1. Charles Darwin The Naturalist

2. Charles Darwin Born Feb. 12, 1809 Joined Crew of HMS Beagle, 1831
Took a 5 year voyage around world
Naturalist – studied and appreciated nature
Avid collector of flora (plants) & fauna (animals)
Astounded by variety of life

3. Darwin’s Voyage of Discovery
A reconstruction of the HMS Beagle sailing off.

4. Darwin returned 5 years later in 1836
Darwin Left England in 1831
Darwin returned 5 years later in 1836

5. The Galapagos Islands Various climates
Small chain of islands off the coast of Ecuador in South America
Various climates
Animals on the islands were unique
Tortoises
Iguanas
Finches

6. The Galapagos Islands
Darwin noted that the species found on one island looked different from those on nearby islands.
Many of the islands’ species looked different than mainland species.

8. Darwin is perhaps most famous for his research on the Galapagos finches.
Finches on the islands resembled a mainland finch.
Different types of finches appeared on the islands where the available food was different (seeds, nuts, berries, insects, etc.).
Finches had developed different types of beaks as an adaptation to their type of food gathering.

9. Darwin’s Observations
Through his travels, Darwin saw unique adaptations in organisms throughout the world.
Species were not evenly distributed
Australia had kangaroos, but no rabbits
S. America the only continent with Llamas

10. Darwin’s Observations
He collected both living organisms & fossils.
Fossils included:
Trilobites
Giant Ground Sloth of South America
Some species NO longer existed. What had happened to them?

11. Evolution
The slow, gradual change in a species over time

12. Evolution happens through natural selection.
Also known as “survival of the fittest”