3.4 Evolution - The Evidence - What is the evidence that supports the theory of evolution by natural selection?
How do Darwin’s Finches support the theory of evolution by natural selection?
The Darwin Wallace theory of evolution by natural selection theorizes that species change/adapt over the period of many generations to adapt to the environment they are living in. These adaptations include both physiological and behavioural. The steps of evolution by natural selection include;
More offspring are born than can survive and of these offspring natural variations are present
Those with a variation that is favourable to the environment will survive by natural selection and have offspring
The offspring will inherit these favourable features
The …show more content…
This group of fourteen finch species (Source 2) all diverged from a common ancestor of finch that was most likely from the mainland.
Some of the population became trapped on different islands far apart and adapted to their new environments with features that now catered for that. For example different sized and shaped beaks that suited what food sources they have readily available to them on the island. Due to the isolation they have become their own species now unable to interbreed due to allopatric speciation.
Darwin’s Finches can also rapidly adapt the size and shape of their beaks to cater for the wet and or dry conditions that cause a variation from the normal supply of food available. This variation in food is caused by the climatic conditions of El Nino and La Nina, which is the warming and or cooling of the pacific ocean which causes variation from the natural mean rainfall, either causing excessive amounts of rainfall or extremely dry …show more content…
Certhidea Olivacea has a smaller and thinner beak than Geospiza Magnirostris which has a thicker and wider beak respectively. These differences are due to their contrasting diets, for example the Certhidea Olivacea’s beak allows for a diet of small insects while the Geospiza Magnirostris’ beak allows for a diet of grains, arthropods, fruits and seeds that other finches are unable to consume as they are big and
How do Darwin’s Finches support the theory of evolution by natural selection?
The Darwin Wallace theory of evolution by natural selection theorizes that species change/adapt over the period of many generations to adapt to the environment they are living in. These adaptations include both physiological and behavioural. The steps of evolution by natural selection include;
More offspring are born than can survive and of these offspring natural variations are present
Those with a variation that is favourable to the environment will survive by natural selection and have offspring
The offspring will inherit these favourable features
The …show more content…
This group of fourteen finch species (Source 2) all diverged from a common ancestor of finch that was most likely from the mainland.
Some of the population became trapped on different islands far apart and adapted to their new environments with features that now catered for that. For example different sized and shaped beaks that suited what food sources they have readily available to them on the island. Due to the isolation they have become their own species now unable to interbreed due to allopatric speciation.
Darwin’s Finches can also rapidly adapt the size and shape of their beaks to cater for the wet and or dry conditions that cause a variation from the normal supply of food available. This variation in food is caused by the climatic conditions of El Nino and La Nina, which is the warming and or cooling of the pacific ocean which causes variation from the natural mean rainfall, either causing excessive amounts of rainfall or extremely dry …show more content…
Certhidea Olivacea has a smaller and thinner beak than Geospiza Magnirostris which has a thicker and wider beak respectively. These differences are due to their contrasting diets, for example the Certhidea Olivacea’s beak allows for a diet of small insects while the Geospiza Magnirostris’ beak allows for a diet of grains, arthropods, fruits and seeds that other finches are unable to consume as they are big and