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Charles Darwin
Work: On the Origin of Species
Presented the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, which describes the process of short-term adaptation within populations, and how this leads into larger-scale evolution.
A Theory of Evolution existed previously, but the concept of natural selection was entirely new. Darwin was unsure why random variation in species occurred, and attributed it to genetic mutation. He also discovered and described adaptive radiation. -
Ernst Haeckel
Work: General Morphology of Organisms
Invented the word 'ecology', as well as numerous other important ecological terms, defining ecology as science relating to the relationship of an organism to biotic and abiotic factors of its surroundings, and how this relates to the evolution of the organism. Also created the first phylogenetic charts. -
Frederic Clements
Work: Research Methods in Ecology
Developed the concept of communities of organisms, developing and adapting as a single unit. The book also provided guidelines for effective study in the field of plant ecology, as Clements found the state of the field to be messy and disorganised, and served as an important textbook in Universities.
He strongly disagreed with Tansley's belief that ecology should focus on the ecosystem. -
Vladimir Vernadsky
Work: The Biosphere
Developed the concept of Earth's biosphere and geosphere, as well as describing a third sphere, the 'noosphere'. Identified, calculated and/or defined several important features of the biosphere, including the total mass of biotic matter on Earth, the differences between biotic and abiotic matter, and different chemical cycles within the biosphere.
Vernadsky also pioneered various biological and geological practices, including geochemistry and biogeochemistry. -
Arthur Tansley
Work: The Use and Abuse of Vegetational Concepts and Terms
Invented the term 'ecosystem', and developed the concept of ecosystems, in contrast to the individual-focused perspective of biology commonplace at the time.
Strongly disagreed with Clements' belief that ecology should focus on the community. Tansley also began the first official ecological society, the British Ecological Society. -
Ynes Mexia
Collected around one-hundred-and-fifty-thousand plant specimens across America between 1925 and 1938, being the first to officially document and categorise over five-hundred. -
Howard & Eugene Odum, George Hutchinson
With the Odums under the tutelage of Hutchinson at Yale University, inspired by the work of Tansley, they officially established the field of ecosystem ecology, inventing mathematical models of various different ecosystem processes, such as energy flow. -
Eugene & Howard Odum
Work: Fundamentals of Ecology
Served as the first ecology textbook.
Widely promoted an ecosystem-focused perspective of ecology, and heavily encouraged the study of ecology alongside other biological fields. Eugene founded the Odum School of Ecology, the first ever college of ecology. -
George Hutchinson
Work: Concluding Remarks
Developed the concept of ecological niches, and their role in ecosystems.
Hutchinson was heavily involved in shifting the scientific perspective of biology to an ecosystem focus. Pioneered the practice of combining ecology with other fields, such as chemistry. He was involved in many projects studying lakes from an ecological and chemical perspective. -
Lynn Margulis
Work: Origin of Eukaryotic Cells
Presented the Serial Endosymbiotic Theory, which states that organelles with DNA were once prokaryotic cells that were engulfed by to-be-eukaryotic cells, and transferred their DNA to the nucleus. The theory provides a logical explanation for how the extreme genetic diversity of modern eukaryotic organisms came to be. -
James Lovelock & Lynn Margulis
Work: Atmospheric homeostasis by and for the biosphere: the gaia hypothesis
Presented the Gaia Hypothesis (previously conceptualised by Lovelock in 1972), which states that the entire Earth is its own system, self-maintaining and self-regulating via feedback mechanisms to maintain the ideal conditions for life. -
Formation of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society began with a meeting of 16 people at the house of Dr. Bob Brown, the society's leader. It was founded in response to environmentalists' protests failing to prevent the HEC from building dams on the Huon and Serpentine rivers, causing the flooding of Lake Pedder, which wiped out a large area of bush and two threatened invertebrate species. The society was involved in several environmental campaigns following its formation. -
Franklin River Dam is Announced
The Hydro Electric Commission was vital to Tasmania's economy, providing power, income and employment. They operated 40 dams across the state, on every major river except the Franklin. Franklin River had been relatively undisturbed for millennia, tall mountain ranges and dense rainforest surrounding it making it difficult to reach. The proposed construction of a dam on Gordon River below where the Franklin meets it would cause the Franklin to become a lake and flood its unique forests. -
Anti-Dam March in Hobart
As part of a campaign driven by the TWS, 10,000 people marched through Hobart in protest of the Franklin River dam. The campaign also involved strategic utilisation of the media by the TWS, attracting national attention. The HEC's promise of hundreds of jobs and forecast of a major power shortage caused much of the public to support the dams, particularly those in lower socioeconomic areas most in need of employment, who claimed members anti-dam side had an unjust advantage in media campaigning. -
Beginning of Blockade
The United Nations placed parts of southwest Tasmania, including the Franklin, on the World Heritage List, protecting them from destructive developments such as dams. The Tasmanian Government allowed the HEC to continue construction, however. In response, environmentalists employed peaceful protest methods in a blockade lasting multiple months, involving 1440 people being arrested. -
Franklin River is Saved
Labour Party leader Bob Hawke promised the cessation of the dam construction, leading to Labour winning several seats in the Federal Election and Hawke becoming prime minister. He passed an act that granted the Federal Government full power over World Heritage sites in any state, which the Tasmanian Government opposed, determined to continue dam construction. The issue was brought to the High Court, who ruled in the Federal Government's favour, allowing them to abolish the plans for the dam.