Stephen Jay Gould, Evolution Scientist, Author, Dies at 60
By Richard Pearson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 21, 2002; Page B06
Stephen Jay Gould, 60, a Harvard University professor of zoology and geology who
became one of the most widely recognized scientists in the world for his graceful, lucid
and downright entertaining writings about science, died of lung cancer May 20 at his
home in New York.
Dr. Gould, a Harvard professor since 1967, gained fame among contemporary scientists
as a gifted and controversial student of evolutionary biology, and he conducted notable
research in invertebrate paleontology. He became famous for his modification of some of
the theories of Charles Darwin.
The general public came to know him for his explanations of scientific phenomena that
were as understandable as they were authoritative. He wrote more than 20 best-selling
books and 300 consecutive monthly essay columns, "This View of Life," for Natural
History magazine from 1974 until 2001.
His books included "Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History," "Bully for
Brontosaurus: Reflections in Natural History," "Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and
the Nature of History," "Dinosaur in a Haystack: Reflections in Natural History," "Hen's
Teeth and Horse's Toes: Further Reflections in Natural History" and "Rocks of Ages:
Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life."
The intertidal zone is the shoreline between the high and
low water mark
Emersion presents the biggest challenge to the intertidal community:
Water loss = desiccation
Temperature fluctuations = can be either too hot or too cold
Salinity fluctuations = increased by heating, decreased by rain/runoff
Restriction of feeding = most organisms can feed only at high tide
Adaptation to these physical challenges produces great diversity in lifestyles:
sessile/mobile, deposit/detrital/filter feeding, reproductive strategy, epifaunal/cryptic
1) SPACE LIMITATION: Intertidal populations are usually limited by space, not food or
nutrients.
2) VERTICAL ZONATION: Most rocky shores have a distinct pattern of vertical zonation.
The upper limit of a zone is often set by physical factors, the lower limit by biological
ones (predation, competition for space or food, symbiosis).
3) ECOLOGICAL “SUCCESSION” in the intertidal zone: there is a fairly predictable
succession of organisms following a disturbance event.
Adaptation to these physical challenges produces great diversity in lifestyles:
sessile/mobile, deposit/detrital/filter feeding, reproductive strategy, epifaunal/cryptic
1) SPACE LIMITATION: Intertidal populations are usually limited
by space, not food or nutrients.
2) VERTICAL ZONATION: Most rocky shores have a distinct pattern of vertical zonation.
The upper limit of a zone is often set by physical factors, the lower limit by biological
ones (predation, competition for space or food, symbiosis).
3) ECOLOGICAL “SUCCESSION” in the intertidal zone: there is a fairly predictable
succession of organisms following a disturbance event.
Adaptation to these physical challenges produces great diversity in lifestyles:
sessile/mobile, deposit/detrital/filter feeding, reproductive strategy, epifaunal/cryptic
1) SPACE LIMITATION: Intertidal populations are usually limited by space, not food or
nutrients.
2) VERTICAL ZONATION: Most rocky shores have a distinct
pattern of vertical zonation. The upper limit of a zone is often set
by physical factors, the lower limit by biological ones (predation,
competition for space or food, symbiosis).
3) ECOLOGICAL “SUCCESSION” in the intertidal zone: there is a fairly predictable
succession of organisms following a disturbance event.
Uncovered >50% of the time
Covered >75% of the time
Rarely uncovered – Spring low tides
Littorina keenae, periwinkle
Acmaea (limpet)
Giant Limpet
Giant Limpet
Stenoplax (chiton)
Chiton - Tonicella lineata. Photo by D. Brumbaugh
Balanus (barnacle)
Thais preying on Balanus
Pollicipes (gooseneck barnacle)
Pollicipes (gooseneck barnacle)
Nucella emarginata – the dogwhelk
Mytilus californianus
Mytilus and Haliotis (mussels and abalone)
Pisaster
Astrometis
Anthropleura (sea anemone)
Anthropleura (sea anemone)
Anthropleura clone
Phragmatapoma californiana – colonial tube worm
Tube worms
Pachygrapsus (shore crab)
Pagurus (hermit crab)
Pugettia producta – kelp crab
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus in holes
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Adaptation to these physical challenges produces great diversity in lifestyles:
sessile/mobile, deposit/detrital/filter feeding, reproductive strategy, epifaunal/cryptic
1) SPACE LIMITATION: Intertidal populations are usually limited by space, not food or
nutrients.
2) VERTICAL ZONATION: Most rocky shores have a distinct pattern of vertical zonation.
The upper limit of a zone is often set by physical factors, the lower limit by biological
ones (predation, competition for space or food, symbiosis).
3) ECOLOGICAL “SUCCESSION” in the intertidal zone: there is a
fairly predictable succession of organisms following a disturbance
event.
Flatworm
Segmented worm
Chama (closed)
Chama (dead)
Nudibranch
Nudibranch
Hopkinsia (nudibranch)
Gibbonsia montereyensis – crevice sculpin
Aplysia
Aplysia
Aplysia
Aplysia
Aplysia
Aplysia
Brittle Star
Brittle Star
Sea cucumber (Sticapus)
Pelvetia
Sinus membrane
Fucus
Fucus distichus
Fucus mat
Palm seaweed Postelsia
Phyllospadix, surfgrass
In Science (1995)
W.G. Hewatt, Stanford student, 1930