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Why do mass extinctions promote rapid evolution of surviving species?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Basically, this question doesn't have any one answer (due to different conditions of previous mass extinctions). But from a broad view, the change in environment (e.g weather, food sources etc) forced species to evolve or disappear. For example, species as large as most dinosaurs could not survive in todays world due to the fact that they would deplete their food source in a short period of time. During the cretaceous period, the climate was far warmer than now, allowing vegetation to flourish, which in turn allowed herbivores to flourish, thus providing food for predators. Change in climate also contributed dramatically, as reptiles (the previous dominant species on the planet) rely on an external heat source and being as large as they were, they needed a lot of it.
Essentially we all evolved from the same place, what you see in species today is the result of trial and error (on a genetic level) over millions of years in order to adapt as efficiently as possible to survive in a volatile and unpredictable world. You even find this in different races around the world who have adapted different skin types, facial features etc to suit the environment in which they have lived over many generations.
So essentially nothing really caused rapid evolution. Everything was in the process of evolving, however the changes which caused mass extinctions just changed the outcome of the end result. As a matter of fact there is a lot of evidence pointing towards the fact that everything still is evolving.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoExtinction events often clear niches out to make way for other species. The species that survive an extinction event will pass on the genes that allowed them to survive onto their offspring, which causes the species to gradually evolve.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoWiki User
∙ 12y agoYes. In the case of the mass dinosaur extinction, mammals came to the forefront and became larger and more numerous.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoAdaptive radiation. So many niches opened up with the mass extinction that you had many varieties coming about from very few varieties to fill all those niches left by the mass extinction.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoAll those ecological niches are now empty, leading to a great adaptive radiation of the surviving species to fill those empty niches. Google mammalian radiation at the end of the Cretaceous.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoOther species could and did rapidly fill spaces that they otherwise were not able to.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agothey killed every one.
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Why do adaptive radiations often occur after mass extinctions?
After a mass extinction event many niches are left empty. New species eventually evolve and fill the niches where competition would otherwise have prevented such evolution.
Why do extinctions occur so rapidly?
Evolution works better when groups of organisms of one species are separated from each other, whether by an ocean, desert or range of mountains. The separate groups evolve in different ways due to differences in environment, food availability or because of the preference of one sex liking or disliking certain traits in potential mate. After a mass extinction the populations left of a single species may be few and widely dispersed. This would enhance the effect on many species of evolution by natural selection.
What is natural selection how does it drive evolution?
Basically, the ones who have the worst adaptions to survive in the environment it lives in, will die, while the ones with the best adaptions will thrive and breed, gradually making the better adaption dominant in the surviving members of the species. This is how you can have different features (say thicker beaks, longer tails, smaller eyes) in different sub-species of the same species - they've evolved for a different environment, and therefore have different adaptions.
What is the key component of evolution?
The key component of evolution is reproduction of the species.
What does a new species form?
Evolution .
How might extinctions affects the evolution of organisms that survive the event?
The role of mass extinction in evolution. At the most basic level, mass extinctions reduce diversity by killing off specific lineages, and with them, any descendent species they might have given rise to. ... But mass extinction can also play a creative role in evolution, stimulating the growth of other branches.
How might extinctions affect the evolution of organisms that survive the event?
The role of mass extinction in evolution. At the most basic level, mass extinctions reduce diversity by killing off specific lineages, and with them, any descendent species they might have given rise to. ... But mass extinction can also play a creative role in evolution, stimulating the growth of other branches.
Why has there been a burst of evolution after each of the great mass extinctions?
After a mass extinction, there are many open niches. The surviving organisms quickly begin to take advantage of the open niches. As they do, they evolve into new forms, better adapted to these new, separate niches. Hence, many new species quickly evolve and fill the void.
How would you use population and evolution in a sentence together?
Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.Through evolution the population of the species was growing.
Where is the greatest number of species extinctions taking place?
The greatest number of species extinctions took place during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. During this event, almost every species on the planet became extinct.
How life on earth has been affected by major catastrophic events?
Major catastrophic events such as asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions have caused mass extinctions in Earth's history, leading to the extinction of numerous species. These events have also shaped the evolution of surviving species and influenced the overall biodiversity on the planet. Additionally, catastrophic events like earthquakes and tsunamis can disrupt ecosystems and human communities, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
How does mass extinction affect surviving species?
Extreme radiation events of the organisms that survive the mass extinctions as they evolve to occupy the niches abandoned by the organisms going extinct.
What are two surviving species of elephants?
The two surviving species of elephants are African and Indian.
How did they get extinctions?
When all of that species of animal dies and there is none left in the world.
A species that has few surviving members is said to be?
A species that has few surviving members is said to be endangered.
Why do plant species need to promote cross-fertilization rather than self-fertilizationWhy do plant species need to promote cross-fertilization rather than self-fertilization?
Cross fertilization leads to genetic variability which helps in the process of better adaptability and evolution
What is a change of a species over time called?
Evolution is a change in species over time.
