It has been observed that organisms on islands are different from, but closely related to, similar forms found on the nearest continent. This is taken as evidence that
A) island forms and mainland forms descended from common ancestors.
B) common environments are inhabited by the same organisms.
C) the islands were originally part of the continent.
D) the island forms and mainland forms are converging.
E) island forms and mainland forms have identical gene pools.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that organisms on islands are closely related to similar forms found on the nearest continent suggests that they have descended from a common ancestor. This is known as the theory of evolution, which proposes that all living organisms on Earth share a common ancestry and have evolved over time through natural selection and other selective pressures. The similarity between island and mainland forms is evidence that they share a common ancestry, and that the island forms have evolved in isolation from their mainland counterparts.

It Has Been Observed That Organisms on Islands Are Different