Adaptive radiation: Contrasting recent theory with data

Background/Question/Methods Biologists have long been fascinated by the exceptionally high diversity displayed by some
evolutionary groups. Adaptive radiation in such clades is not only spectacular, but is also an
extremely complex process influenced by a variety of ecological, genetic, and developmental
factors and strongly dependent on historical contingencies. Using modeling approaches, we
identify a number of general patterns concerning the temporal, spatial, and genetic/morphological
properties of adaptive radiation.

Results/Conclusions Some of these are strongly supported by empirical work, whereas
for others, empirical support is more tentative. In almost all cases, more data are needed. Future
progress in our understanding of adaptive radiation will be most successful if theoretical and
empirical approaches are integrated, as has happened in other areas of evolutionary biology.