The Galapagos Islands Darwin’s World Within Itself Video Worksheet

Worksheet – some of the questions 3C – Volcanic – meaning the island was lifeless at first 4A – South America – SA was close enough for the creatures to get to the newly formed islands 4B – Flying, swimming, blowing, floating, piggy-backing

Question 6 1. Tortoise – 2 types - Domed shell with short neck and Saddle shell with long neck 2. Iguana – Marine – fed on seaweed and drank sea water – could eject excess salt from special glands in its head 4. Finches – 13 species 5. Lava Gull – Black in color (ancestor was white) 8. Cormorant – flightless – not a problem as there are no predators – still dries its wings even though it can’t fly – suggests its ancestor could fly

Why were the Galapagos Islands key for Darwin’s Discovery? Volcanic Origin – lifeless at first Close to SA – creatures could get there from SA Isolated – mutations occurring on separate islands are not passed to members on those islands – mutations on one island remain isolated from mutations on other islands – allowing evolution to continue along a different pathway