Biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant have spent over 25 years studying
the finches of the Galapagos Islands. They have been able to observe natural selection in
a population of finches, something Darwin thought would not be possible in a person's
lifetime.
To learn about their research, read "Natural
Selection in Real Time."
Review Grants'
Finch Study Data (pdf) to think about how this data supports the following postulates
of natural selection:
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Individuals within a population vary in their traits. |
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Some of these variable traits are heritable -- passed on
to offspring. |
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More offspring are produced than can survive because of
limited resources such as food and nesting sites. |
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Individuals with advantageous traits will survive and
reproduce. |
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Using this data, summarize the evidence that natural selection occurred
among the finches on Daphne Major. |
