Darwinism and Geography

Although Charles Darwin was actively engaged in geographical exploration and his work would have been hardly possible if not for geographical differences in the distributions of species and characteristics, Darwin has received little direct attention in geography. Despite Darwin's lack of recognition as an influential figure for geography, much geographical research since the publication in 1859 of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life has been either explicitly or implicitly inspired by Darwin. David Stoddard suggested that the Darwinian theme of evolution as change through time, with emphasis on the relationship between organic life and the environment, and his analysis of selection and struggle, exerted a strong influence on research in ...