The Amazing Evolution of Cichlid Fish in Lake Victoria

How did the great diversity of cichlid fish evolve in Lake Victoria?

What is the hypothesized process by which the great diversity of cichlid fish evolved in Lake Victoria?

Answer:

The hypothesized process by which the great diversity of cichlid fish evolved in Lake Victoria is adaptive radiation.

The cichlid fish in Lake Victoria underwent rapid speciation, with at least 300 species arising in less than 15,000 years. Adaptive radiation is believed to have been the driving force behind this diversification. The cichlids that colonized Lake Victoria were able to take advantage of the many niches available due to the diverse environments present in the lake and rapidly adapt to them.

Adaptive radiation is a process of diversification that occurs when a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into multiple species that have adapted to different ecological niches within a particular environment. It is hypothesized that adaptive radiation of cichlids in Lake Victoria was driven by environmental changes such as the lake's filling and changes in water chemistry.

This incredible process showcases the amazing adaptability and evolution of cichlid fish in Lake Victoria, leading to the creation of such a diverse array of species in a relatively short period of time.