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Botkin Environmental Science Earth as Living Planet 8th txtbk

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8.7 How Geography and Geology Affect Biological Diversity 163<br />

(a)<br />

(b)<br />

(c)<br />

FIGURE 8.17 Joshua Tree of North America and<br />

giant Euphorbia of Africa illustrate convergent evolution.<br />

Given sufficient time and similar climates in different are<strong>as</strong>,<br />

species similar in shape will tend to occur. The Joshua tree<br />

(a) and saguaro cactus (b) of North America look similar to<br />

the giant Euphorbia (c) of E<strong>as</strong>t Africa. But these plants are<br />

not closely related. Their similar shapes result from evolution<br />

under similar climates, a process known <strong>as</strong> convergent<br />

evolution.<br />

(a) (b) (c)<br />

FIGURE 8.18 Divergent evolution. Three large, flightless birds evolved from a common ancestor but<br />

are now found in widely separated regions: (a) the ostrich in Africa, (b) the rhea in South America, and (c)<br />

the emu in Australia.

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