Which evolutionary mechanism is involved in creating new species from a common ancestor?

Adaptive radiation is the evolutionary mechanism that leads to the emergence of new species from a common ancestor. This process occurs when a species encounters a variety of environments and ecological niches, allowing different populations to adapt to those specific conditions. As these populations diverge over time, they undergo changes in traits and behaviors that enable them to thrive in their unique environments. This divergence is often accelerated by factors such as competition for resources and variation in habitat availability.

A classic example of adaptive radiation can be observed in the Galápagos finches, where a single ancestral finch species diversified into multiple species with different beak shapes and sizes, each suited for different food sources found on the various islands. This exemplifies how new species can arise from common ancestry in response to differing environmental challenges and opportunities.

In contrast, mutation introduces new genetic variations, natural selection acts on these variations to favor certain traits, and gene flow involves the exchange of genes between populations. While these mechanisms play important roles in evolution, adaptive radiation specifically highlights the process of diversification that leads to the formation of new species from common ancestors.