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Since this journey began on December 27, 1831, I, Charles Darwin, have visited many new lands with strange animals and beautiful landscapes. This new land, which is called the Galapagos Islands, has a great potential for discovering new species. "If there is the slightest foundation for evolution, the zoology of the Galapagos will be well worth examining..." I will do a preliminary expedition to determine what this new island is about. Luckily the sun is shining and the air is warm for my adventure... |
| * The quote in this journal entry is an actual quote from Charles Darwin's diary. |
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After exploring the islands for the past couple of weeks, I have discovered and mapped several new species of plants and animals. The ship's captain, Robert FitzRoy, has informed me that I have 2 weeks left to do my research. This leaves me with a terrible dilemma. I only have time to do an in-depth study on one more species. I am particularly interested in observing how animal species have adapted, over a long period of time, to conditions in this isolated part of the world. My discovery of these odd looking iguanas and finches makes my decision that much harder. On the one hand, the different types of iguanas have adapted to their environment while still sharing features of South American iguanas. How can this be if the islands are 600 miles from the South American coastline? Then the finches have so many different types of beaks that something must be going on here. How could the finches have arrived and had so many different adaptataions on this remote set of islands? I want to study both in-depth, but alas I only have time to study one closely. What shall I do? |
| Help Charles Darwin discover the mystery of the Galapagos
Islands by making his decision a successful one.
Fill out the reference sheet as you research the history of the Galapagos islands, the Galapagos iguanas and finches. Once you have made your decision choose the appropriate link at the bottom of this page. |
| The Galapagos Islands: Then and Now |  |
| Iguanas | Finches |
| Information
on Land iguanas
Information on Marine Iguanas Marine Iguanas: Habitats |
Description
of Finches
Finches' Diet Finches and adaptive radiation |
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