Alfred Russel Wallace Controversies

The discoveries and existence of Alfred Russel Wallace lead to groundbreaking theories and never before heard controversies. Wallace was a leading factor in many new discoveries of the 19th century and greatly contributed to many of the well-developed theories of today. He is also renowned for his timely advances in changing the human mind towards more open and accepting views. This research paper will encompass the details on the beginning and educational stages of Alfred Russel Wallace’s life, his works as a prominent biologist, evolutionist, and biogeographer, and also the after effects of his work and how they relate to the beliefs of scientists and educators today.

Alfred Russel Wallace was born on January 8th, 1823 in Usk, Monmouthshire

Some of Wallace’s notable works include his advancement about the concept of natural selection, evolutionary adaptation, and how the environment displaces and affects certain species (npr). One of Alfred Russel Wallace’s most recognized discoveries is known as the Wallace Line. While he was working in the East Indies collecting specimens, he collected data that showed a clear distinctive divide in the types of species he was discovering on the different islands. The Wallace Line is and was a faunal boundary line drawn up to separate the two different ecozones of Asia and Australia. This line shows that though the areas are close, they are teeming with different varieties of species (About.com). Another notable mention is the Wallace Effect. The Wallace Effect is part of the theory of natural selection, stating that natural selection can contribute to the basis of reproductive isolation of developing species by creating blockades against hybridization (Dictionary.com). Wallace is also credited, along with Charles Darwin, for conceiving part of the theory of evolution based through the process of natural selection. This theory basically states that species who are better adapted to their environments, will survive longer and produce more offspring; therefore, becoming a thriving or even dominant species (Dictionary.com). While focusing on the natural selection of different organisms, he also

He also helped bring light to a topic that had not been widely conceived in the early 19th century. Before Wallace and Darwin published a new evolutional theory in 1858, most of the world did not accept the ideas of the human race coming from one common ancestor, or the theory that species can evolve and adapt over time. Today, this is still not a widely accepted belief (Biologyreference.com). Though some progress has been made in accepting this theory, there is still a large sum of people who do not believe it to be true. For example, in The United States one in three Americans do not believe in the theory of evolution. Though this is only one demographic, it is not a broadly acknowledged theory, on behalf of most people believing in the process of creationism; which is the belief that divine creation produced the entire universe and all living things in it. (Dictionary.com). The credit to this belief can mainly be sourced to a following of the catholic and protestant churches, which were widely popular during Wallace’s life. Though some of his ideas were not wholly accepted, in his time as a scientist, Alfred Russel Wallace was awarded many honors for his expertise and professionalism. In total, he was awarded the Copley medal in 1908, The Royal Medal in 1868, The Darwin-Wallace Medal in 1908, The Linnean Medal in 1892, and the Founder’s Gold Medal in 1892 (Wallacefund.info). Wallace’s life came to a halt on