Final answer:
Darwin made several observations on his voyage that helped him develop his theory of evolution, including the diversity of life, changes in continents and oceans, the transformation of Earth's surface, and the existence of extinct organisms. His observations on the Galápagos Islands were especially significant.
Step-by-step explanation:
During his voyage on the HMS Beagle, Darwin made several observations that helped him develop his theory of evolution. These observations included:
- Visiting new habitats and seeing many plants and animals he had never seen before, which indicated a great diversity of life.
- Experiencing an earthquake and finding fossil sea shells in mountains, suggesting dramatic changes in continents and oceans over time.
- Noticing rock ledges that had once been beaches, indicating that slow, steady processes also change Earth's surface.
- Digging up fossils of extinct mammals, providing hard evidence that organisms have looked very different in the past.
His observations on the Galápagos Islands were particularly important in shaping his theory of evolution.