Finch Beak Adaptation & Form

Explore how changes in environmental conditions (rainfall) alter the available food supply, driving natural selection and changing the physical form (beak size) of a finch population over generations.

Environmental Controls

Affects seed size availability. High rain = soft, small seeds. Low rain = hard, large seeds.

Simulation Controls

Current Status

Generation: 0

Population: 100

Avg Beak Size: 10.0 mm

Island Ecosystem

Large/Hard Seeds
Small/Soft Seeds

Beak Size Distribution (Current Gen)

Average Beak Size over Time

The Science: Adaptation and Form

This simulation demonstrates the principles of natural selection and adaptation, specifically focusing on how environmental changes drive shifts in physical form (morphology). This is inspired by the classic studies of Darwin's Finches on the Galapagos Islands.

How it works:

  • Variation: The finch population naturally has a variety of beak sizes (measured in millimeters).
  • Environment (Rainfall): The amount of rainfall dictates the types of seeds that plants produce. High rainfall produces an abundance of small, soft seeds. Drought (low rainfall) causes plants to produce fewer seeds, and the ones that remain are mostly large, hard seeds.
  • Selection: Finches with small beaks are efficient at eating small seeds but struggle to crack large seeds. Finches with large, deep beaks can crack large seeds but are less efficient at gathering tiny seeds.
  • Reproduction: Birds that successfully gather enough food (based on how well their beak matches the available seeds) survive and reproduce, passing their beak size trait to their offspring (with slight random mutations).

By observing the population over multiple generations, you can see adaptation in real-time as the population's physical form shifts to match the demands of the environment.