Question

1 multiple choice 6.25 points darwins finches are a classical example of this: a rapid increase in the number of species with a common ancestor, characterized by great ecological and morphological diversity. temporal isolation convergent evolution analogous structures adaptive radiation 2 multiple choice 6.25 points darwin explained the differences in beak shape among galapagos finches as being the result of: differences that existed in the colonizing species chance events adaptations to eating different foods the environment started growing food that the birds need to survive

Explanation:

• Question 1: Adaptive radiation is the process where organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, especially when a change in the environment makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new environmental niches. Darwin's finches show this as they evolved from a common ancestor into many species with different ecological (e.g., different feeding habits) and morphological (e.g., different beak shapes) characteristics. Temporal isolation is about species being reproductively isolated due to different mating times. Convergent evolution is when different species evolve similar traits. Analogous structures are structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins.
• Question 2: Darwin proposed that the differences in beak shape among Galapagos finches were due to adaptations to eating different foods. For example, finches that ate seeds might have stronger, thicker beaks to crack seeds, while those that ate insects might have more slender beaks. It was not just differences in the colonizing species (as evolution occurred after colonization), not chance events (natural selection was at play), and the environment did not “start growing food” in the way suggested; rather, the finches adapted to the existing food sources through natural selection.

Answer:

1. D. adaptive radiation
2. C. adaptations to eating different foods