On two small islands in the Galapagos, each island has a different species of finches, but these two species are descendants of the same common ancestor. The finches on one island have large beaks and feed mostly on large seeds that are abundant on that island. The finches on the other island have small beaks and feed mostly on small seeds that are abundant on that island. Use Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection to explain how these two species evolved from that common ancestor.
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Initially, there was a common ancestor of finches that lived on a single island. This species of finches had a variety of beak sizes due to genetic variation. Show more…
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According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, how are the finches that live on the Galapagos Islands similar to members of a family tree? All of the finches share similar traits. All of the finches share common ancestors. All of the finches are able to reproduce. All of the finches are adapted to survive the same conditions.
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The Galápagos Islands are volcanic islands formed more than a million years ago. The finches that inhabit the islands differ from those living on the mainland. The island finches vary from island to island, but aside from beak shape, these birds look almost identical. Finches are the only diverse group of land birds found on the islands. Each species of finch has a different beak shape. Some have woodpecker-like beaks and feed on insects beneath the bark of trees, and some have beaks similar to sparrows' beaks and eat small seeds. The finches are all nonmigratory and have a very short flying range. The nearest mainland is South America, which is located about 600 miles east of the islands. Refer to the information above. Finch fossils from lower areas of the islands could be more alike than the present finches on these islands. Agrees with evolution theory, but there is no evidence to support it. Refer to the information above. The gene pool of the parrot-finch species is different from the gene pool of the woodpecker-finch species. The statement Refer to the information above. The finches have become less diversified over the years because they participate in nonrandom mating. The statement
Sri K.
Darwin's finches are a noteworthy case study of evolution by natural selection because evidence suggests. a. they are descendants of many different species that colonized the Galápagos. b. they radiated from a single species that colonized the Galápagos. c. they are more closely related to mainland species than to one another. d. None of the choices is correct.
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