive radiation.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
Such intense diversification is indicative of what biologists call an adaptive radiation, which occurs when many new species rapidly proliferate from an ancestor, changing aspects of their appearance and behavior to take advantage of new environments or opportunities.
—Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022
In my opinion, this shows that the adaptive radiation of birds was under way long before Archaeopteryx, says Feduccia.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Adaptive radiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptive%20radiation. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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