Download Name: Finch Article

Name:
Date:
Finch Article
Period:
After reading “Finches’ Beaks Evolve Rapidly in Galapagos” answer the following
questions.
1. Scientist ____________ _____________ once stated that he believed
evolution occurs so slowly that no one can actually see it happening.
2. Biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant, of ________________ University have
seen evolution occur in finches on the _______________ islands.
3. Darwin studied on these islands in the year ______.
4. The ____ species of finches provided important support for Darwin’s theories of
evolution and natural selection.
5. In his book, “… _________ of __________”, Darwin described how evolution
occurs through a process called natural selection.
6. Some of the individuals in a population that have a beneficial _________ will go
on to reproduce more successfully than those who don’t.
7. Peter and Rosemary Grant have been tracking finches on one island in particular,
named __________ _________.
8. The Grants began their study in the year ______ .
9. For their study, they measured three variable traits in the finches, their
_______________ , ______________, and _________________.
10. The Grants track by placing metal __________ around the legs of the newly
born finches.
11. Approximately 20,000 birds have been followed by the Grants, or about ____
generations.
12. In 1977, the Galapagos experienced a terrible _____________.
13. Because of this event, food was scarce and thus birds that survived generally
had _________ and _________ beaks.
14. The surviving birds, whose Latin name is ____________ __________ , gave
birth to a generation of offspring that had these beaks as well.
15. In 1983, the Galapagos experienced an extraordinary _____ year.
16. As a result of this year, many birds with the once advantageous beaks
_________.
17. The next generation of finches had beaks that were __________, because
rains had spurred ___________ growth, and this resulted in tiny ________ ,
which only birds with certain beaks could successfully pick up.