Darwin and Wallace

 Alfred Russel Wallace

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Variations in traits among a species lie behind Charles Darwin’s concept of natural selection. Those traits that lead to differential reproduction success [1] will cause some of a given species to reproduce at a faster rate than others. For example: a brightly colored insect increases its chance of being eaten by birds, leading to a lowered reproduction rate compared to their dull-colored counterparts. As more brown and gray beetles survive, they pass on the brown or gray gene, resulting in more beetles of that color.

Variation + differential reproduction + heredity = natural selection. Natural selection is the driving force behind Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, detailed in his book, Origin of Species, written on his return from the five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. He joined the voyage in December 1831 as a geologist and naturalist, but biology began to consume him early in the five-year trek around the point of South America, to the Galapagos Islands, he noticed differences in animals seen in Chile and those seen on the Galapagos Islands, and in differences from island to island. From there, he began formulating his theory of natural selection.

Alfred Russell Wallace, inspired in part by Darwin’s 1839 Journal of Researches [2] (known to modern readers as The Voyage of the Beagle) an account of his Beagle research, and Alexander von Humboldt’s’ Personal Narrative [3]. Wallace joined the Mischief in 1848 for a similar journey. He and entomologist Henry Bates spen more than four years collecting specimens of animals, plants, and insects inhabiting the Americas. He suffered setbacks, including a fire aboard the Helen, the ship that was to return him to England. He was able to save little of his specimens and samples. A brig sailing from Cuba picked him up after days adrift in a small craft and arrived in London in 1852. He departed England again in 1854, destined for the Malay Archipelago, where he devised his own theory of natural selection.

In early 1858, Wallace contacted Darwin regarding the similarity of their work. Darwin offered to send Wallace’s paper to a scientific journal. It was published the same year with a description of Darwin’s theory. Darwin’s Origin of Species published the following year, preceded Wallace’ The Mandalay Archipelago by ten years, likely a major reason for Darwin’s continued fame. Charles Darwin was already well known in academic and scientific circles when Wallace began his own voyage of discovery. Several websites outlining the accomplishments of the two men indicate that, had not the respected Darwin published his work first, the theory promoted by Wallace are likely to be as varied and complex as the differences in their life experiences. In any even the world has accepted “Darwinism” in its lexicography, while Wallace remains a footnote.

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Notes:

[1] Differential reproductive success: A situation in which some individuals leave more offspring in the next generation than do others, often due to traits that confer advantages in survival and/or reproduction.

https://evolution.berkeley.edu/glossary/differential-reproductive-success/#:~:text=A%20situation%20in%20which%20some,in%20survival%20and%2For%20reproduction.

 

[2] Charles Darwin, Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries, 1859

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6951

 

[3] Alexander von Humboldt, 1822 Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6322

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