AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Evolution in Darwin’s finches is characterized by rapid adaptation to an unstable and challenging environment leading to ecological diversification and speciation. This has resulted in striking diversity in their phenotypes (for instance, beak types, body size, plumage, feeding behavior and song types).

Detailed explanation-2: -The Galápagos finches are a classic example of adaptive radiation. Their common ancestor arrived on the islands a few million years ago. Since then, a single species has evolved into different species that are adapted to fill different lifestyles.

Detailed explanation-3: -A long-term study of finch populations on the island of Daphne Major has revealed that evolution occurs by natural selection when the finches’ food supply changes during droughts.

Detailed explanation-4: -In Darwin’s finches, those that have short beaks turned out to be an adaptation that made them more suited into poking holes in the ground and feed on grubs. 3. Darwin’s finches are an example of how natural selection caused variation of beaks among finches.