Evolution of Galapagos Finches

How many species of finches are found in the Galapagos Islands?

• Over 100,000

• 1,000

• 13

• 50

What is the main focus of researchers studying the Galapagos Islands?

• Geological formations

• Climate change

• Species extinction

• Recent species formation

What is the main tool used by the warbler finch for survival?

• Needle-like beak for picking off insects

• Large beak for cracking open woody fruits

• Robust beak for beetle larvae

• Long sharp-pointed beak

What did DNA evidence reveal about the finches in the Galapagos Islands?

• They are unrelated to each other

• They have evolved independently on each island

• They are more related to species on the mainland

• They are not genetically diverse

What factor caused a significant change in the average beak size of the medium ground finches?

• Introduction of a new predator

• Overpopulation of the island

• Excessive rainfall

• Drought

What did the Grants observe about the survival of finches with different beak sizes during the drought?

• Finches with larger beaks had higher survival rates

• Finches with smaller beaks had higher survival rates

• Beak size did not affect survival

• All finches died during the drought

What caused the evolution of beak size in the medium ground finches during the drought?

• Climate change

• Human intervention

• Genetic mutation

• Natural selection

What event led to a change in the average beak size of the medium ground finches for the second time?

• Overpopulation of the island

• El Nino

• Drought

• Introduction of a new predator

What role do songs play in keeping different species of finches from mating?

• They repel mates from different species

• They have no role in mating

• They attract mates from different species

• They are used for communication only

What did the Grants observe about the male finches' response to stuffed female specimens?

• Males courted females of any species

• Males only courted females of their own species

• Males ignored all female specimens

• Males courted females based on size only