When Charles Darwin stepped ashore on the Galapagos Islands in September 1835, it was the start of five weeks that would change the world of science, although he did not know it at the time. Among other finds, he observed and collected the variety of small birds that inhabited the islands, but he did not realize their significance, and failed to keep good records of his specimens and where they were collected. It was not until he was back in London, puzzling over the birds, that the realization that they were all different, but closely related, species of finch led him toward formulating the principle of natural selection. Most recently, Peter and Rosemary Grant have spent many years in the Galapagos, seeing changing climatic conditions from year to year dramatically altering the food supply. As a result, certain of the finches have lived or died depending on which species' beak structure was best adapted for the most abundant food -- just as Darwin would have predicted. Page 2Adaptive Radiation: Darwin's Finches
In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Biology (MindTap Course List) ISBN:9781337392938 Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg Publisher:Cengage Learning |