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Predict which species of finch would be most likely to survive if the weather on the Galapagos islands gradually changed and the seeds available to the finches became larger with heavier coverings. Support your answer with an explanation.
Predict which species of finch would be most likely to survive if the weather on the Galapagos islands gradually changed and the seeds available to the finches became larger with heavier coverings. Support your answer with an explanation.
Explanation:In the scenario where the weather on the Galapagos Islands gradually changes, and the seeds available to the finches become larger with heavier coverings, the species of finch most likely to survive would be those with physical adaptations suited to cracking open and accessing these larger, harder seeds.The Galapagos finches are famous for their adaptive radiation, where different species of finches have evolved different beak shapes and sizes to exploit various food sources. In this case, with larger and tougher seeds, the finches with stronger, more robust beaks would have an advantage. These finches would include species like the ground finches, especially the Large Ground Finch (Geospiza magnirostris), which already have relatively large and powerful beaks compared to other finch species.The Large Ground Finch has a beak adapted for cracking open harder seeds and would be better equipped to handle the larger seeds with heavier coverings. Over time, individuals of this species with the most effective beak adaptations for handling these seeds would have a higher chance of survival and reproduction. Natural selection would favor the Large Ground Finch and individuals within the population with advantageous beak characteristics.As a result of this selective pressure, the population of Large Ground Finches would likely thrive and increase in number, while finch species with less suitable beak adaptations for the larger seeds may face a higher risk of decline. This scenario illustrates the principle of natural selection and adaptation, which played a significant role in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, famously inspired by his observations of the Galapagos finches....