7.

1 Darwin's Theory

Theory -

Darwin's Theory suggests- The idea that all species on earth are descendants of ancient species that
differ from modern species.

Before Darwin there were 2 common beliefs amongst the scientific community:

1) Species are fixed (permanent) - don't change over time

2) Earth is less than 10 000 years old and relatively unchanging.

NAME IDEA THEORY

Earth is formed by slow forces Uniformitarianism
that continue to shape the
HUTTON landscape

Rocks are shaped by slow Principles of Geology

processes over time
LYELL

Mammoths became extinct Some organisms became

extinct many years ago

CUVIER

LAMARCK
Adaptation-

Darwin- traveled to Galapagos islands (south America) on the HMS Beagle

-He collected many many specimens of plants and animals and observed landforms and fossils and
wrote extensive journals of his observations.

He noticed 3 patterns on his journey

1) species vary globally- distantly related species living in similar environments in different parts
of the world look and act similarly

ex. emus, rheas, and ostrich

2) Species vary locally- related species that live in different habitats in a local environment have
different features

ex. tortoises of Galapagos and birds beaks

3) Species vary over time- observed with fossil records- species change slowly over time

ex. glypotodon and armadillo

Reading Malthus' essay helped Darwin with his ideas

“ A large population can reduce supplies and resources and decrease the chance for survival allowing
only the "fittest" to survive.