Mammalian diversity dropped at the K-Pg boundary but then rapidly increased afterward. Which best explains this rebound?
- A
Sympatric speciation alone created the increase
- Bcheck_circle
Adaptive radiation into niches vacated by non-avian dinosaurs
- C
All extant mammals derived from a single founder
- D
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium maintained mammal diversity
Explanation
The K-Pg extinction eliminated non-avian dinosaurs and freed many ecological niches. Mammals diversified rapidly to occupy them, an example of post-extinction adaptive radiation.