The Galapagos Islands have
often been called a "laboratory of evolution"
There are very few places in the world where it has
been possible to find such a variety of species, both
plants and animals that show so many degrees of evolutionary
changes in such a restricted area. Oceanic islands
can have species that, though related to mainland
forms, have evolved in ways that differ from their
relatives because of their isolation in a different
environment. This is the key factor in island evolution.
It is not surprising that Charles Darwin was so struck
by the life he found on these islands.
Darwin finches are a classic example of adaptive radiation
in birds, which has served generations of evolutionary
biologists. Thirteen species evolved within the Galapagos
Archipelago from a common ancestor from the mainland.
The fourteenth species occurred on Cocos Island off
Costa Rica, about five hundred miles northeast of
the Galapagos. The original species diverged in 14
species, as they evolved and occupied niches.
The word endemic refers to organisms found nowhere
else in the world because they evolved and remained
isolated on a given area. Therefore, they developed
unique characteristics and today in Galapagos, you
will find several species that fall into this classification.
