CURSO PALEONTOLOGÍA Y GEOLOGÍA HISTÓRICA 2022-1

DEPARTAMENTO DE GEOCIENCIAS Y MEDIO AMBIENTE

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

LABORATORIO 1: EVOLUCIÓN

Nombre:
Cédula: Grupo:

Los pinzones de Darwin: un ícono de la evolución en las Islas Galápagos

Para comenzar debes tener a la mano la tabla de especies y el mapa de las islas Galápagos.

1. Con base en la información suministrada describe cada tipo morfológico de ave. Para cada uno,
¿cómo crees que les sirve su morfología para sobrevivir mejor?

2. ¿Qué aves crees que están más cercanamente relacionadas? Las que viven en la misma isla, pero
en diferentes hábitats, o las que viven en diferentes islas, ¿pero tienen las mismas características
morfológicas y hábitat? Explica por qué.

3. Escribe dos hipótesis alternativas de cómo estas aves pudieron haberse especiado/evolucionado
en y entre las islas

4. ¿Cómo podrías probar las hipótesis planteadas?

5. Con base en la tabla de especies suministrada, agrupa las especies que consideres más cercanas
indicando el criterio que utilizaste.

6. Compara los grupos realizados en el punto anterior con el árbol filogenético que te presentará
la profesora.

7. La evidencia molecular indica que la única especie antepasada de los pinzones llegó a las Islas
Galápagos hace entre 2 y 3 millones de años. Desde entonces, estas islas volcánicas han sufrido
muchos cambios en el nivel del mar, la elevación y el clima. ¿Qué presiones de selección
consideras podrían haber enfrentado los pinzones? ¿Considerando la morfología de estos, cual
parámetro consideras pudo haber tenido mayor importancia?

8. ¿Cómo la evidencia fósil podría ayudar a probar las hipótesis de la evolución de los pinzones
en las Galápagos?
 Conservation
# Scientific Name Informal Name Can be seen on information Photo
status

Originally thought to be the same species

as Grey Warbler Finches, the Green
Warbler Finch was identified as a seperate
Santa Cruz, Isabela,
species in 2008, with subtle differences in
Fernandina, Floreana,
Certhidea Green Warbler habitat, appearance and song call. This
1 Vulnerable Española, Genovesa,
olivacea Finch finch lives in the central islands of the
Santiago, North Seymour,
Galapagos, in regions where Scalesia
Rabida, Pinzon
forests grow, and is often spotted around
the Twin Craters (Los Gemelos) on Santa
Cruz Island.

Named because of its uncanny

resemblance to the Warbler Species, there
are two types of Warbler Finches at
Galapagos – grey and green. The Grey
San Cristobal, Floreana, Warbler Finch lives on the outlying islands
Grey Warbler Española, Santa Fe, of the archipelago, found in shrubland and
2 Certhidea fusca Least Concern
Finch Genovesa, Pinta, dry forest of arid zones. Warbler Fnches
Marchena have a slender beak that they use to pierce
tree bark in search of insects and spiders.
Both Warbler Finch species high pitched,
repetitive calls, repeated in quick
succession.
 Mangrove Finches are extremely rare to
see, found only in two small areas of
mangrove forest on Isabela Island, and
critically endangered due to breeding
problems in these small populations.
Mangrove Finches eat insects, with their
thin and downward curving beaks able to
Geospiza Critically
3 Mangrove Finch Isabela penetrate tree bark to forage for food. The
heliobates Endangered
Charles Darwin Foundation is actively
involved in trying to invigorate the
Mangrove finch population. The station
scientists collect eggs from nests on
Isabela, to hatch them in incubators, and
raise the chicks safety until they are ready
for release back into the Isabela wild.

Found in both highland Scalesia forests and

lowland arid zones the Woodpecker Finch
is one of the most innovative birds of the
Woodpecker Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, species. They use small twigs and cactus
4 Geospiza pallida Vulnerable
Finch Isabela, Santiago spines to dig into crevasses and cracks in
trees, forcing insects and spiders out into
the open, and even use their long beaks to
sharpen more appropriate tools for the job
 Identified by its four-note song, faded
green plumage, and black hood and breast,
the Large Tree Finch’s has a larger beak
Santa Cruz, Isabela, than the two other Tree Finches,
Geospiza Fernandina, Santa Fe, resembling that of a parrot. This finch
5 Large Tree Finch Vulnerable
psittacula Santiago, Rabida, Pinta, species eats insects, caterpillars, spiders,
Marchena seeds, and nectar, breeding between
December and June, with eggs that hatch
quickly, and chicks that fledge within two
weeks of hatching.

The Medium Tree Finch can only be found

in the Scalesia forests of Floreana
Highlands, and is on the critically
endangered list due to the impact of the
Philornis Downsi parasitic fly. The fly’s
Geospiza Medium Tree Critically larvae feed on the finch nestlings to such
6 Floreana
pauper Finch Endangered an extent that scientific studies suggest
only 6% of active nests are able to produce
fledglings. The Medium Tree Finch has a
curved, gripping beak that helps the greyish
brown and yellow bird feed on insects,
seeds, and nectar.
 The miniature, curved beak of the Small
Tree Finch distinguishes it from the other
Santa Cruz, San Cristobal,
13 species in the group, and makes the
Isabela, Fernandina,
Geospiza perfect tool to catch and eat insects. This
7 Small Tree Finch Least Concern Floreana, Santa Fe,
parvula Finch also feeds on seeds, fruit, and nectar,
Santiago, Rabida, North
where males have black hoods and grey
Seymour, Pinzon, Daphne
feathers, while females have browner
feathers that are streaked.

The Large Ground Finch is the largest of the

thirteen Galapagos species, and also has
the largest beak, which it uses to good
Santa Cruz, Isabela,
effect cracking open nuts. The male’s
Fernandina, Santiago,
Geospiza Large Ground feathers are black from beak to foot, while
8 Least Concern Genovesa, Rabida, Pinta,
magnirostris Finch the female large ground finch’s plumage is
Pinzon,
brown with streaks. The birds mate for life,
Daphne, Marchena
with the nesting season taking place
between December and June when food
supplies are abundant.
 Found on most Galapagos islands, the
Medium Ground Finch’s adaptability has
impressed scientists and naturalists during
Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, recent studies – within the species,
Isabela, Fernandina, Medium Ground Finches have both small
Medium Ground Floreana, Santa Fe, and large beaks. On Daphne Major, the
9 Geospiza fortis Least Concern
Finch Santiago, Rabida, North finches developed smaller beaks after a
Seymour, Pinta, Daphne, strong El Nino event, when an abundance
Marchena of seeds were the primary food supply. Like
the large ground finch, the male medium
ground finch is black, and the female is
mainly a non-descript dull gray.
 The Small Ground Finch is one of the most
common species found at the Galapagos
Islands – often you will find them in towns
– and it is also the smallest. Their small
Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, beaks are perfect for picking up seeds from
Isabela, Fernandina, the ground, and they aso enjoy eating bugs
Geospiza Small Ground Floreana, Española, Santa – often seen sitting on the backs of Giant
10 Least Concern
fuliginosa Finch Fe, Santiago, Rabida, Tortoise, waiting for bugs to land. The
North Seymour, Pinta, males are all black, and females are brown
Daphne, Marchena with streaked plumage. Like other ground
finches, Small Ground Finches mate during
the rainy season, when the foliage of the
islands blooms, producing enough food to
sustain young chicks and fledglings.

The wonderfully named Vampire Finch gets

it’s nickname from feeding habits which
include sucking the blood of large sea birds.
Sharp-beaked Although typically a seed-eater, the Sharp-
Geospiza Fernandina, Pinta,
11 Ground Finch (or Least Concern Beaked Ground Finch also eats seabird eggs
difficilis Darwin, Wolf
Vampire Finch) and cactus nectar. Most commonly found
on Fernandina and Pinta Islands, this
species of finch has become extinct in other
parts of Galapagos.
 Found only on Española Island, the aptly
named Large Cactus Finch uses it’s long,
sharp, pointed beak to feed on Opuntia
Geospiza Large Cactus Cactus nectar, buds and seeds, as well as
12 Least Concern Española
conirostris Finch insects. Males have black plumage, while
females sport grey feathers with streaks.
Mating season takes place when the rains
come between December and June.

The Common Cactus Finch was originally

mis-identified by Charles Darwin as a
blackbird. Its beak is long, sharp, and
Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, pointed, enabling the bird to forage for
Isabela, Floreana, Santa food from Opuntia Cacti plants – nectar and
Geospiza Common Cactus
13 Least Concern Fe, Santiago, Genovesa, pollen when in flower, or buds and seeds
scandens Finch
Rabida, North Seymour, seeds, our of season, also eating
Pinta, Daphne caterpillars, and budworms. Like other
finches, the males are black from beak to
tail, and the females are grey with striped
plumage.