Question

Explain the phenomenon that is well represented by Darwin's finches other than natural selection.

Answer 1

'Darwin's Finches' illustrated adaptive radiation. In this, the species, all deriving from a common ancestor, have over time successfully adapted to their environment via natural selection. Previously, the finches occupied the South American mainland, but somehow managed to occupy the Galapagos islands, over 600 miles away. They occupied an ecological niche with little competition. As the population began to flourish in these advantageous conditions, intraspecific competition became a factor, and resources on the islands were squeezed and could not sustain the population of the finches for long. Due to the mechanisms of natural selection, and changes in the gene pool, the finches became more adapted to the environment. As competition grew, the finches managed to find new ecological niches, that would present less competition and allow them and their genome to be continued. Thus the finches adapted to take advantage of the various food sources available on the island, which were being used by other species. Over the long term, the original finch species may have disappeared, but by diversifying, would stand a better chance of survival. All in all, the finches had adapted to their environment via natural selection, which in turn, has allowed the species to survive in the longer term, the prime directive of any species.