How did speciation occur in the Galapagos finches?
An example of speciation is the Galápagos finch. The finches are isolated from one another by the ocean. Over millions of years, each species of finch developed a unique beak that is especially adapted to the kinds of food it eats. Some finches have large, blunt beaks that can crack the hard shells of nuts and seeds.
Why do biologists love the Galapagos?
“Galápagos are a wonderful place to study evolution, still, because, remarkably, several islands and their inhabitants are close to being in the fully natural state, with little or no influence of human activities,” says the evolutionary biologist and Princeton University professor emeritus Peter Grant who, with his …
Why is Galapagos so important?
Facts. Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador lie the volcanic islands of the Galápagos, famous for a wealth of unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. The Galápagos Islands were the source of Darwin’s theory of evolution and remain a priceless living laboratory for scientists today.
Why are the Galapagos Islands so unique?
Environmental conditions make the Galápagos a unique island ecosystem. The Galápagos Islands are located near the equator, yet they receive cool ocean currents. This makes for a strange mix of tropical and temperate climates. For most of their history, the islands have been extremely isolated.
Why Galapagos penguin is it in danger?
The Galapagos penguin is threatened by pollution and climate change. Storms like El Nino have wiped out many of these birds and decreased the numbers of their prey.
How do humans affect Galapagos penguins?
Human Impact Human activities on the islands over the last 470 years have inevitably led to invasive species being brought to the islands by colonizers, farmers and pirates. Some of these invasive species include feral pigs, dogs, cats and fire ants, all of which predate on Galapagos penguins.
What are they doing to save the Galapagos penguin?
Conservation efforts are slowly helping the Galapagos Penguin populations. To do this, they have provided breeding opportunities by building 120 shaded nest sites constructed of stacked lava rocks.