Which statement best explains why the Hawaiian silverswords underwent an adaptive radiation and the mainland tarweeds did not?
A) The ancestors of the silverswords had more ecological opportunities.
B) There were fewer trees in the areas in which the ancestors of the tarweeds settled.
C) Silverswords had a more behaviorally complex mating system, so there were more opportunities for the evolution of prezygotic reproductive isolation.
D) Stabilizing selection prevented the evolution of reproductive isolation in tarweeds.
E) Tarweeds exploited the "tree" way of life.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ancestors of the silverswords had more ecological opportunities, meaning they had a greater range of habitats and resources available to them. This allowed for the evolution of different adaptations and traits within the species, leading to the adaptive radiation. In contrast, the mainland tarweeds were limited in their ecological opportunities, likely due to competition from other plants and the lack of available habitats, which hindered the evolution of different adaptations and prevented adaptive radiation.

Which Statement Best Explains Why the Hawaiian Silverswords Underwent an Adaptive