Charles Darwin Chapter 9 Summary

Chapter 9 – On the Imperfection of the Geographical Record Through chapter nine, Darwin again addresses some holes within his theory. In this chapter, he refutes claims that may arise that involve fossils and other geographical evidence. The claim states that, if Darwin’s theory were to be complete and true, that paleontologists should be able to find fossils depicting the advancement of a species throughout the ages. Moreover, they should be able to find links between one species and another through intermediate links. However, since there is little evidence showing this development and the links, Darwin explains that the geographical record is incomplete. Since land has changed through means of location, climate, and other ways, scientists
The chapter starts with Darwin stressing that descent with modification a slow, gradual process that may take centuries to be visible. Re-emphasizing his past statement, Darwin again states that species with the best variations and that are best adapted to their environment overtake those older, less developed species. As new variations arise, new species emerge that are more perfect than the ones before it. The new species populate the environment and the less developed species dies out. Darwin later states this extinction (for certain species) is inevitable due to the unfavorable conditions in which the species lives in. Although the process is still unclear, Darwin believes a combination of the struggle for existence and natural selection dictates which species may or may not survive. Shifting focus on natural selection, Darwin believes natural selection and change can happen to all species in the world as opposed to in individual species at certain times. From geological evidence through landforms, he concludes species and landforms may develop simultaneously, labeling this idea as parallel succession. However, he also argues species do not remain in their environment forever. He believes geological change, such as migration, may affect the rate of descent with modification of a given species. While reviewing descent with modification Charles Darwin points out how different species are related through relationships he calls,”affinities”. Chapter ten ends with a summary of proceeding chapters and the current chapter. In it, Darwin concludes that over a long period of time, geographical change will cause new species to emerge which will cause old species to die out and leave the most perfect and developed species to