In 1831, Darwin began a 5 year voyage on the HMS Beagle beginning in England and surveying the coast of South America. He
studied nature, fossils, collected several
species to be investigated back on land. On the voyage, Darwin read Lyell's 'Principles of Geology' which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. Darwin reinforced Lyell's idea in his own mind by discovering the rich variety of animal life and the geological features he saw during his voyage. The breakthrough in his ideas came in the Galapagos Islands, 500 miles west of South America. Darwin noticed that
each island supported its own form of finch which were closely related but
differed in important ways.
studied nature, fossils, collected several
species to be investigated back on land. On the voyage, Darwin read Lyell's 'Principles of Geology' which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. Darwin reinforced Lyell's idea in his own mind by discovering the rich variety of animal life and the geological features he saw during his voyage. The breakthrough in his ideas came in the Galapagos Islands, 500 miles west of South America. Darwin noticed that
each island supported its own form of finch which were closely related but
differed in important ways.
Gallapogos Finch's
On his visit to the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin discovered several species of finches that varied from island to island, which helped him to develop his theory of natural selection.
The Galapogos finches might be the most recognizable image when it comes to Darwin's theory of Evolution. While on his voyage, Darwin collected what he thought to be many different types of species of birds and sent them back to London to be examined. What the scientists discovered was that Darwin had actually collected several different species of finches and not different species of birds. These species varied in a few ways but mainly in the size and shape of their beaks.
Darwin noticed that these differences made the finches better adapted to take
advantage of the food in their particular local environment - thin, sharp beaks
prevailing where the birds' main food was insects and grubs, and large
claw-shaped beaks where their diet was buds, fruit and nuts. In each locality
the finch population had somehow developed beaks which were suitable for that particular environment. When weqfqwef
Below is an activity that you can do with your class to give a kinestheric example of Darwin's Finches.
On his visit to the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin discovered several species of finches that varied from island to island, which helped him to develop his theory of natural selection.
The Galapogos finches might be the most recognizable image when it comes to Darwin's theory of Evolution. While on his voyage, Darwin collected what he thought to be many different types of species of birds and sent them back to London to be examined. What the scientists discovered was that Darwin had actually collected several different species of finches and not different species of birds. These species varied in a few ways but mainly in the size and shape of their beaks.
Darwin noticed that these differences made the finches better adapted to take
advantage of the food in their particular local environment - thin, sharp beaks
prevailing where the birds' main food was insects and grubs, and large
claw-shaped beaks where their diet was buds, fruit and nuts. In each locality
the finch population had somehow developed beaks which were suitable for that particular environment. When weqfqwef
Below is an activity that you can do with your class to give a kinestheric example of Darwin's Finches.
Throughout Darwin's journey, he also uncovered many fossils of the past that could easily be compared to creatures of his time. Amongst his discoveries were the remains of the gylptodon, a creature that existed over 10,000 years ago. The remains were studied and were so closely to compared to the modern day Armadillo. ( See figure to the left) Similarily, Darwin discoverd the remains of a gigantic sloth like creature, the Megatherium. He noticed that both sets of animals, both the modern and the extinct, shared very similar distribution patterns across South American as well.
Darwin began to ask himself a few simply questions which led to his further discoveries. He asked himself.
Why continents separated by large distances would have entirely
different species occupying similar niches?
Did a species transport lands and reproduce to create similar species?
Darwin began to ask himself a few simply questions which led to his further discoveries. He asked himself.
Why continents separated by large distances would have entirely
different species occupying similar niches?
Did a species transport lands and reproduce to create similar species?