Section 1 Assessment p. 179 Mohamed Amarouch
1.a. Darwin’s important descriptive
observation included the diversity of living things, the remains of ancient
organisms, and the characteristics of organisms on the Galapagos Islands.
1b. The tortoises on a
island had dome-shaped shells. Those on another island had saddle shells. The
iguanas on the Galapagos Islands had big claws that allowed them to grip
slippery rocks, where they fed on seaweed. The iguanas on the mainland had
smaller claws. Smaller claws allowed the mainland iguanas to climb trees, where
they ate leaves.
1.c. Adaptation is a trait that
helps an organism survive and reproduce. Claws of Galapagos help the iguanas to
hold on to slippery rocks, that is their adaptation. The mainland iguanas had
small claws, which helped them climb trees to eat leaves, which is their
adaptation.
2a.The seaweed that is in the
Galapagos island forced the iguanas to climb the slippery rocks so that’s how
they have big claws.
2b. Selective breeding supported
Darwin’s hypothesis by the observation that he saw from the farmers and also
what he did to the pigeons. Darwin had bred pigeons with large, fan-shaped
tails.
3a. Variation is any difference
between individuals of the same species. Natural selection is the process by
which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely
to survive and reproduce than other members of the same species
3b. After a long period of time,
natural selection can lead to change. Helpful variation may gradually
accumulate in a species, while unfavorable ones may disappear.
3c. All the members of species would have the
same traits. Natural selection would not occur because all individuals would
have an equal chance of surviving and reproducing.
