Questions: Marsupials, such as kangaroos, koalas, and wombats, are mammals that care for their newborn young in a pouch. All marsupials that are found in Australia are thought to have evolved from a single species that migrated to the island and then adapted to the various niches. What does this example illustrate? behavioral adaptation adaptive radiation geographic isolation population explosion Mark this and return Save and Exit Next Submit

The answer is the second one: adaptive radiation.

Explanation for each option:

1. Behavioral adaptation: This refers to changes in the behavior of an organism that help it survive in its environment. While marsupials may exhibit behavioral adaptations, the question is about the evolution of different species from a common ancestor, which is not primarily about behavior.

2. Adaptive radiation: This is the process by which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a variety of new forms that occupy different ecological niches. The example given in the question, where marsupials in Australia evolved from a single species into various forms like kangaroos, koalas, and wombats, is a classic case of adaptive radiation.

3. Geographic isolation: This occurs when a population is physically separated from others, leading to speciation. While geographic isolation might have played a role in the initial separation of the ancestral marsupial species, the question focuses on the diversification into different species, which is more about adaptive radiation.

4. Population explosion: This term refers to a rapid increase in the population size of a species. The question is about the evolution and diversification of species, not about a sudden increase in population numbers.

In summary, the example illustrates adaptive radiation, where a single species evolves into multiple species that adapt to different ecological niches.