what is difference between the adaptive radiation and divergent evolution

Adaptive Radiation

• Definition: It is the process by which a single ancestral species rapidly evolves into a variety of species, each adapted to a different environment or ecological niche.
• Cause: Usually occurs when new habitats become available, or after mass extinctions reduce competition.
• Key Feature: Rapid speciation with specialization to different ecological roles.
• Example: Darwin’s finches in the Galápagos Islands – all evolved from a common ancestor but developed different beak shapes for feeding on different types of food.

Divergent Evolution

• Definition: It is the process in which two or more species evolve from a common ancestor, gradually accumulating differences over time.
• Cause: Driven by adaptation to different environments or natural selection.
• Key Feature: Species become more different from each other over time.
• Example: Forelimbs of vertebrates – human arm, whale flipper, and bat wing all share a common structure but have different functions.

Key Difference