Friday Reflection: Darwin's Finches and Evolution

The change in species over time is called

• Evolution

• Natural Selection

• Succession

• Transgression

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring is called

• Evolution

• Natural Selection

• Succession

• Transgression

What is defined as a trait or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment?

• Selection

• Niche

• Mutation

• Adaptation

What is true about evolution?

• Evolution occurred only in the past

• Evolution continues today in modern time

• Evolution occurs only in animals

• Evolution will eventually stop in the future.

The 13 different finch species that exist on the Galapagos Islands are thought to have descended from how many ancestors?

• One species on the Galapagos Islands

• Numerous species on Galapagos Islands

• One species from mainland South America

• Numerous species from mainland South America

What was the reason for finches showing variation in overall size, claw size, and especially beak shape?

• The birds' desire to be well adapted

• Differing food sources available on the different islands

• Sharing a common ancestor

• The sizes of food chains on the islands

Why did the various species of finches originate in different regions of the different islands?

• The habitats and conditions on each island were different.

• The different species evolved to suit the conditions on each island.

• The birds became reproductively isolated and couldn’t interbreed with birds on other islands

• All of the above.

If an island began to develop seeds that were larger and harder than in the past, what would be the likely consequence?

• The individual birds would develop larger beaks in their lifetime to survive.

• The individual birds would begin adapting to new seeds.

• The species of birds would display larger, stronger beaks immediately.

• The species of birds would display larger, stronger beaks gradually over time

Which of the following statements best explains the relationship between climate change and evolution of species?

• As the climate changes, individual organisms have to change in order to survive.

• As the climate changes, the traits that maximize survival will increase in frequency.

• As the climate changes, evolution of species has to start over again.

• As the climate changes, the creation of new species has to stop temporarily.

Charles Darwin once used the phrase “Survival of the Fittest” to describe Natural Selection. What did he mean by this phrase?

• Only those organisms best suited to a given environment will likely survive.

• All organisms can survive if certain conditions exist.

• The genetic make-up of an organisms doesn’t influence its survival.

• Reproduction and survival are not linked together.