1. How did the Galapagos Islands come into existence?
Biologist believe that the hydrothermal vents bleaching sulfurous gas in the sea near by the Galapagos Rift are the for the origins of life.
2. Were plate tectonics involved?
The subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate causes the volcano formation on the island, ultimately creating the island.
3. How old are the Galapagos Islands?
They are less than 5 million years old.
4. What kinds of animals and plants are endemic to the islands?
Sea lions, Tortoise, Black Iguana, Sting Rays, White Tipped Shark, Galapagos Penguin, Finches, ect...
5. How do species become endemic?
A species becomes endemic when it has evolved in such a manner that it can only survive in a specific region or place.
6. Where did the original colonists come from and how did they get to the Galapagos?
The original colonists came from Europe.
7. What kind of special adaptations do the animals and plants have? How do adaptations evolve?
The animals and plants have gotten either smaller, bigger, more curious, and many more things.
8. How did these islands figure into Darwin’s ideas on evolution?
Darwin came up with his theory of natural selection by noticing the adaptations made the Galapagos animals over millions of years.
1. What is DNA fi ngerprinting and how is it done?
It is the analysis of DNA from samples of body tissue or fluids in order to identify individuals. It is done by taking a sample from blood, skin, or hair.
2. How can we measure evolution?
It is measured as the ratio of dominant and recessive alleles.
3. What is the difference between natural selection and evolution?
Evolution is is a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. Natural selection is is the process in nature by which, according to Darwin's theory of evolution, only the organisms best adapted to their environment ten to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics in increasing numbers to succeeding generations while those less adapted tend to be eliminated.
4. What is genetic drift and how could it be involved in evolution?
Genetic drift is the change in frequency of an allele. Like natural selection, can affect the course of evolution. If more more specimens survive that have a specific allele, the more likely that allele is going to survive, even if it might not be a good trait.
5. What is resource partitioning and character displacement?
Resource partitioning applies to the field of ecology, refers to the process by which natural
selection drives competing species into different patterns of resource uses.Character displacement is the phenomenon where
differences among similar species whose distributions overlap geographically are
accentuated in regions where the species co-occur.
6. What is sexual selection?
Sexual selection is natural selection arising through preference by one sex for certain
characteristics in individuals of the other sex.
7. How might one test if beak size is due to genetic or environmental factors?
How one might test if beak size is due to genetic or environmental factors, is by measuring the beaks of birds. Birds with the smaller beaks are in a problem.
8. If hybridization occurs during good times, what does this suggest about the degree of genetic differences between species?
It suggests that there is a high degree of genetic difference between species.
9. What are reproductive isolating mechanisms and how do they evolve?
Reproductive isolating mechanisms is when animals evolve, due to the five factors already
discussed that can change allele and genotype frequencies in a
population.
10. Must populations of fi nches be separated in order to evolve into diff erent species?
For one species to evolve into two new species, the gene pools of two populations must become separated. Isolation occurs when populations are separated by geographic barriers.
11. What causes an El Niño?
El Nino is a naturally occurring event in the equatorial region which causes temporary changes in the world climate.
1. Should Kate have chosen to work on a diff erent species than the tortoises that are being threatened? Her thesis work might be destroyed by the politics of the islands.
No, Kate shouldn't have chosen to work on a different species than the tortoises that are being threatened
2. Should Kate get involved in the politics of saving the islands, the way Dian Fossey did in trying to save the Mountain Gorilla?
Yes, she should do all she can to help save the islands.
3. Should fishing, tourism, or inhabitants be allowed in the islands?
Fishing, tourism, and inhabitants shouldn't be allowed because there are a lot of endemic species that shouldn't become extinct.
4. How should the Ecuadorian government deal with the confl icts over the islands?
Promise the people a fishing season and limit amount of fish caught, but make it shorter and have police or a force to check how many fish they've caught.
5. Extinction is a natural phenomenon. Why should we worry about whether a few species on some remote islands in the Pacifi c survive or not?
These species are unique to these islands. The extinction of these species would make the Galapagos just like any other island in the world.
Biologist believe that the hydrothermal vents bleaching sulfurous gas in the sea near by the Galapagos Rift are the for the origins of life.
2. Were plate tectonics involved?
The subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate causes the volcano formation on the island, ultimately creating the island.
3. How old are the Galapagos Islands?
They are less than 5 million years old.
4. What kinds of animals and plants are endemic to the islands?
Sea lions, Tortoise, Black Iguana, Sting Rays, White Tipped Shark, Galapagos Penguin, Finches, ect...
5. How do species become endemic?
A species becomes endemic when it has evolved in such a manner that it can only survive in a specific region or place.
6. Where did the original colonists come from and how did they get to the Galapagos?
The original colonists came from Europe.
7. What kind of special adaptations do the animals and plants have? How do adaptations evolve?
The animals and plants have gotten either smaller, bigger, more curious, and many more things.
8. How did these islands figure into Darwin’s ideas on evolution?
Darwin came up with his theory of natural selection by noticing the adaptations made the Galapagos animals over millions of years.
1. What is DNA fi ngerprinting and how is it done?
It is the analysis of DNA from samples of body tissue or fluids in order to identify individuals. It is done by taking a sample from blood, skin, or hair.
2. How can we measure evolution?
It is measured as the ratio of dominant and recessive alleles.
3. What is the difference between natural selection and evolution?
Evolution is is a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. Natural selection is is the process in nature by which, according to Darwin's theory of evolution, only the organisms best adapted to their environment ten to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics in increasing numbers to succeeding generations while those less adapted tend to be eliminated.
4. What is genetic drift and how could it be involved in evolution?
Genetic drift is the change in frequency of an allele. Like natural selection, can affect the course of evolution. If more more specimens survive that have a specific allele, the more likely that allele is going to survive, even if it might not be a good trait.
5. What is resource partitioning and character displacement?
Resource partitioning applies to the field of ecology, refers to the process by which natural
selection drives competing species into different patterns of resource uses.Character displacement is the phenomenon where
differences among similar species whose distributions overlap geographically are
accentuated in regions where the species co-occur.
6. What is sexual selection?
Sexual selection is natural selection arising through preference by one sex for certain
characteristics in individuals of the other sex.
7. How might one test if beak size is due to genetic or environmental factors?
How one might test if beak size is due to genetic or environmental factors, is by measuring the beaks of birds. Birds with the smaller beaks are in a problem.
8. If hybridization occurs during good times, what does this suggest about the degree of genetic differences between species?
It suggests that there is a high degree of genetic difference between species.
9. What are reproductive isolating mechanisms and how do they evolve?
Reproductive isolating mechanisms is when animals evolve, due to the five factors already
discussed that can change allele and genotype frequencies in a
population.
10. Must populations of fi nches be separated in order to evolve into diff erent species?
For one species to evolve into two new species, the gene pools of two populations must become separated. Isolation occurs when populations are separated by geographic barriers.
11. What causes an El Niño?
El Nino is a naturally occurring event in the equatorial region which causes temporary changes in the world climate.
1. Should Kate have chosen to work on a diff erent species than the tortoises that are being threatened? Her thesis work might be destroyed by the politics of the islands.
No, Kate shouldn't have chosen to work on a different species than the tortoises that are being threatened
2. Should Kate get involved in the politics of saving the islands, the way Dian Fossey did in trying to save the Mountain Gorilla?
Yes, she should do all she can to help save the islands.
3. Should fishing, tourism, or inhabitants be allowed in the islands?
Fishing, tourism, and inhabitants shouldn't be allowed because there are a lot of endemic species that shouldn't become extinct.
4. How should the Ecuadorian government deal with the confl icts over the islands?
Promise the people a fishing season and limit amount of fish caught, but make it shorter and have police or a force to check how many fish they've caught.
5. Extinction is a natural phenomenon. Why should we worry about whether a few species on some remote islands in the Pacifi c survive or not?
These species are unique to these islands. The extinction of these species would make the Galapagos just like any other island in the world.