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Charles Darwin studied finches on the Galapagos Islands - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 4
Charles Darwin studied finches on the Galapagos Islands. The diagram shows the beak shapes and the food source of some of these finches. - feeds on leaves - feeds o... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Charles Darwin studied finches on the Galapagos Islands - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain how natural selection resulted in the different beak shapes of these finches.
Answer
Natural selection leads to varying beak shapes among finches due to environmental pressures and food availability.
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Variation in Beak Shapes: Within a population of finches, there is natural variation in beak shapes due to genetic differences. Some finches may have longer or shorter beaks.
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Survival and Reproduction: Finches with beak shapes best suited for available food sources (like seeds or insects) are more likely to survive and reproduce. For example, a finch with a strong, thick beak would be more effective at cracking open hard seeds, leading to greater success in feeding.
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Passing on Traits: The advantageous beak shape is inherited by the offspring, which subsequently adapt to their specific feeding niches. Over generations, this process leads to the differentiation of beak shapes based on the specific diets of the finches in their respective environments.