The Theory of

Evolution

Charles Darwin and

The Origin of Species
 What do you think of when you hear the word

“EVOLUTION”
Science? Animals?

Evolution is a very complex and controversial issue. This lesson is

just a Change? Humans?
basic introduction to the theory of evolution and natural
selection as presented by Charles Darwin

Charles
Darwin?

Religion?
Fossils?
Survival?
Extinction?
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
► He was an English Naturalist
► He traveled around the world on
his ship, the Beagle
► Studied species and fossils in the
Galapagos Islands and around the
world
► Why did some species survive
while others became extinct?
► Natural selection
► Published The Origin of Species in
1859
 Darwin’s Theory
► Darwin's theory of evolution has four main parts:
All organisms
Organisms
Change have
is gradualcomeandfrom
changedslow,common
over time,
taking ancestors
and over
place by
the ones a living
a longprocess
time. of
branching.
today
This are
was Over time,
different
supported from
by populations
thethose
fossilthat split into
livedand
record, different
in the
was past. species,
consistent
which
with theare
factrelated
Furthermore, many
that nobecause
organismsthey
naturalist are
that
had descended
once
observedlived
the from
are now
suddena common
ancestor.
extinct.
appearance TheThus,
world
of if one
a new goes
is not far enough
constant,
species. back in time, any pair of
but changing.
organisms has a common ancestor. This explained the
similarities of organisms that were classified together -- they
were
The similar because
mechanism of shared traits
of evolutionary inherited
change wasfrom their
natural
common ancestor. It also explained why similar species tended
selection.
to occur in the same geographic region.
 Natural Selection
► “I have called this principle, by which each
slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by
the term of natural selection.”
– Charles Darwin from “The Origin of Species”

► Darwin's theory of natural selection holds

that variation within species occurs
randomly and that the survival or extinction
of each organism is determined by that
organism's ability to adapt to its
environment.
 On The Galapagos Islands
► Darwin found mockingbirds that were similar to ones that
were native to Chile, but differed slightly from island to island
► He studied different species of finches and the slight
variations in their beaks
► He noticed that the shapes of tortoise shells also varied
slightly from island to island
► He found fossils of animals that had recently become extinct
► He kept a journal and collected fossils and specimens for
further study
Darwin’s Finches

► These are some of the

finches that Darwin studied
on his voyage
► Though they are all finches,
their beaks distinguish them
from one another
► Some finches developed
short, strong beaks that
made it possible for them to
crack nuts
► Some developed long, fine
beaks to reach insect larvae
in tiny holes
► This is an example of how
these finches adapted to
their environment to survive
(natural selection)
 Darwin’s Finches

Darwin believed that all of the different finches came from a common
ancestor and that their differences were a result of natural selection
 Example of Natural Selection
Peppered Moth
 Moths can camouflage with trees to
avoid being eaten by birds.
► There were light moths and dark moths
living near English industrial cities in the
19th century
 The dark moths stood out on the light
colored trees and were more likely to
be seen and eaten by birds
► Thus, there were many more light
colored moths than dark colored
moths.
Because the dark moth was
► As English factories produced more and able to camouflage it was able
more soot, the trees turned a darker color. to avoid being eaten.
This was able to camouflage the dark
moths, but not the light moths If the light colored moth is not
 THEN, the light moths stood out on the able to adapt to its
dark trees and were more likely to be environment then it will
seen and eaten by birds! eventually become extinct.
► Thus, there were more dark colored
moths than light colored moths.
►
Camouflage
Many animals have evolved to resemble the environment around them.
► This makes it very difficult for predators to find them and eat them, thus
increasing their chance of survival.
► Can you spot them?
Stick Bug Large Fly Preying Mantis
Brimstone Butterfly

Camo Moth
Lion Seal
 Patterns of Evolution
► Darwin believed that natural
selection can ultimately lead to the
formation of new species.
► Sometimes many species evolve
from a single ancestral species.
► Similarities in skeletal and muscular
structure of Hawaiian honeycreepers
led scientists to conclude that the 23
species of honeycreepers evolved
from one ancestral species.
► Such an evolutionary pattern, in
which many related species evolved
from a single ancestral species, is
called adaptive radiation.
Adaptive Radiation
► Adaptive radiation
most commonly occurs
when a species of
organisms successfully
invades an isolated
region where few
competing species
exist. If new habitats
are available, new
species will evolve.
 Divergent Evolution
Red Fox

► Divergent evolution is the process of two

or more related species becoming more
and more dissimilar.
► Example: The red fox and the kit fox
 The red fox lives in mixed farmlands and
forests, where its red color helps it blend
in with surrounding trees.
 The kit fox lives on the plains and in the
Kit Fox deserts, where its sandy color helps
conceal it from prey and predators. The
ears of the kit fox are larger than those of
the red fox. The kit fox's large ears are an
adaptation to its desert environment
► Similarities in structure indicate that the
red fox and the kit fox had a common
ancestor. As they adapted to different
environments, the appearance of the
two species diverged, or became more
and more different.
 Convergent Evolution
► Convergent evolution is the opposite of divergent
evolution
► In convergent evolution, unrelated species
become more and more similar in appearance as
they adapt to the same kind of environment.
► Frogs and Chameleons are examples of
convergent evolution because although they are
different amphibians, they have both developed
harpoon-like tongues to catch insects
 Co-evolution
► Co-evolution is the joint change of two or more
species in close interaction. Predators and their
prey sometimes co-evolve; parasites and their
hosts often co-evolve; plant-eating animals and
the plants upon which they feed also co-evolve.

► One example of co-evolution is pollination of

orchids by African moths.

 These species co-evolve because the moths

depend on the flowers for nectar, and the flowers
depend on the moths to spread their pollen so
that they can reproduce.

► The relationship between the moth and the

orchids is mutually beneficial because they help
each other survive.
 Why is This Important?
► Divergent, convergent and co-
evolution are different ways organisms
adapt to the environment. These are
examples of how the diversity of life
on earth is due to the ever-changing
interaction between a species and its
environment.
 Extinction
► Extinction is the disappearance of an entire species
► If a species does not have the genetic traits to survive in its
environment, then the species will eventually become
extinct forever
► Some examples of extinct animals are:

Galapagos Dinosaurs Steller’s Sea Laughing Owl

Tortoise Cow

Bali Tiger Thylacine Quagga Dodo Bird

 Reasons for Extinction
► Rarity- when there are very few animals of a species left (Galapagos tortoise)
► Inbreeding- when animals mate too much within their own group the offspring
become less able to survive and adapt in a healthy way
► Hybridization-When two animals from different sub-species mate, they might
pass on genes that are less healthy (Quagga-half horse half zebra)
► Gradual loss of habitat- When an animal's habitat is slowly destroyed and they
have nowhere to live. (Bali Tiger)
► Long-term environmental trends- Scientists think that dinosaurs became
extinct because of a slow cooling of the earth
► Catastrophe- Volcanic eruption, dramatic change in climate, tsunami, etc.
► Extinction or reduction of mutualistic population- If two species are dependent
on each other, then the endangering of one also endangers the other
► Competition- When a new species is introduced to a habitat, then the stronger
of the two species will be more likely to survive.
► Predators-When the population of a species of predator in a habitat suddenly
increases, the population of their prey decreases
► Disease- If a particular sickness spreads quickly throughout a particular
species, then many may die before they can reproduce
► Hunting and collecting- Hunters have been largely responsible for the
endangerment of many animal species.
 Applications
► Knowledge about evolution and natural selection has
benefited our society in many ways, and has helped make
numerous technological advances, especially in the field of
biology and medicine
 Using Darwin’s theory of natural selection, scientists have been
able to identify the desirable traits which would improve the
probability of survival in certain species
 It has helped scientists and doctors in treating viruses and
diseases.
► For example: Did you know that when a doctor gives you antibiotics,
you need to continue taking them until all of the pills are gone, even if
you start to feel better? When a doctor gives you antibiotics, they
start to fight of the bacteria in your body, little by little. It starts with
the weak bacteria, and eventually kills the strongest bacteria.
► BUT, if you stop taking your medicine, then it is only the STRONG
bacteria that are left in your body. That means that they will continue
to reproduce and become stronger and stronger, and it will be much
harder for the medicine to kill them. This is an example of natural
selection because the strong bacteria survives and grows.
 Conclusion

► Darwin’s observations have

made a great impact in the
scientific community.
Because of his observations,
we are better able to
understand why some species
survive and some die.

► We are also better able to

take precautions to protect
species that are endangered.

► Lastly, we can understand the

diversity in the world around
us and learn to appreciate it .
 References
► http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96feb/darwin.html

► http://outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/teachers/Summer06/BethMick/
TheoryEvolution.ppt#264,9,EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION

► wikipedia.com

► http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/selection/selection.
html

► http://people.rit.edu/rhrsbi/GalapagosPages/DarwinFinch.html

► http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/converge.html

► http://biol1114.okstate.edu/study_guides/scenarios/5-galapagos/images/adaptive_radiati
on.gif

► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_examples_of_convergent_evolution#Reptiles

► http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/index.html

► http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://sciencegnus.com/
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