Organisms require food resources to obtain energy for survival and reproduction. From the food they consume, organisms acquire the energy necessary for metabolic processes such as respiration, growth and reproduction. Some organisms have the ability to obtain food resources better than others. The amount of food availability in a specific habitat is limited, so organisms that are unable to obtain food resources will most likely go to an empty niche to obtain their food resources. Since there is no competition and there are many unfilled niches, organisms that are not adapted to these niches can exploit them. Organisms that are able to adapt to these new niches will eventually develop mutations that will help them exploit these niches and give them a great advantage over other organisms. Individual species that are able to adapt to a new environment have a better chance of surviving because there is less competition and more resources are available. So organisms such as animals and plants rely on the adaptive radiation mechanism to ensure they survive and pass on their genes to their offspring. Adaptive radiation occurs when an organism evolves into a new form due to change in its habitat or environment. Adaptive radiation also increases diversity in each lineage. An example of adaptive radiation is Darwin's finches. In 1830 Charles Darwin, naturalist and geologist, left on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. He observed 13 species of finches on this island, each occupying a different niche on different islands. After observing this, he wanted to understand why this happens. Charles Darwin observed and collected small birds inhibiting the islands and also kept a record of where he got the species from... middle of the paper... and passed their genes on to his offspring. Adaptive radiation is the processes in which species rapidly evolve to exploit empty spaces. They form in many ways, one of which is that when there is an open niche an organism moves there and adapts to the environment. Another way is when an organism lives in a habitat where it is outcompeted by other organisms for food resources, it is forced to move and go to a different habitat. These organisms will adapt to the new habitat and survive because there is less competition for food resources. Another way is through a storm, where a storm moves organisms from their natural environment into a new environment and these organisms adapt to survive in the new habitat. The main goal of the organism is to survive and pass on its genes to its offspring. Adaptive radiation is a key process that increases their reproductive success.