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Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 18: Wallace On The Balance Of Nature, Charles H. Smith
Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 18: Wallace On The Balance Of Nature, Charles H. Smith
Faculty/Staff Personal Papers
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) had a unique perspective on the ‘balance of nature’: he avoided classical thoughts on the subject, but nevertheless seems to have adopted elements of the ‘balance’ concept while acknowledging that irreversible change occurs at both the biological and environmental levels. Wallace’s position can be understood from his grounding in Humboldtian ‘equilibrium of forces’ thinking, and his turn toward ‘final causes’-based interpretations.
A Further Look At The 1858 Wallace-Darwin Mail Delivery Question, Charles H. Smith
A Further Look At The 1858 Wallace-Darwin Mail Delivery Question, Charles H. Smith
DLPS Faculty Publications
Recent investigations have led to a conclusion that Alfred Russel Wallace probably mailed his ‘Ternate’ paper on natural selection to Darwin a month later than some have thought, thus freeing Darwin from possible accusations of plagiarism. Further examination of the question suggests this conclusion is premature, as the evidence in favor of the later mailing date appears to be shakier than first thought.
Natural Selection: A Concept In Need Of Some Evolution?, Charles H. Smith
Natural Selection: A Concept In Need Of Some Evolution?, Charles H. Smith
DLPS Faculty Publications
In some respects natural selection is a quite simple theory, arrived at through the logical integration of three propositions (the presence of variation within natural populations, an absolutely limited resources base, and procreation capacities exceeding mere replacement numbers) whose individual truths can hardly be denied. Its relation to the larger subject of evolution, however, remains problematic. It is suggested here that a scaling-down of the meaning of natural selection to “the elimination of the unfit,” as originally intended by Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913), might ultimately prove a more effective means of relating it to larger-scale, longer-term, evolutionary processes.
Areographic Representation Of Faunal Characteristics Through A "Second Order" Relational Approach, Charles H. Smith
Areographic Representation Of Faunal Characteristics Through A "Second Order" Relational Approach, Charles H. Smith
DLPS Faculty Publications
Areographic analysis has traditionally depended on primary data consisting of location-specific tallies of presence or absence of given forms. In the present work, an alternate manner of representing distributions is suggested. Regional units are first established, and presence and absence of the forms under consideration in these units is noted. The relation of the biota at any given point location to all others is then established through examination of the former's characteristics of inclusion in the latter. This is accomplished by detailing regional level trends of inclusion and setting up a "second-order" distribution of associations. Two kinds of descriptive information …