Evidence for Evolution

What evidence is there for evolution?
(I'm talking about Darwinian evolution.)
We need evidence that species can change (adapt) and that new species can arise as evidenced in the fossil record.

Man, either intentionally or unintentionally, has influence the evolution of several species and these "experiments" are a fine example of evolution in action.
Another set of good data comes from careful observations of groups of related animals. Amongst them we find similarities and associations that are best understood in the light of Darwin's evolution theory.
Perhaps some of the best evidence for natural selection is the results of "unnatural selection" in the form of experiments and artificial selection.

Let's look at this evidence in some detail.

Darwin was familiar with the idea of artificial selection as practiced by plant and animal breeders for centuries.
Wheat farmers chose to sow the seeds of their most favoured individual plants. They had learned that those plants would produce a better crop year after year. Each season wheat farmers chose the fastest growing plants with the best yield of grain. Subsequent generations of wheat inherited those good traits from their parents and passed them on to their offspring.
No one at the time had a clear understanding of the science of heredity (Genetics) but they knew that offspring were most like their parents so it made sense to propagate those individuals that carried the traits the farmers' wanted. In this way man (an "artificial" agent) decided which individual plants and animals would be selected for breeding.

Darwin saw a close parallel between the artificial selection of breeders and the natural selection of nature. Darwin was a pigeon breeder so he saw the influence even a small amount of artificial selection could have on the size, colour, shape and behaviour of these birds. And pigeon breeding was a mere hobby! The effects of artificial selection in agriculture were more extensive and had been going on for a much longer time.

Indeed, it is often difficult to identify the wild species from which most of our domesticated plants and animals have descended!
The ancestor of modern maize (corn) produces an ear smaller than your smallest finger. The fruit of wild strawberries are never as large as that of the domesticated varieties. One breed of domestic chicken lays about 300 eggs throughout the year compared to its wild ancestor which lays only about a dozen eggs (as a single clutch) in season. Prize dairy cattle produce up to 10,000 litres of milk a year, far more than their "unselected" wild ancestors.

Artificial selection has produced a number of domestic "species" evolved (designed) to live with man. They serve our needs not theirs. Indeed, many domestic animals would be unable to survive in the wild and many domestic plants would be overwhelmed by the local weeds.

One of man's great success stories in artificial selection has turned a viscous, uncontrollable beast into a docile and useful pet.
Can you name that ancient ancestor and man's best friend?