they were similar, but their beaks were different based on the island they lived on - the shape of their beaks was related to the food sources they could get on the individual islands. so, it became clear that at one point they were probably the same then changed based up on their environments.

...and Darwin's finches continue to evolve! http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091116/full/news.2009.1089.html

Main content

Course: Big History Project > Unit 5

Lesson 4: Ways of Knowing: Life | 5.3

ACTIVITY: The Voyage of the Beagle

Google Classroom

Preparation

Review the Voyage of the Beagle Gallery and download the Voyage of the Beagle Worksheet.

Purpose

Charles Darwin’s work was critical to the development of evolutionary thinking, and his claims about how species change over time were fueled by his experiences as a young man on a research ship called the HMS Beagle. In this activity, you’ll learn how to interpret images and maps in order to extract information about Darwin’s trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Process

Look at material in the Voyage of the Beagle Gallery and respond to these questions on the Voyage of the Beagle Worksheet.

First, examine the images and read the captions of these slides: Route of the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin, Tierra del Fuego, and Galapagos Islands.

What information do these images provide about the voyage Darwin made and the kinds of ecosystems he explored?

Now, look at the images and read the captions of Ancient Animals of Argentina and the Galapagos Finches to answer these questions:

fossils of extinct animals?
How did Darwin explain the fact that there were different types of finches, with different beaks, on each of the islands of the Galapagos?

Compare your answers to the sample answers and see how you did!

For Further Discussion

In the Questions Area below, list one contributing factor that you think was particularly significant to Darwin’s conclusion that all of the finches evolved from the same species. Then, respond to someone else’s contributing factor by commenting on why that contributing factor was significant.

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Mildred Mobus
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Mildred Mobus's post “they were similar, but th...”
they were similar, but their beaks were different based on the island they lived on - the shape of their beaks was related to the food sources they could get on the individual islands. so, it became clear that at one point they were probably the same then changed based up on their environments.
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(3 votes)
Answer
- Jacques Anquetil
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Jacques Anquetil's post “...and Darwin's finches c...”
  ...and Darwin's finches continue to evolve! http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091116/full/news.2009.1089.html
  Comment on Jacques Anquetil's post “...and Darwin's finches c...”
  (6 votes)
CAT
Posted a year ago. Direct link to CAT's post “what do we call feturce t...”
what do we call feturce that make animals well suted for there enviorment
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(2 votes)
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CAT
Posted a year ago. Direct link to CAT's post “what things did the birds...”
what things did the birds use here beakes fot
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(2 votes)
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thomasjestom
Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to thomasjestom's post “Nautural selection favour...”
Nautural selection favoured the beak that was best able to get food from that bird's home island.
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(1 vote)
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