Speciation: An Analysis of Diversity in Australia in Context of Darwin’s Theories of Evolution

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the elements that Charles Darwin discussed in his book On the Origin of Species in relation to the distinctive flora and fauna present on the Australian continent. Natural selection is the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change. Individuals in a population are naturally variable, meaning that they are all different in some ways. It is admirable and has a strong scientific foundation how natural selection is used to support the successful development of new offspring. The various principles analysed in this study are artificially introduced species, speciation in isolation, the impact of various geographical factors on speciation and its rate, and the effect of volatile periods in the planet’s history, such as glaciation. Furthermore, specific speciation in island ecosystems has played an important role in the diversification of organisms in Australia.