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Evolution in Hawaii A Supplement to 'Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science' (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Many Critical Problems Cannot Be Addressed Without Understanding Biological Evolution
Pages 26-27

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From page 26...
... Before humans began introducing non-native animals and plants in great numbers, fewer natural predators lived in Hawaii than on the mainland. As a result, many native species gradually lost preexisting defenses, such as thorns or toxins, because variants without the defenses might have enjoyed one or more adaptive advantages.
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From page 27...
... Apart from its practical applications, the theory of evolution has proven to be one of the most important unifying ideas in modern science. The basic mechanism at the heart of evolution the differential reproductive success of organisms with different heritable traits has profound implications throughout all of biology.
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