Darwin, Fossils, Galapagos Islands

A Comprehensive Field Guide Create four-member teams of students, with each team responsible for writing a field guide on a specific Galapagos island. Assign each team member to represent a specialist on one group of organisms such as plants, birds, reptiles, or marine mammals. Instruct students to be sure each guide includes descriptions of specific adaptations by local populations to their physical habitat. Include the geographic location of each island described. Letter to Darwin Since Darwin’s time, massive additional evidence has accumulated supporting the concept of evolution. Have students write a letter to Charles Darwin explaining how his theory of evolution by natural selection has been confirmed by modern technology such as biochemical analysis, fossil records, electron microscopy, and so on.       Discussion Questions 1. How did Darwin's work aboard the Beagle differ from the way scientists today work aboard the Steward Johnson? 2. Why are island populations so important in the study of animal adaptation? 3. What significant evidence do sea mounts provide about the history of the animals located today on the Galapagos Islands? 4. What adaptations must deep water organisms make as they are brought up for study from the deep sea environment? 5. What is meant by evolution through natural selection? 6. Many people believe, incorrectly, that the phrase "survival of the fittest" means only the strong survive. What does "survival of the fittest" really mean?

http://terraquest.com http://www.ucmp.berkely.edu http://www.darwinfoundation.org.bbc.co.ul http://geol.queensu.ca/museum/exhibits/dawnex.html http://www.exploratorium.edu/ http://www.gtlsys.com/ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/gallery/gallery.htm#Top