Aretz et al_2011.pdf - ORBi - Université de Liège

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Kölner Forum Geol. Paläont., 19 (2011)
M. ARETZ, S. DELCULÉE, J. DENAYER & E. POTY (Eds.)
Abstracts, 11th Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria and Sponges, Liège, August 19-29, 2011
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Much attention has been paid to Darwin’s subsidence theory and its durability, but very little to the
more detailed ideas in his sketch. In modern terms it shows: (1) zonation of in situ reef-building facies, (2)
shoreward accretion of reef detritus to form coral cays, (3) seaward progradation of the coral key material
over the reef flat, (4) cyclical rejuvenation of this pattern when (as he envisaged it) the foundation subsides
suddenly and intermittently, and (5) conceptual transformation of the horizontal relationship of these
surface patterns and processes into a vertical sequence, anticipating Walther’s Law (WALTHER 1893-94) by
more than 30 years. The model also shows the influence of the then new uniformitarian principles of his
mentor, Charles LYELL. Of course, in modern terms this model is also too simple, not least because we now
know we have to take eustasy as well as subsidence into account. Also reinterpretations of some of
Darwin’s reef specimens are needed in the light of modern knowledge. But the important thing is that in a
historical context, we can now see how and where his model of reef growth is actually anchored (at least in
part) to his own ‘ground-truth’ specimen evidence (i.e. as he saw it). Regardless of modern ideas, and
hindsight re-interpretations, this demonstrates the value of historical study of his specimens in
understanding his work, additionally to study of his writings alone. It also locates his work historically as
pioneering approaches and concepts which have been absorbed into, and taken for granted in, methods
used by modern reef ecologists, palaeoecologists and sedimentologists.
DARWIN, C. R. (1837): On certain areas of elevation and subsidence in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as deduced from
the study of coral formations. - Proceedings of the Geological Society of London, 2: 552-554.
DARWIN, C. R. (1842): The structure and distribution of coral reefs. - Smith Elder and Co., London. 214 pp.
ROSEN, B.R. & DARRELL, J.G., 2011 (in press). A generalised historical trajectory for Charles Darwin’s specimen
collections, with a case study of his Coral Reef Specimen List in the Natural History Museum, London. - In: STOPPA,
F. & VERALDI, R. (Eds.), Darwin tra scienza, storia e società: 150° anniversario della publicazione di Origine delle
Specie. Roma: Edizionei Universitarie Romane.
SPONSEL, A.W. (2009): Coral reef formation and the sciences of earth, life, and sea, c. 1770-1952. - Dissertation presented
to the Faculty of Princeton University in candidacy for the degree of Doctor Of Philosophy
STODDART, D.R. (Ed.) (1962): Coral islands. - Atoll Research Bulletin, 88: 1-20 [incorporates transcription of: Darwin,
C.R., 1835. Coral islands. CUL-DAR 41.1-12 ]
STODDART, D. (1995): Darwin and the Seeing Eye: Iconography and Meaning in the Beagle Years. - Earth Sciences
History, 14(1): 3-22.
WALTHER, J. (1893-94): Einleitung in die Geologie als historische Wissenschaft. - Fischer Verlag, Jena. 3 vols (see Ch.27
in vol.3)
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