Do you know who proposed the idea of evolution through natural selection in 1858? You could be forgiven for answering this question with “Why, Charles Darwin, of course!” But did you know that Darwin wasn’t alone in conceiving and communicating his theory of evolution some 165 years ago?
Alfred Russel Wallace was an English naturalist, explorer and geographer who independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection at the same time as Charles Darwin. Although, Alfred Russel Wallace and his contributions have always remained less celebrated than those of Darwin.
Wallace published “On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely From the Original Type“, notes from which, Wallace had sent to Darwin as he was finishing his own contribution to the topic, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life” (catchy titles in those days!)
Aside from the theory of evolution, Wallace was an avid explorer fascinated by geography and biology. The combination of these fields is known as biogeography, and describes the distribution of species in both space and time. Wallace conducted extensive fieldwork throughout the Amazon River basin and the Malay Archipelago (the Indo-Australian Archipelago).
It was in this region where Wallace identified an apparent divide between the fauna in the western portion (where the animals are largely of Asian origin), and an eastern portion (where the animals had a more Australasian flavour). This was termed the Wallace Line. For this, and other work of his, Wallace is sometimes described as the father of biogeography.
This years marks 200 years since the birth of Alfred Russel Wallace, and so the Royal Society of South Australia (of which I am Vice President), and the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia have joined forces to celebrate the life and legacy of this incredible scientist. With support from Inspiring Australia and as part of National Science Week we will hold a special event this Thursday 31st August in Adelaide, Australia, “Lines in the Sand: 200 Years of Alfred Russel Wallace”.
We’ve got four incredible scientists coming to speak to us about fauna across the Wallace Line today, covering everything from butterflies to sea snakes to small mammals. Including:
- Dr Kevin Rowe (Museum Victoria) Crossing lines and diversifying opportunities: Repeated radiations of small mammals through Wallacea
- Dr Yi-Kai Tea (University of Sydney/Australia Museum) Chasing butterflies. A celebration of biodiversity across Wallacea
- A/Prof Kate Sanders & Dr James Nankivell (Uni Adelaide) Here and back again, a snake’s tale
It is shaping up to be an incredible night, with tasty Indonesian food and local South Australian wine provided. We’ve got limited in-person seats, so book your ticket NOW! However, if you can’t join us in person on the night, then we do offer an online version as well. I hope to see you there.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lines-in-the-sand-200-years-of-alfred-russel-wallace-om-frs-tickets-693784406837
Dr Alice Clement 