Charles Darwin's ecological experiment on Ascension isle. 1 September 2010Last updated at 11:39 By Howard Falcon-Lang Science reporter, BBC News Cloud forest now forms a damp oasis on Ascension's highest peak A lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin's best-kept secret. Two hundred years ago, Ascension Island was a barren volcanic edifice. Today, its peaks are covered by lush tropical "cloud forest". What happened in the interim is the amazing story of how the architect of evolution, Kew Gardens and the Royal Navy conspired to build a fully functioning, but totally artificial ecosystem. By a bizarre twist, this great imperial experiment may hold the key to the future colonisation of Mars. The tiny tropical island of Ascension is not easy to find.
Its existence depends entirely on what geologists call the mid-Atlantic ridge. Ascension is one of a number of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic However, because Ascension occupies a "hot spot" on the ridge, its volcano is especially active. A new island was born. Classroom Activities - Evolving Switches Evolving Bodies. Evolution. Peppered Moth Simulation. Name:______________________________________________ Objective: Simulate changes in moth population due to pollution and predation, and observe how species can change over time. Introduction: Charles Darwin accumulated a tremendous collection of facts to support the theory of evolution by natural selection. One of his difficulties in demonstrating the theory, however, was the lack of an example of evolution over a short period of time, which could be observed as it was taking place in nature. Although Darwin was unaware of it, remarkable examples of evolution, which might have helped to persuade people of his theory, were in the countryside of his native England.
One such example is the evolution of the peppered moth Biston betularia. The economic changes known as the industrial revolution began in the middle of the eighteenth century. Instructions: Click the link below to read more information on Kettlewell's study of moths. Peppered Moth Simulation at peppermoths.weebly.com 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Natural Selection - Natural Selection, Evolution, Mutation. Evolution. Extraordinary Adaptation.