Darwin & His Observations
What year did Charles Darwin begin his famous voyage?
OR
What was the name of the ship that Darwin traveled on?
1831
HMS Beagle
This scientist proposed that organisms could pass acquired characteristics to offspring.
Lemarck
Which part of natural selection refers to organisms producing more offspring than needed?
Overproduction
What adaptation do polar bears have that helps them survive in cold Arctic environments?
thick fur and a layer of blubber (fat) under their skin
Darwin studied finches on which islands?
Galapagos Islands
This geologist's work on rock layers influenced Darwin's thinking about Earth's age.
Lyell
What is the large variety of traits that appears among offspring?
Variation
Desert plants like cacti have adapted to store water. What other adaptation do cacti have to survive with less water?
having spines instead of leaves (or waxy coating to reduce water loss)
What did Darwin notice was different about the finches' beaks on different islands?
they had different shapes/sizes to eat different foods
This economist wrote about population growth and competition for resources, which influenced Darwin's ideas
Malthus
In natural selection, what does "selection" mean?
Nature "picks" or "selects" the variation that best fits in the environment.
Some animals, like rabbits and foxes, have large ears. How is this an adaptation that helps them survive?
large ears help them hear predators or prey better, or help them cool down by releasing heat
Define evolution based on Darwin's observations.
the process by which species change over time
What types of traits did Lamarck claim were passed down?
Acquired traits
What is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce, which becomes more common over generations?
Adaptation
Explain how a chameleon's ability to change color is an adaptation that helps it survive.
changing color helps chameleons hide from predators (camouflage) and sneak up on prey
Darwin observed that finches started as the same species but changed over time. What caused these changes?
adaptation to different environments/islands
What did Malthus say was a limit to the population of a species?
amount of resources (food)
Put the four parts of natural selection in order: Adaptation, Genetic Variation, Overproduction, Selection.
1) Overproduction
2) Variation
3) Selection
4) Adaptation
Hummingbirds have long, thin beaks and can fly backwards. How are these adaptations connected to their food source and survival?
their long beaks fit into flowers to drink nectar, and flying backwards helps them move between flowers quickly to get enough food to survive