Question

Jonathan Losos introduced a species of anole onto a Florida island that already had another species, and then studied their descendants. How are his investigation and observations similar to the work of the Grants on the Galápagos Islands?

Answer 1

Jonathan Losos's study on anole lizards in Florida and the Grants' research on Darwin's finches in the Galápagos both exemplify real-time observations of evolution and natural selection, echoing Darwin's original notions and investigations of species adaptations in the Galápagos.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jonathan Losos's investigation on anole lizards in Florida is similar to the work of Peter and Rosemary Grant on the Galápagos Islands in several respects. Both studies focused on observing evolution in real-time by examining the morphological changes within species that coexist in similar environments. Losos introduced an anole species onto a Florida island to study the evolutionary changes in the descendants in the presence of another anole species, while the Grants re-studied Darwin's finches over 30 years to witness natural selection in action.

These observations mirror Darwin's insights during his visit to the Galápagos aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, where he observed different species, like the distinct types of finches and iguanas, and their specialized traits like beak size and dietary habits. The fundamental concept highlighted by both Losos's and the Grants' studies aligns with Darwin's theory, demonstrating how species evolve specialized adaptations to reduce competition and survive within their respective ecosystems.