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Mathematical simulations at the University of Utah show parasitic flies may spell extinction for Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Islands, but that pest-control efforts might save the birds that helped inspire the theory of evolution. The new study shows that the fly has the potential to drive populations of the most common species of Darwin’s finch to extinction in several decades.
The research also shows that a modest reduction in the prevalence of the fly – through human intervention and management – would alleviate the extinction risk. Darwin’s finches live only in the Galapagos Islands. The finches began as one species and started evolving into separate species an estimated 3 million to 5 million years ago. According to the researchers, Darwin’s finches are one of the best examples we have of speciation.Image credit: Jennifer Koop, University of Utah
