Heribert-Nilsson, Ph.D. (1883-1955)
was a noted Swedish botanist and geneticist. He was a lecturer in Botany at the University of Lund from 1915, lecturer in genetics and the theory of species formation from 1920, and received the title of Professor in 1926. He was in charge of cereal and potato breeding at the Plant Breeding Institute of Weibullsholm from 1912 - 1928, and Professor of Botany and Zoology at the Institute of Agriculture and dairying, Alnarp, from 1928 - 1948. Heribert-Nilsson did his research work mainly in genetics and systematics. In addition to his extensive theoretical studies, Dr. Nilsson published several works of practical interest, and contributed substantially to the progress of plant breeding in Sweden.
Towards the end of his distinguished career in science, Dr. Nilsson penned his opus magnum, "Synthetische Artbildung" (Synthetic Speciation), a thorough and exhaustive work of 1,250 pages in two volumes, published in German with an extensive English summary. It is a privilege and a pleasure to present this reprinted edition of the summary with the kind permission of C. w. K. Gleerups of Lund, Sweden, the publishers of the book. As reproduction was done by the offset process, the pagination and references (and a few minor typographical errors) are those of the original. The appended list of references is a selection from the author's 40-page bibliography.
Although the book has not been translated into English we are assured from a study of the summary that students of biology generally will find it an analytical study of Great depth and erudition, backed by long years of close theoretical and experimental acquaintance with biological science. We will not be surprised if "Synthetische Artbildung_" stands as one of the truly great books written in the field of life sciences, in company with such books as George D'Arcy Thompson's "On Growth and Form" and Dr. Hendersons, "the Fitness of the enviroment "
Here is 2 pages of his book relating to the world wide flood catastrophe, discussed under the other thread.
The mixture o
was a noted Swedish botanist and geneticist. He was a lecturer in Botany at the University of Lund from 1915, lecturer in genetics and the theory of species formation from 1920, and received the title of Professor in 1926. He was in charge of cereal and potato breeding at the Plant Breeding Institute of Weibullsholm from 1912 - 1928, and Professor of Botany and Zoology at the Institute of Agriculture and dairying, Alnarp, from 1928 - 1948. Heribert-Nilsson did his research work mainly in genetics and systematics. In addition to his extensive theoretical studies, Dr. Nilsson published several works of practical interest, and contributed substantially to the progress of plant breeding in Sweden.
Towards the end of his distinguished career in science, Dr. Nilsson penned his opus magnum, "Synthetische Artbildung" (Synthetic Speciation), a thorough and exhaustive work of 1,250 pages in two volumes, published in German with an extensive English summary. It is a privilege and a pleasure to present this reprinted edition of the summary with the kind permission of C. w. K. Gleerups of Lund, Sweden, the publishers of the book. As reproduction was done by the offset process, the pagination and references (and a few minor typographical errors) are those of the original. The appended list of references is a selection from the author's 40-page bibliography.
Although the book has not been translated into English we are assured from a study of the summary that students of biology generally will find it an analytical study of Great depth and erudition, backed by long years of close theoretical and experimental acquaintance with biological science. We will not be surprised if "Synthetische Artbildung_" stands as one of the truly great books written in the field of life sciences, in company with such books as George D'Arcy Thompson's "On Growth and Form" and Dr. Hendersons, "the Fitness of the enviroment "
Here is 2 pages of his book relating to the world wide flood catastrophe, discussed under the other thread.
The mixture o
f climatically irreconcilable elements
Let us study one strictly circumscribed phenomenon, which results in the forming of fossils, e.g. the formation of amber. The largest deposits are found in East Prussia. where layers of 3 meters may be found. GOPPERT has estimated the amber in this region at 5 milliard (5Xl09) kilos. It is quite obvious that these large quantities cannot have been formed on the spot. The theory is that they have their origin in resin from the conifers of the countries around the Baltic. But the conifers growing there do not normally exude resin in any quantities. It has, therefore, been necessary to postulate that heavy attacks of diseases and immense forest fires have induced the effluence of large quantities of resin. Finally, some catastrophe has thrown the forests with their lumps of resin into the sea. The amber and pieces of branches, but no stems, have then been transported by the sea to the coast of least Prussia, This is hardly an autochtonous process.
In the pieces of amber, which may reach a size of 5 kilos or more, especially insects and parts of flowers are preserved, even the most fragile structures. The insects are of modern types and their geographical distribution can be ascertained. It is then quite astounding to find that they belong to all regions of the earth, not only to the PALAEARCTIC region, as was to be expected. T y p i c a 11 y t r o p icaI species occur, from the Old World as well as from the New----------------------------------------
represented, but so far as it is possible to judge from the needles , none of the species are at home around the Baltic; they are Japanese or NorthAmerican. Pious succinifera ,, which should be the source of the amber is a completely hypothetical species.
If the amber has originated around the Baltic, then the pine forests of Northern Europe should have housed such guests as the camphor tree from East Asia, the Averrhoa from Borneo, the Quillaja from South America, and the flowers of the land would have received insects from all over the earth. Only the dinner pail trees and the black bees from the land of Oz are missing'.
But, it is rejoindered, they are there together, encrusted in the amber. Therefore the climate must have been fairly warm, probably subtropical. Impossible! In a subtropical climate of today quitetypical species of animals and plants are living, but it is quite inconceivable that s i d e b y- s i d e with these should have thriven biota from tropical and cold-temperate regions. It is impossible, because the climatic zonation of the earth can hardly have been different then from what it is now and because we are on the whole dealing with the same world of plants and insects. The geological and palaeobiological facts concerning the layers of amber are impossible to understand unless the explanation is accepted that they are the final resultt of an allochtonous process, including the whole earth.
Exactly the same picture as the one just given is offered by the well-known studies of certain fossil-carrying strata of the lignite in Geiseltal. Here, too, there is a complete mixture of plants and insects from all climatic zones and all recognized regions of the geography of plants or animals.
It is further astonishing that in certain cases the leaves have been deposited and p r e s e r v e d in a fully f r e s h condition. The chlorophyll is so well preserved that it has been possible to recognize a- and b types. Masses of leaves form a "green layer". which often was used as a "guide stratum" in the excavations. The leaves were very little damaged, with borders intact and not rent by any storm.
Among tropical animals found in Geiseltal there were such typically tropical groups as half- monkeys, crocodiles and giant serpents of the group Boidae. Alarge part of the insects were from East India. Africa and STH America, Among these there were beetles, still so beautifully coloured, that they were fully compairable with the tropical insects of today.
o f flora and fauna
Two opposite theories have been advanced regarding the formation of the strata carrying fossils. ,according to one of them. the fossils belong to the place where they are found (autochtonous formation), according to the other, they have been flooded there (allochtonous formation). The first theory is that of LyELL-the evolutionary theory-the second is that of cuvtER,-the revolutionary theory.Let us study one strictly circumscribed phenomenon, which results in the forming of fossils, e.g. the formation of amber. The largest deposits are found in East Prussia. where layers of 3 meters may be found. GOPPERT has estimated the amber in this region at 5 milliard (5Xl09) kilos. It is quite obvious that these large quantities cannot have been formed on the spot. The theory is that they have their origin in resin from the conifers of the countries around the Baltic. But the conifers growing there do not normally exude resin in any quantities. It has, therefore, been necessary to postulate that heavy attacks of diseases and immense forest fires have induced the effluence of large quantities of resin. Finally, some catastrophe has thrown the forests with their lumps of resin into the sea. The amber and pieces of branches, but no stems, have then been transported by the sea to the coast of least Prussia, This is hardly an autochtonous process.
In the pieces of amber, which may reach a size of 5 kilos or more, especially insects and parts of flowers are preserved, even the most fragile structures. The insects are of modern types and their geographical distribution can be ascertained. It is then quite astounding to find that they belong to all regions of the earth, not only to the PALAEARCTIC region, as was to be expected. T y p i c a 11 y t r o p icaI species occur, from the Old World as well as from the New----------------------------------------
represented, but so far as it is possible to judge from the needles , none of the species are at home around the Baltic; they are Japanese or NorthAmerican. Pious succinifera ,, which should be the source of the amber is a completely hypothetical species.
If the amber has originated around the Baltic, then the pine forests of Northern Europe should have housed such guests as the camphor tree from East Asia, the Averrhoa from Borneo, the Quillaja from South America, and the flowers of the land would have received insects from all over the earth. Only the dinner pail trees and the black bees from the land of Oz are missing'.
But, it is rejoindered, they are there together, encrusted in the amber. Therefore the climate must have been fairly warm, probably subtropical. Impossible! In a subtropical climate of today quitetypical species of animals and plants are living, but it is quite inconceivable that s i d e b y- s i d e with these should have thriven biota from tropical and cold-temperate regions. It is impossible, because the climatic zonation of the earth can hardly have been different then from what it is now and because we are on the whole dealing with the same world of plants and insects. The geological and palaeobiological facts concerning the layers of amber are impossible to understand unless the explanation is accepted that they are the final resultt of an allochtonous process, including the whole earth.
Exactly the same picture as the one just given is offered by the well-known studies of certain fossil-carrying strata of the lignite in Geiseltal. Here, too, there is a complete mixture of plants and insects from all climatic zones and all recognized regions of the geography of plants or animals.
It is further astonishing that in certain cases the leaves have been deposited and p r e s e r v e d in a fully f r e s h condition. The chlorophyll is so well preserved that it has been possible to recognize a- and b types. Masses of leaves form a "green layer". which often was used as a "guide stratum" in the excavations. The leaves were very little damaged, with borders intact and not rent by any storm.
Among tropical animals found in Geiseltal there were such typically tropical groups as half- monkeys, crocodiles and giant serpents of the group Boidae. Alarge part of the insects were from East India. Africa and STH America, Among these there were beetles, still so beautifully coloured, that they were fully compairable with the tropical insects of today.
