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3 Pathways of Evolution
Large-scale evolutionary patterns help to outline the probable evolutionary history of life
on Earth. Patterns that occur on a more local scale can demonstrate how processes of change
among species may have contributed to and been influenced by these large-scale events.
(a) (b)
Figure 1
Although the shark (a) and the Sometimes divergent evolution occurs in rapid succession, or simultaneously, among
dolphin (b) are similar morpho- a number of populations. This process, known as adaptive radiation, results in one
logically, their genetic history species giving rise to three or more species. The best-documented examples are found
differs. The shark is a fish while on remote archipelagos where the first organisms to arrive have a choice of resources and
the dolphin is a mammal.
few or no competitors. Consider, for example, the evolutionary path thought to have
been followed by the ground finches that migrated from South America to the Galapagos
Islands millions of years ago. While living in South America, these finches would have
adaptive radiation process in become ideally adapted for eating medium-size seeds. Finches born with an unusually
which divergent evolution occurs in
small bill might have tried to feed on smaller seeds but would have faced fierce compe-
rapid succession, or simultaneously,
among a number of groups to pro- tition from other birds that fed on small seeds. Similarly, larger-billed ground finches would
duce three or more species or have had to compete with large-seed feeders. For the few finches that first reached the
higher taxa Galapagos Islands, the competition would have been eliminated. Assuming that the
mouse marsupial
mouse
Mouse
mole marsupial
mole
Burrower
flying
squirrel
Glider
flying phalanger
lemur
spotted
cuscus
Climber
anteater
Anteater
numbat
(anteater)
bobcat
Tasmanian
“tiger cat”
Cat
wolf Tasmanian
wolf
Wolf
Figure 2
The marsupials of Australia and the placental mammals in other parts of the world have
undergone convergent evolution resulting in species that appear similar occupying similar
ecological niches.
Kona finch
extinct Kauai akialaoa
Laysan
finch Amakihi
Akiapolaau
Liwi
Coevolution
When two species are completely dependent on one another for survival, their evolu-
tionary pathways become linked. This fascinating pattern, called coevolution, can be coevolution process, sometimes
found, for example, in figs that are dependent on a specific wasp for pollination. Without referred to as reciprocal adaptation,
the wasp, the fig cannot reproduce; in turn, the fig wasp can only reproduce within spe- in which one species evolves in
response to the evolution of
cially modified sterile fig flowers. Highly specialized flower structures have coevolved in another species
the fig alongside unusual behaviour among the wasp pollinators (Figure 4). In a similar
way, leaf-cutter ants have coevolved with a fungus that is their sole food source. The ants
harvest leaves, which they do not eat but bring to underground chambers, where the
leaves nourish the growth of the fungi. The ants cannot survive in the absence of their sym-
biotic fungi; in turn, the fungi are found nowhere else on Earth and, therefore, have
become dependent on cultivation by the ants for their survival. Coevolution is wide-
spread among flowering plants and their pollinators, and among parasites and their hosts.