Final answer:
During the Miocene epoch, apes radiated through adaptive radiation, influenced by changes in habitat, climate, and available food sources. This led to the diversification of ape species, such as Proconsul and Sivapithecus, which adapted to different ecological niches.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Miocene epoch, apes radiated through a process known as adaptive radiation. This refers to the diversification of a group of organisms into different species, each adapted to a specific niche or environment. Factors that influenced the diversification of ape species during this time period include changes in habitat, climate, and available food sources. These factors created new opportunities for apes to evolve and occupy different ecological niches. For example, as forests expanded, apes adapted to living in trees by developing long, grasping arms and flexible shoulder joints, while some species adapted to a semi-terrestrial lifestyle. The radiation of apes in the Miocene epoch led to the emergence of various ape species, including Proconsul and Sivapithecus, which exhibited different anatomical features and occupied different habitats.