500
Explain how Darwin’s observations of finches in the Galapagos Islands led to his ideas about natural selection.
What is
He observed that finches on the islands were slightly different from those found on the mainland.
He also noted slight differences in finches from island to island.
The difference that he found most notable was the differences in beak shape.
It appeared to be different based on the type of food eaten, and therefore Darwin concluded that the finches were adapted for the type of food they ate.
From his observations, Darwin hypothesized that an ancestral species of finch from the mainland ended up on the Galapagos, and the finches were scattered to different environments.
Then, they had to adapt to different conditions, and over many generations evolved into new species.