What does evolutionary convergence involve?

Evolutionary convergence, often referred to as convergent evolution, describes a phenomenon where unrelated species develop similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures or challenges. This occurs despite these species having different evolutionary ancestries. The key aspect of convergence is that the similarities arise independently; they are not inherited from a common ancestor but instead represent a parallel response to similar ecological niches or challenges.

In the context of the given options, the choice regarding the development of a common set of characters in groups of different ancestry aptly captures this essence of convergence. For example, both dolphins and sharks have streamlined bodies which enable them to move efficiently through water, yet they stem from distinct evolutionary paths—mammals and fish, respectively. This illustrates how similar environmental adaptations can emerge in unrelated organisms due to shared selective pressures.

The other options speak to different concepts in evolutionary biology. For instance, while similar adaptations among unrelated species does closely relate to convergence, the phrasing of "similar adaptations" is more vague and doesn't fully encapsulate the idea of developing those characteristics independently. The idea of divergent evolution pertains to related species evolving different traits as they adapt to various environments, which is a different mechanism altogether. Finally, changes in gene frequencies within a population pertain more to the process