Question

What do molecular phylogenetic indicate about Darwin's finches on the Galapagos islands?

1) Some Darwin's finches that were originally assumed to be a single species are actually more closely related to other finch species.
2) They were the result of a single ancestral arrival as opposed to multiple migrating species.
3) The Cocos island finch evolved from an ancestor that was already present in the Galapagos.
4) All of the above.

Answer 1

Molecular phylogenetics indicates that some Darwin's finches are closely related to other species, they were the result of a single ancestral arrival, and 4) he Cocos island finch evolved from an ancestor already present in the Galapagos.

Step-by-step explanation:

Molecular phylogenetics indicates all of the above about Darwin's finches on the Galapagos islands. Firstly, it reveals that some Darwin's finches that were originally assumed to be a single species are actually more closely related to other finch species. This suggests that there has been evolutionary divergence and the formation of new species. Secondly, it supports the idea that they were the result of a single ancestral arrival rather than multiple migrating species. Finally, molecular phylogenetics also suggests that the Cocos island finch evolved from an ancestor that was already present in the Galapagos.