Which of the following is an example of uniformitarianism in evolutionary biology?

The concept of uniformitarianism in evolutionary biology is grounded in the principle that the processes we observe today—such as erosion, sedimentation, and natural selection—have operated in a similar manner throughout Earth’s history. This principle emphasizes continuity in geological and biological processes over time.

The choice that emphasizes using observations of current erosion to understand ancient formations aligns perfectly with this concept. By studying modern erosive processes, scientists can infer how similar processes may have shaped ancient landscapes and influenced the emergence and adaptation of species over evolutionary timescales. This approach reinforces the idea that understanding current, observable phenomena can shed light on the past, thereby illustrating the uniformitarian perspective in biology.

The other options focus on different aspects. For instance, describing a canyon's formation by recent major floods pertains more to catastrophic events than to gradual, consistent processes. Analyzing finches as examples of recent adaptations looks at contemporary evolution but does not directly tie to principles of uniformitarianism in terms of historical geological processes. Concluding that only new species can evolve makes a claim about species evolution without reference to the processes that have occurred over time, which is contrary to the core philosophy of uniformitarianism.