What evolutionary concept explains when unrelated aquatic groups independently evolve similar traits?
Answer
Convergent evolution
Evolutionary studies, especially when examining disparate aquatic groups, frequently encounter instances where unrelated species develop similar physical traits or solutions to similar environmental challenges, such as a streamlined body shape in fast currents. This phenomenon, where independent lineages arrive at analogous structures without sharing recent ancestry for that specific trait, is precisely defined as convergent evolution. Molecular techniques help distinguish these acquired similarities from traits inherited from a true common ancestor.
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