Precipitation Affects the Beak Size of Finches

Precipitation Affects the Beak Size of Finches

Introduction and Purpose

According to Merriam-Webster, (2013), “Evolution is the biological theory that animals and plant have their own origin in other pre-existing types that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successful generations.” This research studied finches and how precipitation affects their beak size. Originally from the Wallace Island, researchers placed some finches on the Darwin Island. The precipitation is much higher and helps to make the study easier. Researchers found that Darwin Island was able to flourish with vegetation and food for the birds. Over the span of 100 years the finches were able to adapt to the environment. Food was easy to come by as the birds did not have difficulty finding food, thus causing their beaks to shrink over time. On the other hand, the birds left on Wallace Island used their beaks more as the food and seeds from plants were bigger and harder. Wallace Island finches had bigger beaks than those on Darwin Island.

Materials

Materials used to conduct research on this study were a computer and access to the evolution lab.

Methods and Procedures

To complete the research study researchers moved birds from the Wallace Island, an island with low precipitation, to the Darwin Island where there is high precipitation. The independent variable in this study are the birds on the Darwin Island as researchers are taking them from their normal environment and placing them in an environment that they will now have to adapt to. Researchers monitored the birds eating habits and found that high precipitation provided vegetation with smaller, softer seeds. This made it unnecessary for the birds to have a large beak. As time passed the size of their beaks got smaller