My Understanding of Evolution: Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution to explain the wide varieties of species that populate the earth. In Darwin’s studies he examined many different types of animals that ranged from the smallest insects to giant turtles. After examining the many different types of animals he discovered that some of these animals shared traits and characteristics. From this discovery Darwin developed his theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest. The basic concept in these theories state that animals are provided with certain traits that either help them survive in their current environment, or impede their progress in that environment. If the trait is beneficial the animal will prosper and continue to exist, however; if the trait is detrimental the animal will either need to develop some way to accommodate the needs of the environment, or nature will select that animal out of the environment because of incompatibility. Also some animals may have traits that will be compatible for an environment, but if another is better suited to survival in the same environment because of improved adaptations to the environment the stronger will survive. Most of Darwin’s studies took place during his travels in the Galapagos Islands and centered on the species that were indigenous to that part of the world. An example of Darwin’s theory of Natural selection would be a study of different types of moths that live in a selected area. All of the moths have the same basic characteristics, however; some of these insects have colorings that are bright and easily noticeable in the wild while others have more subdued colors that blend into the background. In a relatively short period of time the population of brightly colored moths will reduce to extinction because these moths will be easily noticed by predators and eaten. At the same time the moths that blend in will increase in population because they are easily hidden by their natural camouflage. They will also prosper because they will not have to compete with the brightly colored moths for limited food sources.
Charles Darwin points out in his book “Origin of the Species” that the natural selection of species is a process that takes considerable time. In some cases change may take place in a few short generations, but in some of the more significant cases it may take quite a few years for subtitle changes to take place. When Darwin was traveling around the South Pacific on HMS Beagle he was able to collect many different samples of new animals that had never been seen before. Some of these animals were similar to species that had been seen in Europe, but they had adaptations that allowed them to exist in the unique conditions of the Galapagos Islands. Darwin was able to compare these traits to similar species from around the world. In doing the comparison he was also able to consider the environments that the animals lived in and to identify the conditions that necessitated the changes.
