Which of the following is an important characteristic of the Galápagos Islands in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution?
A) The islands were too far from mainland South America for most terrestrial plants and animals to colonize.
B) The organisms on the islands were different from those observed in South America.
C) The organisms on the islands were similar to those observed in South America.
D) The organisms on the islands varied from island to island.
E) All of the above answers are important characteristics.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Galápagos Islands are significant in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution for several reasons: they were isolated enough to prevent easy colonization by mainland species (A), the organisms present showed differences from those in South America indicating adaptive evolution (B), there were similarities with South American species suggesting a common origin (C), and there was variation among organisms from different islands (D), illustrating adaptive radiation.

Which of the Following Is an Important Characteristic of the Galápagos