Evolution Of Evolution Through Birds

This relates back to the lab because in our lab we tested the ability of the finches beaks, small and large, to break small and large seeds. Darwin believed that based on the environment and food supply some finches, depending on their beak size and shape, were more likely to survive. For example, if finches lived on island that only consisted of large seeds, the finches with bigger beaks would be able to eat the bigger seeds. Where as the finches with smaller beaks would have more difficulty cracking the bigger seeds. This is exactly what our lab was testing.

Darwin has listed different names for each bird, they are all variations of Finches, apparently descended from a common ancestor. However, each bird has a different length beak and many are differently shaped to allow them to more efficiently eat the available fodder. Coincidentally, Mr. Darwin failed to catalog specifically where each bird came from and had to ask the ship’s captain to supply this information along with his collection to Mr. Gould for identification and cataloging. An interesting part of the conversation between Mr. Darwin and the ship’s captain is the captain’s argument for the fixity of species, that each one was created by God exactly the way it was, and placed on each island, and that it is heresy to say that they came to be there any other way.

Assignments 1: I developed a hypothesis to predict that the island with the finches with the larger beak will be able to adapt more rapidly to their surrounding and handle the hard seeds of their island verses the island with the finches with the smaller beaks. I left the primary beak size on Darwin

The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner explores evolution through the most famous examples in history—the finches of the Galápagos Islands. Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and the process of evolution are applied directly to what scientists refer to as Darwin’s Finches. Weiner follows scientists Peter and Rosemary Grant as they study the finches in real time on the Galápagos. Years of previous work, study and data is collected and analyzed. Different species of animals are observed and explained throughout history. The Grants have one goal, and that is to find the origin of the species, how organisms first began. They find that it really is about the “survival of the

• Be able to use the terms variation, adaptation, natural selection, and evolution as they apply to this and

One of its most important characteristics is its beak. The finch adapted to have a thin, long beak to probe through moss, bark and leaves in search of food (Wildscreen Arkive, N.D.). These finches have the thinnest beak out of the 13 finches; which aids them to find small insects. The Green Warbler finch are mostly found in humid highland forest where their primary food source is found. These adaptations made them more fit to survive on available food. Over the years the finch’s beak has evolved as the bird developed different taste for insects. Another famous adaptation is how they camouflage in their environment. The Green Warbler is restricted to the forest and is greener in body colouration, while the Gray Warbler is found in shrubby, dry thickets and is greyer and duller looking (Certhidea olivacea, 2010). Their coloration helps them camouflage in their own environments, and to hide from predators. Recent studies have found that there are in fact two separate species of the Warbler Finch, the Green Warbler Finch and the Grey Warbler Finch, but are considered as a single species (Wildscreen Arkive, N.D.). The Green Warbler finch mainly occupies larger, inner islands, while the Grey Warbler finch inhabits the smaller, outer islands (Green Warbler Finch,

In 1977 a drought reduced the number of small seeds available for the birds, forcing them to rely on larger seeds and nuts, which were difficult for birds with smaller beaks to open. The number of birds unable to eat reduced as they died and gave way to harder beaked finches. Within a couple of generations they had evolved larger beaks. In 2003 another drought struck the Galapagos and as there were many large beaked finches, the food source of nuts dwindled, making the ability to eat smaller seeds an asset. The numbers of larger beaked birds dwindled as food became scarce, leaving the smaller birds to survive and reproduce. Darwin’s theory was not well received when first written in On the Origin of Species, though many scientists today use it as a basis for research in evolution.

According to Dr. James Krupa of The University of Kentucky “evolution is the foundation upon which all biology rests.” In biology, evolution is the genetic change in characteristics over generations and is dependent on the process of natural selection. ‘The theory of evolution is based on the idea that all species are related and gradually change over time’ (Genome Campus, 2017). Genetic variation is vital to evolution as it affects the physical characteristics or phenotypes of morphology. Natural Selection is affected by environmental factors that act upon a population and result in the mutation of organism through offspring. These mutations enable individuals to adapt to their environments in order to survive, find food, avoid predators and

In the Galapagos Islands there is an island named, Daphne Major, this island plays as the host of the Galapagos finches. In 1976 - 1977 there was an absolute near extinction of these finches. This is because of the drought of 1976 and 1977 (see figure 1). While the drought made the Finch population dwindle there was a hidden trait that was helping some survive, and that is beak size. Why did the larger beaks help those fortunate Finches survive? Because the only plants that survived where plants like the Tribulus, which produces hard shelled seeds. While there was an abundance of hard shelled seeds there was a shortage of soft shelled seeds. The finches that had the larger beaks weighed more, for example, survivors weighed approx. 12.5g to 17.5g with beak sizes going from 10.5 to 13.6(for evidence see figure 2. This reduced the population because the Finch’s with the smaller beaks couldn't open the harder seeds and had to scavenge for soft seeds which were very rare. The finches with small beaks, then died from starvation

He finally observed that overtime these birds developed different physical characteristics to help them be able to survive and adapt to their surroundings. Darwin developed the “Natural Selection” theory that stated that plants and animals adapt to their surroundings and environments in order to survive. He also stated that older generations of these species would eventually die out, because they do not have the newer characteristics that needed to be developed in order to live.

The finches on the Galapagos Islands all evolved separately from each other and adapted to their unique environments. The different species of finch on the Islands developed different characteristics over time to fit into their niche in the

After the discovery of Archaeopteryx it became the “missing link” in connecting the dots to where birds derived from. From studying the earliest feathers and coming up with theories as to why a bird evolved to fly are vital questions that yet to be understood and answered

Today was the day. Today was the day I would finally get all my answers on the theory of evolution, from the master himself, or should I say “father”. As I opened the door, a mysterious old figure stood with a tortoise by his side: it was Charles Darwin. Quickly and eagerly he went into the dining room and eagerly cried, “Guys! I am very glad to see you all! I need to tell you all everything, everything that I had found out about!” Before my family had fully sat on their seats, he shared fascinating stories about his adventures and voyages. He began explaining his tails on the famous “HMS Beagle” and his exploration of the Galapagos Islands. On his voyage on the “Beagle” he was instructed to chart stretches of coastlines of South America, but as he explained that he wasn’t any Picasso, his sketches ended up poorly drawn. As we all know, Darwin has never been the type to enforce rules, and plus charting coastlines is just the most boring job a person can do. As well as charting, he shared his strange fascination on his observations of how the characteristics of plants and animals suits only specific environments in South America. He explained how plants and animals in similar geographic and climate zones have a similar resemblance. With great enthusiasm, Charles addressed my half brother and wife saying, “Tom Bradey, 3 time MVP and 4 time super bowl winner, oh and the beautiful Vanessa Hudgens- Ramolia!” You must see how my observations and these fossils have similar

Some reasons why beaks were thought to be so useful for testing Darwin’s theory of natural selection was because it seemed that the more favorable variations in their beaks will be passed down. Another reason was because there were more variations in the beaks depending what the finches ate so he could study a variety of beaks.

A bird 's breastbone, or sternum, is shaped like a keel to attach the powerful wing muscles. The bones of a bird 's wings are surprisingly small compared to the size of the wing. All the bones and muscles of the wing are in the front and covered with feathers that protect and streamline the wing. The actual flight feathers are attached to the wing within little pits in the bones.