Darwin thought the birds he collected from the Galapagos were different types of birds, but he learned that they were different types of finches that each came from a different island in the Galapagos. What was the significance of that discovery?

Answer 1

The discovery that the finches were different types of birds that were specific to each island in the Galapagos was significant because it led to the development of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin observed that the finches had adapted to the different environments of each island, developing unique beaks and feeding behaviors. This led him to theorize that over time, small variations like these could accumulate and lead to the formation of new species. The discovery ultimately helped validate his hypothesis that species change over time through natural selection.