Birds named for Darwin are evolving

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-darwin14.html

WASHINGTON -- Finches on the Galapagos Islands that inspired Charles Darwin to develop the concept of evolution are now helping confirm it -- by evolving.

A medium-sized species of Darwin's finch has evolved a smaller beak to take advantage of different seeds just two decades after the arrival of a larger rival for its original food source.

The altered beak size shows that species competing for food can undergo evolutionary change, said Peter Grant of Princeton University, author of the report in today's issue of the journal Science.

[Skinner]

1. But... but...

The bird is still a bird! It won't be real evolution unless the bird turns into a dog!

[ChickMagic]

2. That's right, Skinner.

And the dog would then have to become a human!

[sam sarrha]

4. and All men are DOG's so that is proof Evolution is a FACT.!!

:rofl:

[Flirtus]

6. AMEN!

[sam sarrha]

3. some birds not common to Maine were blown off course by a storm and ended

up in an area of dense undergrowth.. they were originally common to open forest. in the thickets of Maine they lost their ability to fly in only 6 generations.. they now hop from limb to limb or run along the ground, if you took one to open ground it could not fly.

[ChickMagic]

7. I was watching a documentary

about a species of parrot that this happened to. They had
developed dense bones like non-birds in a relatively short
time. They hopped along the ground. But, they still had a
residual memory of being able to fly, so they'd try to take
off and fall to the ground. It was sad, but I hate myself
for giggling.

[deaniac21]

8. Maine has a way of doin' that to ya...

[Tanuki]

5. Excellent book

about the Grants' research is "The Beak of the Finch", by Jonathan Weiner. It won the Pulitzer Prize for science writing a few years ago, but the style of writing is very interesting and accessible for non-scientists. In addition to discussing the present-day evolutionary studies, there is a lot of fascinating info about Darwin, his work and the times he lived in.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067973337X/sr=8-1/qid=1152884120/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3678277-4880909?ie=UTF8

(edited to add link)

[Igel]

9. It's a step in evolution.

Taking advantage of pleiotropic variation is part of it. Expect no evolution deniers to be convinced, because while necessary, it's not sufficient.