Question

12. how did darwin explain differences in shell shape of tortoises from hood island and isabela island

Answer 1

Charles Darwin explained the differences in shell shape of tortoises from Hood Island and Isabela Island by observing their adaptation to different environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Charles Darwin explained the differences in shell shape of tortoises from Hood Island and Isabela Island by observing their adaptation to their environments. He noticed that tortoises on Hood Island had saddle-shaped shells, which allowed them to reach plant leaves above their head, while tortoises on Isabela Island had dome-shaped shells, which prevented them from reaching up in the same way. Darwin hypothesized that over time, tortoises developed different shell shapes based on the availability of food sources on their respective islands.

Answer 2

Natural selection

According to Charles Darwin, natural selection differentiates shell shapes between tortoises from the Hood and Isabela islands. He hypothesized that tortoises with shells better suited to their specific environments are likely to survive and pass on their advantageous characteristics to their offspring.

On each island, distinctive shell shapes emerged due to the gradual accumulation of advantageous characteristics suited to particular environmental circumstances.