9
QuizMultiple Choice

Biogeographic Isolation — Quiz

Question 9 • 26-27 - C - RUSD Biology in the Living Earth

Darwin hypothesized that new species could appear gradually through small changes in an ancestral species. Which observation that he made about finches most supports that hypothesis?

Answer
A
The finches all appeared to be related but differed from the mainland population.
B
The finches were all relatively small compared to the mainland population.
C
The finches were identical to the mainland population.
D
The finches all ate the same materials as the mainland population.

Explanation

Darwin observed that the island finches seemed related to mainland finches but had differences. This pattern supports the idea that populations can gradually change from a shared ancestral species and eventually become distinct species. Their small size or diet alone would not show this relationship, and identical finches would show no change.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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