Charles Darwin's Influence On Evolution

Math Darwin, again, is very famous, or infamous, for his studies on finches. First he noted on the differences on the sizes of the birds. Their size accounts for certain elements that occur in nature. For instance, concerning islands (and how effective of an example they are) they have different habitats to live in. Certain islands have bigger predators, others have smaller or no predators at all. In island 1 the finch lives with the more predators, and therefore could grow larger than the predators or smaller in an attempt to hide. But and area with none would most certainly make them bigger. Also the availability of food could play a huge factor in the sizes of finches. Less food, smaller body. The same is for the opposite, More food, larger
body. Peter and Rosemary Grant made a analysis, or graph, of the sizes of finches (Figure 2). These show the variations in the birds per island, and a quick reference to a supposed common ancestor (Eldredge 200). This said, it can also apply to wingspans, and the distances of travel, and to the size of the beak, which is the most well known part of his research. Earlier mentioned are his charts and graphs that focused on the change of species over a certain point of time. As shown, there is a beginning, or as Darwin put it, a common ancestor. This species lives and reproduces for a long time, with small varieties of differences coming forth. “The intervals between the horizontal lines in the diagram, may represent each a thousand or more generations. After a thousand generations, species (A) is supposed to have produced two fairly well-marked varieties, namely a1 and m1” (Darwin 55). Darwin continues his mathematical representation of time passing by saying that each branching of his graph represents another thousand generations, and in the end, fourteen thousand generations have produced eight “varieties or modified descendants of the common parent” (Darwin 57). After Darwin presented his research, many naturalists followed the same path Darwin did, hoping to understand what he saw. They started to collect specimens of finches throughout the islands of the Galapagos. Thousands and thousands of different birds were needed just to study how they represent each variety, to prove what Darwin has presented in his graph. For example, “In 1868, 450 specimens. In 1891, about 1,100 specimens. In 1897, 3,075. In the ambitious expedition of the California Academy of Sciences in 1905-6, 8,691 specimens. By then, Darwins finches had become one of the best-known tribes of birds on the planet” (Weiner 36). These large amounts of specimens were then measured, compared to other finches, weighed, described, colored, separated, and catalogued for further study. Then they look at the data to do exactly what Darwin predicted. Over time, the differences in varieties over time branch apart and natural selection occurs. Only through intense study and graphing, research and comparing data, would scientists be able to prove any of this.
Literature
Darwin is also considered, sometimes above evolution, to be a renowned author and writer.
Throughout his travels” he took many notes upon his own life and adventures, specifically when he voyaged on the HMS Beagle. He compiled this into what today is known as the Red and Transmutation notebooks. This led to the creation of less well known pieces of literature, used for Darwins eyes only. Both researches lead him to finishing his theory and writing the Origin of Species. Darwin wrote first the Red notebook, officially notebook “A.” This notebook focused on his voyage on the Beagle and, mostly, the geography of the places he visited. This was the main focus of the book, and had very little to do with his upcoming theory. However, there are small sections where he notes the relation between Rheas in the same country. “Should urge that extinct llama owned its death not to change of circumstances; reversed argument. knowing it to be a desert. Tempted to believe animals created for a definite time: -- not extinguished by changed
circumstances. The same kind of relation that common ostrich bears to Petisse… extinct Guanaco to recent: in former case position, in latter time.(or changes consequent on lape) being the relation --- as in first cases distinct species inoculation so we must believe ancient ones, therefore not gradual change or degeneration. from circumstances: if one species does change into another it must be per saltum---or species may perish. This inosculation (representation) [Darwin’s own later insertion] of species is important, each it’s own limit and representation---Chloe Creeper: Furnarius. Caracara Calandria: inoculation alone shows not gradation” (Eldredge 97, Red 129-130). This is, in historians eyes, a prelude to the idea of evolution. He later again brings the fact up, but never goes into detail until notebooks B-E, which do focus on the fundamental ideas of his theory. Next he wrote the 1842 Sketch. This essay has two parts, the first being relatively short with only eighteen pages consisting of three chapters. The first focuses on variation under domestication, the second variation under natural means, and third variation in natural instincts and behaviours (Eldredge 137). This section is a simple comparison to natural breeding and domestic. The second sketch has seven sections, or chapters, with a powerful ending that summarizes his ideas and creates a template for his next few works. His first of these chapters he speaks of not knowing the will of God. The next two section were on geology, and an explanation about the gaps in fossil records. He goes on to mention how evolution, in his mind, works, and how animals differentiate from other species. His next work is the Essay of 1844. In short, with no real detail, it was a longer version of his sketches. At last he wrote the Origin of Species. This book is not the end of his researches and writing, but it is considered his best work, and at the same time worst work. He compiles his previous two books, or rather essays, into a 490 page extravaganza of science and research. He first talks about variation between species, both artificial and natural. With this he tells of his experience in pigeon breeding, and also mentioning the differences in barnacles. He also mentions geology in these chapters as well. Next, he explains branches of life. This example where a common ancestor evolves into different branches of species over time (see figure 2). This also raised the question, in which has given him much criticism, could man have evolved the same way, like the ape (see figure 5)? He has also done two other, less important works. The first being the Journal of Researches, or the Journey of the Beagle, the more common name. It is a timeline of his journey, and researches, on more species and diverse topics. He also did an autobiography about himself. This book is also considered to be a great work of art among literature.
Conclusion
Throughout his work Darwin has proved time and time again the theory of evolution is plausible without doubt.
However, even though he has been given much credit for his studies, he is still the most attacked and criticised scientist in the history of the modern age. “Loved by his family, appreciated and admired by his friends, an intellectual beacon to many, in turn respected and reviled, Darwin came to the end of his life knowing that he had brought about an extraordinary transformation in scientific thought. His identity had become subsumed in that of his book. ‘If I had been a friend of myself, I should have hated me,’ he remarked with some humour to Huxley at the height of the controversy” (Browne 117). His research brought about new ideas of origin, from animal to human, and has opened the path of research for new forms of life. His great works of literature have conveyed a strange, but fascinating, new light on the world. When animals enter into or are forced to a new environment, or run out of a certain resources, they must adopt, or change, to the new habitat in which they live, else they leave, or perish. Throughout his life he studied, sometimes without notice, the new ideas, from his books and notes, that would shape the future of science into something new, and the world would never be seen the same again. That is the legacy of Charles
Darwin.