What is the term for the development of multiple species from a common ancestor?

The term for the development of multiple species from a common ancestor is adaptive radiation. This occurs when a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments or ecological niches. A classic example is the evolution of the finches on the Galápagos Islands, which evolved from a common ancestor into various species with different beak shapes and sizes suited for distinct food sources.

Natural selection refers to the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring, but it doesn't specifically describe the emergence of diverse species from one ancestor. Punctuated equilibrium is a model that describes the pattern of evolution, suggesting that species experience long periods of stability interrupted by brief episodes of rapid change. A climax community refers to a stable ecological community that has reached a steady state, usually after a process of ecological succession. These terms do not accurately capture the concept of multiple species evolving from a shared ancestor, making adaptive radiation the correct choice.