Researchers designed a simulation to show when finch species started to diverge.
The beaks of Darwin's medium ground finches can evolve to crush the shells of hard seeds. One definitive way to link ecological changes to evolution would require a time machine. Traveling both backward and forward would allow observers to see how particular animals adapt to changes in climate, environment, or other variables.
Beaks’ shapes then affect the songs the finches sing, which, in turn can attract different potential mates. Another population — again, descended from the same species, might live in a forest and predominantly dine on bugs. Over time, they would develop small, dainty beaks that are good for catching insects.To answer that question, Podos essentially simulated a time machine. Going backwards was relatively easy, because biologists have accumulated decades of data on finch beaks’ size and shape in relationship to the environment in which they live.
The researchers knew from earlier work that drought conditions produce birds with thicker beaks, which, in turn results in lower frequencies. So they recorded many finch songs from many generations, as the beaks thickened and the song frequency lowered.
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