On the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin studied numerous species, specifically the different variation of finches that lived on the islands. He noticed that on islands with different food sources, the beak shapes and finch sizes were unique. How did this observation support his concept of natural selection?

Question

Adaptations do not occur in a species during an environmental change that requires a new variation of a trait for survival.
Traits are passed from one generation to another when the environment changes.
Natural selection occurs in a species because mutations create weaker organisms, leading to their extinction.
Variations that give an organism the best chance of survival are passed on to the next generation.

Answer 1

Charles Darwin's observations of the finches on the Galapagos Islands supported his concept of natural selection primarily through the idea that variations that enhance an organism's chances of survival are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations. Specifically, the unique beak shapes and sizes of the finches corresponded to the different food sources available on the various islands.

This variation meant that finches with beak shapes better suited for accessing certain types of food would have a better chance of surviving and reproducing. Over time, these advantageous traits would become more common in the population, as those individuals with favorable traits would outcompete those without them.

Therefore, the correct statement that reflects this understanding is: Variations that give an organism the best chance of survival are passed on to the next generation. This captures the essence of natural selection, where advantageous traits are favored in the process of evolution.