Galapagos Islands CAAAAAAAAAAASE studies
Part 1
1. How did the Galapagos Islands come into existence?
The galapagos islands came into existence from lava formations of the island, similar to Hawaii
2. Were plate tectonics involved?
Plate tectonics were involved as they caused the volcanic eruption
3. How old are the Galapagos Islands?
The galapagos islands are between 3-10 million years
4. What kinds of animals and plants are endemic to the islands?
Tortoise, Marine Iguanas, galapagos penguin, Cactus, Finches
5. How do species become endemic?
Species become endemic by the specie growing in only one place
6. Where did the original colonists come from and how did they get to the Galapagos?
The original colonists were Europeans who got there by traveling on boats
7. What kind of special adaptations do the animals and plants have? How do adaptations evolve?
The finches have specialized beaks that allows them to eat different seeds. These adaptations evolved from the Founder Effect
8. How did these islands figure into Darwin’s ideas on evolution?
These islands figure into Darwin's ideas because all of the finches originated from one specie of finches but eventually adapted and became many different
Part 2
1. What is DNA fingerprinting and how is it done?
DNA fingerprinting is a method of using DNA to find a specific individual rather than an entire specie. It is done by collecting DNA and putting that into a database
2. How can we measure evolution?
We can measure evolution by the rate of evolution, and the proportion of dominant and recessive genes
3. What is the difference between natural selection and evolution?
Natural selection: When the survival genes of a species are passed on to the next generation
Evolution: When a species changes into something more complex and better
4. What is genetic drift and how could it be involved in evolution?
Genetic drift is the change in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random. This is involved as it is how genes differ and those survival genes are then passed on to further generations
5. What is resource partitioning and character displacement?
Resource portioning is sharing resources between all of the species in an ecosystem that depends on it. Character displacement is when two habitats overlap and those species are left to fight and compete
6. What is sexual selection?
When a specie has a higher number from being able to secure more mating partners
7. How might one test if beak size is due to genetic or environmental factors?
You can check and see if the bird's ancestors had the same or similar beak size
8. If hybridization occurs during good times, what does this suggest about the degree of genetic differences between species?
The hybridization would indicate that there is not a large genetic difference between the species
9. What are reproductive isolating mechanisms and how do they evolve?
Reproductive isolating mechanisms are variables that causes a population to not be able to breed such as geographical. These mechanisms evolve according to food available and such
10. Must populations of finches be separated in order to evolve into different species?
Populations of finches did have to separated in order for the different types of finches to evolve. Some finches ate different food causing the evolution of different beaks
11. What causes an El Niño?
~
An El Nino is caused by strong winds being blown in the ocean Part 3
1. Should Kate have chosen to work on a different species other than the Tortoises that are being threatened? Her thesis work might be destroyed by the politics of the islands.
No. Her work on the low number of tortoises would have increased reason to protect the islands
2. Should Kate get involved in the politics the islands, the way Dian Fossey did in trying to save the Mountain gorilla?
I do not think Kate should get involved with the politics of the islands. After she finishes her research, she can then use that information to protect the island
3. Should fishing, tourism, or inhabitants be allowed in the islands?
None of those beside strict tourism should be allowed
4. How should the Ecuadorian government deal with the conflicts over the islands?
The Ecuadorian government can show why the islands and its animal inhabitants should be protected by demonstrating "Tragedy of the Commons"
5. Extinction is a natural phenomenon. Why should we worry about whether a few species on some remote islands in the pacific survive or not?
We should worry about these few species in the island because they demonstrate important scientific ideas. The different finches demonstrate evolution and adaptation. The many different animals demonstrate biodiversity. Aside from that we should care because the plants and animals could be part of important research in the future. Aside from that, we should also care because these animals are being extinct from our actions, a sign of cruelty and ruthlessness
1. How did the Galapagos Islands come into existence?
The galapagos islands came into existence from lava formations of the island, similar to Hawaii
2. Were plate tectonics involved?
Plate tectonics were involved as they caused the volcanic eruption
3. How old are the Galapagos Islands?
The galapagos islands are between 3-10 million years
4. What kinds of animals and plants are endemic to the islands?
Tortoise, Marine Iguanas, galapagos penguin, Cactus, Finches
5. How do species become endemic?
Species become endemic by the specie growing in only one place
6. Where did the original colonists come from and how did they get to the Galapagos?
The original colonists were Europeans who got there by traveling on boats
7. What kind of special adaptations do the animals and plants have? How do adaptations evolve?
The finches have specialized beaks that allows them to eat different seeds. These adaptations evolved from the Founder Effect
8. How did these islands figure into Darwin’s ideas on evolution?
These islands figure into Darwin's ideas because all of the finches originated from one specie of finches but eventually adapted and became many different
Part 2
1. What is DNA fingerprinting and how is it done?
DNA fingerprinting is a method of using DNA to find a specific individual rather than an entire specie. It is done by collecting DNA and putting that into a database
2. How can we measure evolution?
We can measure evolution by the rate of evolution, and the proportion of dominant and recessive genes
3. What is the difference between natural selection and evolution?
Natural selection: When the survival genes of a species are passed on to the next generation
Evolution: When a species changes into something more complex and better
4. What is genetic drift and how could it be involved in evolution?
Genetic drift is the change in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random. This is involved as it is how genes differ and those survival genes are then passed on to further generations
5. What is resource partitioning and character displacement?
Resource portioning is sharing resources between all of the species in an ecosystem that depends on it. Character displacement is when two habitats overlap and those species are left to fight and compete
6. What is sexual selection?
When a specie has a higher number from being able to secure more mating partners
7. How might one test if beak size is due to genetic or environmental factors?
You can check and see if the bird's ancestors had the same or similar beak size
8. If hybridization occurs during good times, what does this suggest about the degree of genetic differences between species?
The hybridization would indicate that there is not a large genetic difference between the species
9. What are reproductive isolating mechanisms and how do they evolve?
Reproductive isolating mechanisms are variables that causes a population to not be able to breed such as geographical. These mechanisms evolve according to food available and such
10. Must populations of finches be separated in order to evolve into different species?
Populations of finches did have to separated in order for the different types of finches to evolve. Some finches ate different food causing the evolution of different beaks
11. What causes an El Niño?
~
An El Nino is caused by strong winds being blown in the ocean Part 3
1. Should Kate have chosen to work on a different species other than the Tortoises that are being threatened? Her thesis work might be destroyed by the politics of the islands.
No. Her work on the low number of tortoises would have increased reason to protect the islands
2. Should Kate get involved in the politics the islands, the way Dian Fossey did in trying to save the Mountain gorilla?
I do not think Kate should get involved with the politics of the islands. After she finishes her research, she can then use that information to protect the island
3. Should fishing, tourism, or inhabitants be allowed in the islands?
None of those beside strict tourism should be allowed
4. How should the Ecuadorian government deal with the conflicts over the islands?
The Ecuadorian government can show why the islands and its animal inhabitants should be protected by demonstrating "Tragedy of the Commons"
5. Extinction is a natural phenomenon. Why should we worry about whether a few species on some remote islands in the pacific survive or not?
We should worry about these few species in the island because they demonstrate important scientific ideas. The different finches demonstrate evolution and adaptation. The many different animals demonstrate biodiversity. Aside from that we should care because the plants and animals could be part of important research in the future. Aside from that, we should also care because these animals are being extinct from our actions, a sign of cruelty and ruthlessness