The Evolution of Darwin’s Finches on the Galápagos Islands

B. Rosemary Grant and Peter R. Grant, Emeritus Professors, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
Charles Darwin laid the foundations of our current understanding of evolution in On the Origin of Species. In it, he suggested that islands provide the best evidence for evolutionary processes. In the 1970s, Rosemary and Peter Grant decided to follow Darwin’s lead. They began a four- decade search for the causes of evolution in the Galápagos Islands by studying Darwin’s finches on Daphne Major Island. They will discuss how their research-chronicled in their recent book, 40 Years of Evolution-has advanced the study of island evolution. Following their presentation, Harvard professor Jonathan Losos will engage the Grants in a discussion about the future of evolutionary studies on islands.
Evolution Matters Series supported by a generous gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit