Origin of Species - Chapter 3

Struggle for Existence

I have been re-reading Darwin's book, and I notice that I am reading it from a completely different viewpoint. My first read, like many of you, was as a biology undergraduate student reading a required text. Now I find that I am reading this from the view of a biology educator. Chapter 3 had several topics slap me in the face, and I have to share these topics. All of these topics are the main focus of our basic biology texts and I found Project WILD activities that addressed these subjects

Coevolution - Darwin does not call it this name, but this is what our textbooks call it. He discusses the relationship between mistletoe and apple trees, and then seed dispersal.
Exponential growth - again, not called so by Darwin, but we have all studied this and factors which control populations. He discusses the condor as example of this phenomenon.
Predator-Prey relationships - "Quick Frozen Critters" comes to mind with the rabbits and coyotes.
Competition for space - "Oh, Deer" is the obvious activity for this one.
Succession - with his discussion of the primary and secondary succession (and he does not call it this) as he discusses the regrowth of areas deforested in the United States, specifically the Indian mound growth in the southern United States.
Competition for food and residence - "Habitat Lap Sit" exemplifies this discussion. Darwin discusses this from a seed/plant point of view, but it applies across the board.

I'll keep reading this one, as it is my bedside book (and it really can put you down for the night!).

Comments

Dragon's Teeth - by Michael Crichton

What a fun story based on history! The plot winds around the animosity between paleontologists Marsh and Cope, as told by a fictional member of the dig party. We are taken (in the form of our protagonist, William Johnson) to the Badlands, Deadwood, into Indian raids, labeled as a traitor, attacked on all sides by all kinds of people, and then we get home a changed young man. If you know history, you will enjoy they way Crichton weaves momentous events and remarkable historical persons into the story. You will find yourself thinking "I know what's coming," because you do, if you know anything about the WEST in the 1870's, or know some of the background with Marsh and Cope. I listened to this story as a traveled each week, getting about 2 hours of the book on each trip. After each two hours, I wanted more, but I forced myself to wait for the next week. I was sad to be finished with it yesterday.

Sourdough: a Novel

by Robin Sloan This fun science fiction novel brings together computing, engineering, robotics,...and of all things, sourdough. Mr. Sloan has a delightful way with words, and had me laughing at the visualizations he developed. Our protagonist, Lois, has "lost" herself to her job, as many teachers have done. Lois "inherited" a sourdough starter, and is determined to keep it from dying, so she does what all good students do - she reads a book. She joins a local "Lois" group (you have to read it to meet the ladies in the group), she makes bread, and integrates robotics. All in all, this is a very easy read, maybe two hours on a rainy day to yourself (if you have such an endangered species). Get lost in the fun. You'll be glad you did.

Reverend Guppy's Aquarium

by Philip Dodd This is a delightful book which gives us the origins of product names. One of my many "I heard it on NPR" books, this one has not disappointed this reader. I am halfway through the books and have loved learning the origin of the name "Jacuzzi" and "frisbee." Part of this is because I love WORDS and LANGUAGE. The other part is the beauty of invention. I'll have it for swap in October at our book swap session.

Aleta's Book Report

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