Charles Darwin

Darwin on the HMS Beagle The primary mission was to survey the coast of South America. He was a naturalist and companion to the captain. He collected biological and geological specimens during the ship’s travels. 2

The Galápagos Island Darwin collected mockingbirds, finches, and other animals, where he noticed that the different islands seemed to have their own, varieties of animals. 3

The Galápagos Island Darwin noticed similarities between the island and mainland species among mockingbird species He suspected that populations from the mainland changed after reaching the Galápagos. 4

Darwin continued his studies (don’t need to write down) Darwin inferred that if humans could change species by artificial selection (selective breeding), then perhaps the same process could work in nature. Darwin thought that given enough time, perhaps this process could produce new species. 5

Theory of Natural Selection Individuals in a population show variations Variations can be inherited Organisms have more offspring than can survive on available resources Variations that increase reproductive success will have a greater chance of being passed on 6

The Origin of Species Written & Published by Darwin. Today, biologists use the term evolution to define cumulative changes in groups of organisms through time. Darwin’s work explains how evolution works 7