We gathered in the lounge for a discussion on Darwin: our guests and staff members Lynn Fowler, Antonio Adrian and myself. We could have spent hours talking about his life, the voyage of the Beagle and the way his ideas changed our world, but there was a wonderful island to visit in the afternoon, full of breeding pelicans, frigates, boobies and gulls. Nevertheless we had a very interactive hour-long chat.
When we were discussing how the different species of mockingbirds had intrigued and inspired Darwin, guest Cyrille Schiff asked how it is possible to differentiate one species from another. Lynn explained that this is not always easy and that many factors have to be considered. Among these are physical characteristics, the behavior and the anatomy of the different individuals. Darwin recognized three kinds of mockingbirds on three different islands, a finding that must have set his mind awhirl with questions! Was this the result of geographical isolation? Had these species shared a common ancestor? It was his first glimpse at the mutability of species.
Ros Cameron, our guest from the Charles Darwin Research Station, wanted to know how Darwin had dealt with the conflict between his own personal religious beliefs and his evolutionary theory. Lynn explained that by 1839 Darwin had had a workable theory and that by 1842 he had written a draft. At that time he told his wife, Emma Wedgwood, that this manuscript should be published if he should die unexpectedly. Darwin apparently wished to avoid conflict and was hesitant to put forth his radical evolutionary beliefs. His wife Emma was greatly disturbed by Darwin's studies and once warned Charles that if he continued thinking that way, they were not going to meet in heaven.
Guest James Hurley mentioned that the catalyst which finally pushed Darwin to publish was another naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace. Antonio described his life and work in the Malay Archipelago and related that he came to the same conclusion as Darwin about the importance of natural selection. Darwin and Wallace had many things in common although they worked on opposite sides of the world. They both collected and traveled extensively, had read the work by Malthus (an economist who wrote about the "struggle to survive" in his "Essay on Population") and they used almost the same language to explain their theories. Wallace sent a manuscript to Darwin asking him, as a well respected scientist, to review it. Darwin read a combined paper of his and Wallace's conclusions at the Linnean Society in 1858.
During our afternoon session, lots of other very interesting questions were asked. "In order for Darwin's theory to work, do the species need a common ancestor?" asked Robert Gusman. "Is there still a conflict between Darwinism and religion?" wondered Robert Haacker.
Guest James Hurley recommended the wonderful book "The Song of the Dodo" and James Singleton wanted to know if there is evolutionary research currently going on in the Galapagos. Ros answered that the Charles Darwin Research Station works in applied science, science for conservation. However there are two groups doing investigative research. One group is made up of the approximately 150 naturalists who work in the islands, have the curiosity to observe, and the enthusiasm and interest to make weekly reports about their sightings. The other is a group of visiting scientists, some of them spending life times in their researches on the Galapagos. Peter and Rosemary Grant, who have been studying the evolution of Darwin's finches for 32 years are a good example of this! Randy Sherwood wondered whether it is still possible for an individual of a new species to arrive on its own today to Galapagos and if so, what we should do? His mother, Barbara Sherwood graciously answered: "It actually takes two individuals, or at least a pregnant female for anything to happen!" And that was the end of our delightful discussion. We had all learned a bit more about Charles Darwin while anchored at Darwin Bay on a Thursday afternoon.
