Which of the following observations helped Darwin shape his concept of descent with modification?
A) Species diversity declines farther from the equator.
B) Fewer species live on islands than on the nearest continents.
C) Birds live on islands located farther from the mainland than the birds' maximum nonstop flight distance.
D) South American temperate plants are more similar to the tropical plants of South America than to the temperate plants of Europe.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Darwin's concept of descent with modification is supported by the observation that species in a given area are more similar to each other than to species in other areas, regardless of climate. This suggests that geographic proximity and shared ancestry, rather than similar environmental conditions, are more important in determining the characteristics of species. The similarity between South American temperate plants and the tropical plants of South America, rather than to the temperate plants of Europe (D), illustrates this principle by showing that plants in the same geographic region (South America) are more similar to each other despite different climates, supporting the idea of descent with modification from common ancestors.

Which of the Following Observations Helped Darwin Shape His Concept