Mechanisms for Adaptive Radiations The Carribean islands host -150 species of li
ID: 97529 • Letter: M
Question
Mechanisms for Adaptive Radiations The Carribean islands host -150 species of lizards from the Anolis genus. These lizards have been a classic example of evolution in action for biologists because they have undergone rapid reproductive isolation and speciation on different islands in different ways. The following figure shows two adaptive radiations on two different islands (Hispamola and Jamaica), following colonization events by different types of species (Trunk/crown vs. Twig colonizing species). (a) Species of Anolis vary in leg length and tail length. Some species are ground dwelling: others live in distinct regions of shrubs or trees. (b) The same adaptive radiation of Anolis has occurred on different islands, starting from different types of colonists. 1. Why would a colonization event lead to rapid speciation (adaptive radiation) on these islands? 2. On Jamaica, what term would you give to a clade that included the original colonizing common ancestor, the twig lineage, the trunk/ground lineage, and the Crown lineage? Why?Explanation / Answer
1.colonization event lead to rapid speciation because they have undergone rapid reproductive isolation.
2.colonization of island by lizard living on twigs