In what way have mass extinctions catalyzed evolutionary radiation?
A)Mass extinctions wipe out poorly competing species, enabling good competitors to diversify.
B)Mass extinctions eliminate ecologically dominant species, enabling survivors to diversify in environments with few competitors.
C)Mass extinction events cause mutations, increasing the genetic variability of populations.
D)Mass extinction events permanently alter environments, favoring species with novel character combinations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mass extinctions eliminate dominant species, creating ecological niches that surviving species can exploit. This reduction in competition allows these survivors to diversify into new roles and environments, leading to evolutionary radiation.

In What Way Have Mass Extinctions Catalyzed Evolutionary Radiation