Darwins Theory of Natural Selection :: essays research papers fc

Charles Darwin revolutionized biology when he introduced The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859. Although W aloneace had also came upon this revelation shortly before Origins was published, Darwin had long been in development of this theory. Wallace amicably relinquished the idea to Darwin, allowing him to become the first pioneer of evolution. Darwin was not set to publish his finding, which hed been collecting for several years before Wallace struck upon it, because he had never come across a single naturalist who seemed to uncertainness to permanence of species (Ridley, pp. 70). What follows are the key points of Darwins Theory of Natural Selection taken directly from the two chapters concerning it in his book Origins. In chapter III of Origins Darwin sets up his discussion on Natural Selection by establishing the struggle for existence in nature. By this he means not only an individuals need to stand up of enemies and survive its environment but also its a bility to create living, healthy, successful outcome. The first factor concerning this struggle is the ratio of increase in whatever given species. Darwin explains how this struggle must be occurring another(prenominal)wise a single species would neglect the entire earth because every single one of its offspring would survive. This is due to the fact that every species reproduces exponentially, a rate that would soon produce astonishing numbers if left unchecked. This does not happen however, because nature has a establishment of checks and balances. Although we may not be able to detect these checks, we can see their effects by the indisputable fact that one species doesnt completely dominate the planet. These checks consist of enemies eating the young or even adults, the rigors of weather or environment, and countless others. In this way birds, for example, cannot populate beyond their food supply, and the grains they feed on are held in check, because even though they may pr oduce thousands of seeds only a few are able to reach maturity. Darwin goes on to show how all plants and animals compete and relate to each other in this struggle for existence. He does so by relating various personal observations that show the introduction of a polar species of plant or animal can have a direct effect on the present survival of the indigenous species and even allow other foreign species to proliferate. This leads to interspecies survival, which Darwin considers the hardest struggle of all, and the one that may have the greatest effect on the evolution of a species through Natural Selection.