Charles Darwin is one of the most famous, if not the most famous historical figure in ecology. His theory of evolution which was published in his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, in 1859. The evidence provided in this book was fueled by his voyage on the HMS Beagle that took 5 years, where he noticed slight differences between similarly seeming species that specialized them to survive in their specific habitats. His theory had many aspects to it but essentially introduced the idea that different species share a common ancestor, species gradually changed over time, to eventually form a new species. While On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life had a focus on different species of animals, but some of the evidence he presented included plants!
Darwin had an extensive background in botany and his experience also aided in the formation of the theory of natural selection. He noticed that plants are creatures similar to animals and that different species had adapted in different ways to survive in their respective environments. A plant that he was specifically interested in was the Angraecum sesquipedale, also known as Darwin’s star orchid. Darwin’s star orchid has a long nectar tube and he theorized that it was an adaptation to aid in pollination through insect pollinators. These insect pollinators are needed as orchids do not disperse their pollen, but have all the pollen in a single mass. This adaptation allows insect pollinators to gater the pollen in a more efficient manner, allowing the species to survive. Darwin is commonly known for his analysis on animals, but his experience and evidence with plants are just as important for his theories.
References:
Arditti, Elliot, J., Kitching, I. J., & Wasserthal, L. T. (2012). “Good Heavens what insect can suck it”- Charles Darwin, Angraecum sesquipedale and Xanthopan morganii praedicta. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 169(3), 403–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01250.x
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 