Darwins Theory: REVIEW.

1. Organisms differ; variation is inherited

2. Organisms produce more offspring than
survive
3. Organisms compete for resources
4. Organisms with advantages survive to pass
those advantages to their children
5. Species alive today are descended with
modifications from common ancestors

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 Evidence for Evolution
1. The Fossil Record: These imprints allow
scientists to see an entire evolutionary
history, including in between fossils.

2. Homologous Body Structures: Why else

use the same skeletal plan for very different
appendages?

3. Similarities in Embroyology: During the

very early stages of life (in the womb), many
organisms go through similar stages of
development.

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 Darwin &
Evolution by
Natural Selection

Cactus
eater

Insect eaters
Seed eaters

Bud eater
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 Charles Darwin
Proposed a way how
evolution works
How did creatures
change over time?
by natural selection
Collected a lot of
evidence to support
his ideas
1809-1882
British naturalist

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 Voyage of the HMS Beagle
Invited to travel around the world
1831-1836 (22 years old!)
makes many observations of nature

main mission of the Beagle was to chart

South American coastline

Robert Fitzroy

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 Voyage of the HMS Beagle
Stopped in Galapagos Islands
500 miles off coast of Ecuador

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 Galapagos
Recently formed volcanic
islands. Most of animals on
the Galpagos live nowhere
else in world, but they look
like species living on South
American mainland.

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 Darwin foundmany unique species

Many of Darwins observations made

him wonder Why?

Darwin asked:
Why were these creatures found only
on the Galapagos Islands?
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 Darwin foundclues in the fossils
Darwin found:
Evidence that creatures
have changed over time

present day Armadillos

Darwin asked:
Why should extinct
armadillos & modern
armadillos be found on
ancient Armadillo
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 Darwin found more fossils
Darwin found:
Evidence that creatures
have changed over time
present day Sloth
(extinct) Giant ground sloth

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 Darwin found:
Different shells on tortoises on different islands

Darwin asked:
Is there a relationship
between the environment
& what an animal
looks like?

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 Darwin found birds
Darwin found:
Many different birds
on the Galapagos
Islands.

He thought he found Finch? QuickTime and a

Photo - JPEG decompressor
Sparrow?

very different kinds are needed to see this picture.

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 But Darwin found a lot of finches
Darwin was amazed to
find out:
All 14 species of birds
were finches
But there is only one
species of finch on the Large ground
Finch?
Finch? Small ground
Sparrow?
Sparrow?
QuickTime and a
finch arePhoto - JPEG decompressor finch
mainland! Darwin asked:
needed to see this picture.

If the Galapagos
finches came from the
mainland, why are they
so different now?
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Woodpecker?
Woodpecker? Tree finch
Warbler?
Warbler?
 The finches cinched it!
different beaks are
Darwin found: inherited variations
The differences serve as adaptations
between species of
that help birds said:
Darwin compete
finches were
for food
associated with the Ahaaaa!
these birds survive &
different food they Big
Large
seed Aeater
Finch?flock of South
ground Small
Small seed
ground
Sparrow? eater
ate. reproduce QuickTime and a
American finches
finch finch
Photo - JPEG decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
pass on the genes for
were stranded on the
those more fit beaks
Galapagos
over time nature selected
for different species with
different beaks
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Insect eater
finch
Woodpecker? Leaf
Tree
& bud
finch
Warbler? eater
Relationship between species (beaks) & food

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 Darwins finches
Darwins conclusions
variations in beaks
differences in beaks in the original flock
adaptations to foods available on islands
natural selection for most fit
over many generations, the finches were
selected for specific beaks & behaviors
offspring inherit successful traits
accumulation of winning traits:
both beaks & behaviors
separate into different species
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 From 1 species to 14 species
Warbler finch Cactus finch

Woodpecker finch Sharp-beaked finch

Small Small
insectivorous ground
tree finch finch
Large Cactus
insectivorous eater Medium
tree finch ground
Insect eaters finch
Seed eaters Large
Vegetarian ground
tree finch Bud eater finch

natural selection for best

variation
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 Earlier ideas on Evolution
LaMarck
evolution by acquired
traits
creatures developed
traits during their lifetime
give those traits to their
offspring
example
in reaching higher
leaves giraffes stretch
their necks & give the
acquired longer neck to
offspring
not accepted as valid
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 Darwins view of Evolution
Darwin
giraffes that already
have long necks
survive better
leave more offspring
who inherit their long
necks
variation
selection &
survival
reproduction &
inheritance of
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 Now lets review!

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 Review Questions:
Natural selection can best be defined
as the _____.

a. elimination of the smallest organisms by the

biggest organisms
b. survival of the biggest and strongest organisms in
a population
c. survival and reproduction of the organisms that are
genetically best adapted to the environment
d. survival and reproduction of the organisms that
occupy the largest area

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 What type of adaptation is shown in the
picture?

a. homologous structure
b. artificial selection
c. camouflage
d. mimicry

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 How is natural selection in the evolution of long
necks in giraffes best explained?

A Shorter-necked giraffes were killed by long-

necked giraffes.
B Giraffe necks grew longer because of the bone
structure of the animals.
C Giraffes with longer necks survived because
they were better suited to the environment.
D Long-necked giraffes mated only with other
long-necked giraffes.

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 The diagram below shows a geologic
cross section. Which rock layer most
likely contains fossils of the most
recently evolved organisms?
A1
B 2

C 3

D 4

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 Which of the following explains why natural
selection acts on the phenotype of an organism
instead of its genotype?
A- Phenotypes directly influence the interaction of
an organism with its environment.
B- Genotypes do not change except by the
process of transcription.
C- Genotypes change in direct response to habitat
changes.
D- Phenotypes can be inherited by offspring.

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 Rainfall in a tropical region is below average for 10
consecutive years. Insect species adapted for dry
conditions are much more plentiful at the end of the 10
years. Which of the following statements best explains the
increase in the population of these insects?
A- Biodiversity in the region has increased due to the
dry conditions.
B- Insects with a high tolerance for dry conditions
have migrated out of the region.
C- Natural selection has favored insect species with
a high tolerance for dry conditions.
D- Natural selection has selected against insect
species that are adapted for dry conditions.

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 The structures shown here are _______.
a. analogous
b. homologous
c. vestigial
d. heterologous

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 Which of the following is a source of
genetic variation within a species?
A- cloning
B- mutation
C- selective breeding
D- natural selection

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 Skeletal structures are common
between two animals of different
species. These structures probably
exist because both species
A- have a common food source.
B- live in the same environment.
C- have survived until the present time.
D- are related to a common ancestor.

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 The diet of white-tailed deer consists primarily of
shrubs. Sika are another species of deer that eat both
grasses and shrubs. After an extended drought period,
why might the sika population be favored over the
white-tailed deer population?

A- Sika require less food than do the white-tailed deer.

B- Sika require more water than do the white-tailed deer.
C- Sika have more food sources than do the white-tailed
deer.
D- Sika have fewer food sources than do the white-tailed
deer.

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 Darwin gathered his early evidence of
evolution from __________ and especially
noticed the remarkable differences in
___________.

A- Galapagos Islands; Monkeys

B- Galapagos Islands; Finches
C- Galapagos Islands; Fish
D- Hawaiian Islands; Fish

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