Soil Ecology Wiki - User contributions [en]

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T19:26:55Z

Kyliecro: /* Description */

[[File:darwin2.png|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin <ref name=”Darwin”> Bob Thomas, Popperfoto via Getty Images, Getty Images </ref>]]
==Description==
Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) was a British biologist and naturalist best known for his theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref> He transformed the way humans understand the natural world and was a true revolutionary. In current society, he is celebrated as one of the best and brightest British scientists who ever lived, but when he was alive his theories were deemed radical and created conflict between himself and the members of the Church of England.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref>

==Early Life==
[[File:darwinyoung.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin (left), circa 1816. <ref name="Darwin and Plant"> Ellen Wallace Sharples, via University of Bristol </ref>]]
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England on February 12, 1809, seemingly already with his fascination of the natural world. As a child, he was an avid reader, specifically of nature books, and spent his spare time exploring and collecting plants and [[insects]] from the woodlands and fields around his childhood home.
In 1825, at the age of 16, Darwin enrolled in medical school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. While in medical school, he witnessed surgery on a child, and upon watching this procedure, he gave up his studies. This is because surgeries at the time were carried out with no anesthetic or antiseptics, and fatalities were very common, so it was a very traumatizing experience to endure. Darwin was not just studying medicine in Edinburgh, he was also receiving lessons in taxidermy from a former enslaved man, John Edmonstone. This skill would prove to be crucial as he continued into his career.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref> Upon leaving Scotland, Darwin went to Christ's College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, to study theology at his father’s request, though after taking a biological science he felt inclined to study natural history. course<ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==''HMS Beagle'' Voyage==
[[File:hmsbeagle.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|''HMS Beagle'' <ref name="HMS Beagle"> HMS Beagle | Nautilus Historic Ships Archive. (n.d.). . https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/ships-of-the-past/2021/january/hms-beagle/. </ref>]]
While Darwin was receiving his bachelor’s degree, botany professor John Stevens Henslow became his mentor, and upon Darwin’s graduation his mentor recommended him for a naturalist position on the ''HMS Beagle''. The ship was to take a five-year trip around the world so they may survey and study a variety of natural specimens.
Through hands-on experimentation and research, Darwin had the unique opportunity to observe how the principles of botany, geology, and zoology relate to the real-world. The Pacific Islands, South America, and of course the Galapagos Archipelago were of special interest.
After returning to England in 1836, Darwin began writing up his findings in a journal, that was later published as a part of the ''Beagle'''s captain’s larger narrative. The larger narrative was later edited into the “Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle”. The 5-year voyage had a monumental effect on Darwin and his view of the natural world. He began to develop a theory on the origin of living things that was almost completely contrary to the popular view at the time. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==Theory of Evolution==
Following his voyage on the ‘HMS Beagle,’ Darwin developed his theory of evolution, which declared that species survived through “natural selection.” Natural selection is the process in which those that have successfully adapted or evolved to fit the changing requirements of their habitat are the ones that survive and reproduce, meanwhile those that failed to adapt die off.
His theory of evolution and the process of natural selection eventually became known as “Darwinism.” At the time, though, other naturalists believed that all species either came into being at the beginning of Earth or were simply created over the course of natural history. It wasn’t until the next century that DNA studies provided scientific evidence of Darwin’s theory of evolution, though there is still conflict regarding the topic today as Creationism (the religious view that all beings were created by God) is still prevalent in some areas. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms==
[[File:vegetablemould.png|300px|thumb|right|The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. <ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref>]]
Darwin’s last piece of published work before his death in 1882 was “The Formation of [[Vegetable Mould]] Through the Action of Worms”. Released in 1881, it was the first ever publication regarding [[earthworm]]s and their importance. The book detailed Darwin’s extensive research on the importance of worms and their impact on [[soil]] formation. In his research, he learned that the worms pass through the earth, and they don’t just move it but help to create it as they travel through the soil. He also highlighted the impact they have on soil fertility, and in his conclusion, he writes that worms, “have played a more important job in the history on the world that most persons would at first suppose.”<ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref> Without this book, and without Charles Darwin, the study of soil and its inhabitants would not be as far along as it is today, and [[Soil Ecology]] may not have ever existed.

==References==
<references/>

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T18:41:56Z

Kyliecro:

[[File:darwin2.png|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin <ref name=”Darwin”> Bob Thomas, Popperfoto via Getty Images, Getty Images </ref>]]
==Description==
Charles Rober Darwin (1809-1882) was a British biologist and naturalist best known for his theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref> He transformed the way humans understand the natural world and was a true revolutionary. In current society, he is celebrated as one of the best and brightest British scientists who ever lived, but when he was alive his theories were deemed radical and created conflict between himself and the members of the Church of England.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref>
==Early Life==
[[File:darwinyoung.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin (left), circa 1816. <ref name="Darwin and Plant"> Ellen Wallace Sharples, via University of Bristol </ref>]]
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England on February 12, 1809, seemingly already with his fascination of the natural world. As a child, he was an avid reader, specifically of nature books, and spent his spare time exploring and collecting plants and [[insects]] from the woodlands and fields around his childhood home.
In 1825, at the age of 16, Darwin enrolled in medical school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. While in medical school, he witnessed surgery on a child, and upon watching this procedure, he gave up his studies. This is because surgeries at the time were carried out with no anesthetic or antiseptics, and fatalities were very common, so it was a very traumatizing experience to endure. Darwin was not just studying medicine in Edinburgh, he was also receiving lessons in taxidermy from a former enslaved man, John Edmonstone. This skill would prove to be crucial as he continued into his career.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref> Upon leaving Scotland, Darwin went to Christ's College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, to study theology at his father’s request, though after taking a biological science he felt inclined to study natural history. course<ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==''HMS Beagle'' Voyage==
[[File:hmsbeagle.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|''HMS Beagle'' <ref name="HMS Beagle"> HMS Beagle | Nautilus Historic Ships Archive. (n.d.). . https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/ships-of-the-past/2021/january/hms-beagle/. </ref>]]
While Darwin was receiving his bachelor’s degree, botany professor John Stevens Henslow became his mentor, and upon Darwin’s graduation his mentor recommended him for a naturalist position on the ''HMS Beagle''. The ship was to take a five-year trip around the world so they may survey and study a variety of natural specimens.
Through hands-on experimentation and research, Darwin had the unique opportunity to observe how the principles of botany, geology, and zoology relate to the real-world. The Pacific Islands, South America, and of course the Galapagos Archipelago were of special interest.
After returning to England in 1836, Darwin began writing up his findings in a journal, that was later published as a part of the ''Beagle'''s captain’s larger narrative. The larger narrative was later edited into the “Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle”. The 5-year voyage had a monumental effect on Darwin and his view of the natural world. He began to develop a theory on the origin of living things that was almost completely contrary to the popular view at the time. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==Theory of Evolution==
Following his voyage on the ‘HMS Beagle,’ Darwin developed his theory of evolution, which declared that species survived through “natural selection.” Natural selection is the process in which those that have successfully adapted or evolved to fit the changing requirements of their habitat are the ones that survive and reproduce, meanwhile those that failed to adapt die off.
His theory of evolution and the process of natural selection eventually became known as “Darwinism.” At the time, though, other naturalists believed that all species either came into being at the beginning of Earth or were simply created over the course of natural history. It wasn’t until the next century that DNA studies provided scientific evidence of Darwin’s theory of evolution, though there is still conflict regarding the topic today as Creationism (the religious view that all beings were created by God) is still prevalent in some areas. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms==
[[File:vegetablemould.png|300px|thumb|right|The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. <ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref>]]
Darwin’s last piece of published work before his death in 1882 was “The Formation of [[Vegetable Mould]] Through the Action of Worms”. Released in 1881, it was the first ever publication regarding [[earthworm]]s and their importance. The book detailed Darwin’s extensive research on the importance of worms and their impact on [[soil]] formation. In his research, he learned that the worms pass through the earth, and they don’t just move it but help to create it as they travel through the soil. He also highlighted the impact they have on soil fertility, and in his conclusion, he writes that worms, “have played a more important job in the history on the world that most persons would at first suppose.”<ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref> Without this book, and without Charles Darwin, the study of soil and its inhabitants would not be as far along as it is today, and [[Soil Ecology]] may not have ever existed.

==References==
<references/>

Scarabaeidae

2025-05-02T18:40:17Z

Kyliecro:

[[File:scarab1.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|Eastern Hercules Beetle, ''Dynastes tityus''<ref name=”Scarabaeidae”>[ https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-coleoptera/family-scarabaeidae/ “Scarabaeidae”] </ref>]]
==Description==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right; margin-left: 12px;
|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(235,235,210)|'''Taxonomic Ranks'''
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Domain:
|style="min-width:6em; |Eukaryota
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Kingdom:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Animals|Animalia]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Phylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Arthropoda]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Subphylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Hexapod]]a
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Order:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Coleoptera]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Family:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Scarabaeidae]]
|-
|colspan=”2”|<ref name=”Coleoptera”> Bouchard, P., Y Bousquet, A. E. Davies, A. Alonso-Zarazaga, C. H. C. Lyal, A. F. Newton, C. A. M. Reid, M. Schmitt, S. A. Ślipiński, and A. B. T. Smith. 2011. Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys: 1-972 </ref>
|}
The scarab beetle family, formally known as Scarabaeidae, is a family of approximately 30,000 species of beetles, and approximately 1,700 species found in North America north of Mexico.<ref name=”Scarab Beetles”>[ Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids.] </ref> They are dense, hard-bodies [[insects]] with a robust oval shape. They can be distinguished form other beetles via their antennae, which terminates in three flattened plates. These plates at the end of each antennae then fit together to form a club. The beetles often have toothed or scalloped front legs to facilitate digging. They come in a wide variety of sizes, varying from 5 mm to approximately 12 cm. The largest species of scarab beetle is the African Goliath Beetle, which is also the heaviest insect on earth. There are also many subfamilies of scarabs, for example the [[Dung Beetle]] subfamily. It is important to note that while all dung beetles are scarabs, not all scarabs are dung beetles. <ref name=”Scarab”>Scarab Beetle Definition & Facts https://www.britannica.com/animal/scarab-beetle. </ref>
==Habitat and Range==
Scarab beetles have an incredibly wide range. They can be found in almost every part of the world, aside from the oceans and Antarctica. <ref name=”Scarabs”> Scarabs. National Geographic. 2010, March 12. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/scarabs. </ref> Depending on the species of scarab beetle, they tend to occupy different habitats. For example, scarabs that feed on [[decomposing]] materials, such as green June beetles and Dung beetles, are typically seen on or around rotting materials, and plant feeders can be found on their favorite plant species. They are typically either nocturnal or diurnal (active during the day-time), and that also varies with species.<ref name="Scarabaeids"> Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids. </ref>
==Life Cycle==
[[File:lifecyclescarab.png|300px|thumb|right|Scarab Beetle Life Cycle<ref name=”Centipede”> [Malcolm. Centipede and scarab. https://malcolmtattersall.com.au/wp/2015/01/centipede-scarab/] </ref>]]

When it comes to mating in scarabs, it usually takes place near the food material required for the offspring to survive. The clubbed antennae previously mentioned are used by adults to smell and locate the ideal mating area. After being fertilized, females deposit eggs in the [[soil]] or on decomposing organic material. The larvae, or grubs, then focus on eating and growing. In some species, this may take years, and some species descend lower into the soil for overwintering. Once the larvae is fully grown, it pupates and emerges as an adult that can fly and mate. <ref name="Scarabaeids"> Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids. </ref>

==References==
<references/>

Regolith

2025-05-02T18:35:51Z

Kyliecro:

==Definition==
Regolith is "the layer of unconsolidated, weathered, broken rock debris, mineral grains, and superficial deposits which overlie the unaltered [[bedrock]]" of a planet or moon. It is formed in the weathering processes that occur in the lithosphere. The depth varies greatly depending on the, "intensity and duration of the weathering process." Within the tropics of Earth, it may be hundreds of metres deep, whereas in other regions, such as the Rocky Mountains, it can be practically nonexistent. <ref name="Regolith"> Oxford University Press. "Regolith". Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110810105721161#:~:text=A%20general%20term%20for%20the,which%20overlie%20the%20unaltered%20bedrock. </ref>

[[File:RegolithPhoto.jpg|240px|thumb|right|Photo of lunar regolith]]

==Components==
Earth's regolith is comprised of the following components: <ref name="Regolith, soils"> Ollier, Cliff; Pain, Colin (1996). "Regolith, soils and landforms". Chichester: John Wiley. ISBN 978-0471961215 </ref> <ref name="Regolith geology"> Taylor, G.; Eggleton, R.A. (2001). Regolith geology and geomorphology. Chichester: J. Wiley. ISBN 978-0471974543 </ref> <ref name="Regolith science"> Scott, Keith M.; Pain, Colin (2009). Regolith science. Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Pub. ISBN 978-1402088599 </ref>
* [[Soil]] or pedolith
* Transported cover, including but not limited to glacial and gravitational flow.
* Volcanic ash and lava flow
* "Saprolith", which can be divided into;
** Upper saprolite: oxidised bedrock
** Lower saprolite: chemically reduced, partially weathered bedrock
** Saprock: fractured bedrock. Weathering restricted to fracture margins
* Groundwater and water-deposited salts
* Biota and Organic Compounds
* Duricrust, which is formed by the cementation of saprolith, soils, and other transported materials into non-friable layers. Non-friable layers are unlikely to crumble and break into smaller pieces, and they are resistant to weathering and erosion.

==References==
(references/)

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T18:31:08Z

Kyliecro:

[[File:darwin2.png|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin <ref name=”Darwin”> Bob Thomas, Popperfoto via Getty Images, Getty Images </ref>]]
==Description==
Charles Rober Darwin (1809-1882) was a British biologist and naturalist best known for his theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref> He transformed the way humans understand the natural world and was a true revolutionary. In current society, he is celebrated as one of the best and brightest British scientists who ever lived, but when he was alive his theories were deemed radical and created conflict between himself and the members of the Church of England.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref>
==Early Life==
[[File:darwinyoung.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin (left), circa 1816. <ref name="Darwin and Plant"> Ellen Wallace Sharples, via University of Bristol </ref>]]
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England on February 12, 1809, seemingly already with his fascination of the natural world. As a child, he was an avid reader, specifically of nature books, and spent his spare time exploring and collecting plants and [[insects]] from the woodlands and fields around his childhood home.
In 1825, at the age of 16, Darwin enrolled in medical school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. While in medical school, he witnessed surgery on a child, and upon watching this procedure, he gave up his studies. This is because surgeries at the time were carried out with no anesthetic or antiseptics, and fatalities were very common, so it was a very traumatizing experience to endure. Darwin was not just studying medicine in Edinburgh, he was also receiving lessons in taxidermy from a former enslaved man, John Edmonstone. This skill would prove to be crucial as he continued into his career.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref> Upon leaving Scotland, Darwin went to Christ's College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, to study theology at his father’s request, though after taking a biological science he felt inclined to study natural history. course<ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==HMS Beagle Voyage==
[[File:hmsbeagle.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|HMS Beagle <ref name="HMS Beagle"> HMS Beagle | Nautilus Historic Ships Archive. (n.d.). . https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/ships-of-the-past/2021/january/hms-beagle/. </ref>]]
While Darwin was receiving his bachelor’s degree, botany professor John Stevens Henslow became his mentor, and upon Darwin’s graduation his mentor recommended him for a naturalist position on the ‘HMS Beagle’. The ship was to take a five-year trip around the world so they may survey and study a variety of natural specimens.
Through hands-on experimentation and research, Darwin had the unique opportunity to observe how the principles of botany, geology, and zoology relate to the real-world. The Pacific Islands, South America, and of course the Galapagos Archipelago were of special interest.
After returning to England in 1836, Darwin began writing up his findings in a journal, that was later published as a part of the ‘Beagle’s captain’s larger narrative. The larger narrative was later edited into the “Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle”. The 5-year voyage had a monumental effect on Darwin and his view of the natural world. He began to develop a theory on the origin of living things that was almost completely contrary to the popular view at the time. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==Theory of Evolution==
Following his voyage on the ‘HMS Beagle,’ Darwin developed his theory of evolution, which declared that species survived through “natural selection.” Natural selection is the process in which those that have successfully adapted or evolved to fit the changing requirements of their habitat are the ones that survive and reproduce, meanwhile those that failed to adapt die off.
His theory of evolution and the process of natural selection eventually became known as “Darwinism.” At the time, though, other naturalists believed that all species either came into being at the beginning of Earth or were simply created over the course of natural history. It wasn’t until the next century that DNA studies provided scientific evidence of Darwin’s theory of evolution, though there is still conflict regarding the topic today as Creationism (the religious view that all beings were created by God) is still prevalent in some areas. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms==
[[File:vegetablemould.png|300px|thumb|right|The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. <ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref>]]
Darwin’s last piece of published work before his death in 1882 was “The Formation of [[Vegetable Mould]] Through the Action of Worms”. Released in 1881, it was the first ever publication regarding [[earthworm]]s and their importance. The book detailed Darwin’s extensive research on the importance of worms and their impact on [[soil]] formation. In his research, he learned that the worms pass through the earth, and they don’t just move it but help to create it as they travel through the soil. He also highlighted the impact they have on soil fertility, and in his conclusion, he writes that worms, “have played a more important job in the history on the world that most persons would at first suppose.”<ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref> Without this book, and without Charles Darwin, the study of soil and its inhabitants would not be as far along as it is today, and [[Soil Ecology]] may not have ever existed.

==References==
<references/>

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T18:28:34Z

Kyliecro:

[[File:darwin2.png|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin <ref name=”Darwin”> Bob Thomas, Popperfoto via Getty Images, Getty Images </ref>]]
==Description==
Charles Rober Darwin (1809-1882) was a British biologist and naturalist best known for his theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref> He transformed the way humans understand the natural world and was a true revolutionary. In current society, he is celebrated as one of the best and brightest British scientists who ever lived, but when he was alive his theories were deemed radical and created conflict between himself and the members of the Church of England.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref>
==Early Life==
[[File:darwinyoung.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Charles Darwin (left), circa 1816. <ref name="Darwin and Plant"> Ellen Wallace Sharples, via University of Bristol </ref>]]
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England on February 12, 1809, seemingly already with his fascination of the natural world. As a child, he was an avid reader, specifically of nature books, and spent his spare time exploring and collecting plants and [[insects]] from the woodlands and fields around his childhood home.
In 1825, at the age of 16, Darwin enrolled in medical school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. While in medical school, he witnessed surgery on a child, and upon watching this procedure, he gave up his studies. This is because surgeries at the time were carried out with no anesthetic or antiseptics, and fatalities were very common, so it was a very traumatizing experience to endure. Darwin was not just studying medicine in Edinburgh, he was also receiving lessons in taxidermy from a former enslaved man, John Edmonstone. This skill would prove to be crucial as he continued into his career.<ref name= "History’s Most Famous Biologist"> Charles Darwin, History’s most famous biologist, Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html. </ref> Upon leaving Scotland, Darwin went to Christ's College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, to study theology at his father’s request, though after taking a biological science he felt inclined to study natural history. course<ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==HMS Beagle Voyage==
[[File:hmsbeagle.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|HMS Beagle <ref name="HMS Beagle"> HMS Beagle | Nautilus Historic Ships Archive. (n.d.). . https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/ships-of-the-past/2021/january/hms-beagle/. </ref>]]
While Darwin was receiving his bachelor’s degree, botany professor John Stevens Henslow became his mentor, and upon Darwin’s graduation his mentor recommended him for a naturalist position on the ‘HMS Beagle’. The ship was to take a five-year trip around the world so they may survey and study a variety of natural specimens.
Through hands-on experimentation and research, Darwin had the unique opportunity to observe how the principles of botany, geology, and zoology relate to the real-world. The Pacific Islands, South America, and of course the Galapagos Archipelago were of special interest.
After returning to England in 1836, Darwin began writing up his findings in a journal, that was later published as a part of the ‘Beagle’s captain’s larger narrative. The larger narrative was later edited into the “Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle”. The 5-year voyage had a monumental effect on Darwin and his view of the natural world. He began to develop a theory on the origin of living things that was almost completely contrary to the popular view at the time. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==Theory of Evolution==
Following his voyage on the ‘HMS Beagle,’ Darwin developed his theory of evolution, which declared that species survived through “natural selection.” Natural selection is the process in which those that have successfully adapted or evolved to fit the changing requirements of their habitat are the ones that survive and reproduce, meanwhile those that failed to adapt die off.
His theory of evolution and the process of natural selection eventually became known as “Darwinism.” At the time, though, other naturalists believed that all species either came into being at the beginning of Earth or were simply created over the course of natural history. It wasn’t until the next century that DNA studies provided scientific evidence of Darwin’s theory of evolution, though there is still conflict regarding the topic today as Creationism (the religious view that all beings were created by God) is still prevalent in some areas. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref>
==The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms==
[[File:vegetablemould.png|300px|thumb|right|The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. <ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref>]]
Darwin’s last piece of published work before his death in 1882 was “The Formation of [[Vegetable Mould]] Through the Action of Worms”. Released in 1881, it was the first ever publication regarding [[earthworm]]s and their importance. The book detailed Darwin’s extensive research on the importance of worms and their impact on soil formation. In his research, he learned that the worms pass through the earth, and they don’t just move it but help to create it as they travel through the soil. He also highlighted the impact they have on soil fertility, and in his conclusion, he writes that worms, “have played a more important job in the history on the world that most persons would at first suppose.”<ref name="Vegetable Mould"> Darwin, C. 1907. The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits. D. Appleton. </ref> Without this book, and without Charles Darwin, the study of [[soil]] and its inhabitants would not be as far along as it is today, and [[Soil Ecology]] may not have ever existed.

==References==
<references/>

File:Hmsbeagle.jpeg

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Kyliecro:

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T17:11:44Z

Kyliecro:

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T17:01:22Z

Kyliecro: /* Early Life */

Charles Darwin

2025-05-02T17:00:49Z

Kyliecro: Created page with "Charles Darwin <ref name=”Darwin”> Bob Thomas, Popperfoto via Getty Images, Getty Images </ref> ==Description== Charles Rober Darwin (1809-1882) was a British biologist and naturalist best known for his theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. <ref name=”Charles Darwin”> Charles Darwin - Theory, Book & Quotes. 2021, March 29. . https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-darwin. </ref> He transformed the wa..."

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Kyliecro:

Scarabaeidae

2025-05-02T15:35:22Z

Kyliecro:

[[File:scarab1.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes Tityus<ref name=”Scarabaeidae”>[ https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-coleoptera/family-scarabaeidae/ “Scarabaeidae”] </ref>]]
==Description==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right; margin-left: 12px;
|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(235,235,210)|'''Taxonomic Ranks'''
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Domain:
|style="min-width:6em; |Eukaryota
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Kingdom:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Animals|Animalia]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Phylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Arthropoda]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Subphylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Hexapod]]a
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Order:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Coleoptera]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Family:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Scarabaeidae]]
|-
|colspan=”2”|<ref name=”Coleoptera”> Bouchard, P., Y Bousquet, A. E. Davies, A. Alonso-Zarazaga, C. H. C. Lyal, A. F. Newton, C. A. M. Reid, M. Schmitt, S. A. Ślipiński, and A. B. T. Smith. 2011. Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys: 1-972 </ref>
|}
The scarab beetle family, formally known as Scarabaeidae, is a family of approximately 30,000 species of beetles, and approximately 1,700 species found in North America north of Mexico.<ref name=”Scarab Beetles”>[ Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids.] </ref> They are dense, hard-bodies [[insects]] with a robust oval shape. They can be distinguished form other beetles via their antennae, which terminates in three flattened plates. These plates at the end of each antennae then fit together to form a club. The beetles often have toothed or scalloped front legs to facilitate digging. They come in a wide variety of sizes, varying from 5 mm to approximately 12 cm. The largest species of scarab beetle is the African Goliath Beetle, which is also the heaviest insect on earth. There are also many subfamilies of scarabs, for example the [[Dung Beetle]] subfamily. It is important to note that while all dung beetles are scarabs, not all scarabs are dung beetles. <ref name=”Scarab”>Scarab Beetle Definition & Facts https://www.britannica.com/animal/scarab-beetle. </ref>
==Habitat and Range==
Scarab beetles have an incredibly wide range. They can be found in almost every part of the world, aside from the oceans and Antarctica. <ref name=”Scarabs”> Scarabs. National Geographic. 2010, March 12. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/scarabs. </ref> Depending on the species of scarab beetle, they tend to occupy different habitats. For example, scarabs that feed on [[decomposing]] materials, such as green June beetles and Dung beetles, are typically seen on or around rotting materials, and plant feeders can be found on their favorite plant species. They are typically either nocturnal or diurnal (active during the day-time), and that also varies with species.<ref name="Scarabaeids"> Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids. </ref>
==Life Cycle==
[[File:lifecyclescarab.png|300px|thumb|right|Scarab Beetle Life Cycle<ref name=”Centipede”> [Malcolm. Centipede and scarab. https://malcolmtattersall.com.au/wp/2015/01/centipede-scarab/] </ref>]]

When it comes to mating in scarabs, it usually takes place near the food material required for the offspring to survive. The clubbed antennae previously mentioned are used by adults to smell and locate the ideal mating area. After being fertilized, females deposit eggs in the [[soil]] or on decomposing organic material. The larvae, or grubs, then focus on eating and growing. In some species, this may take years, and some species descend lower into the soil for overwintering. Once the larvae is fully grown, it pupates and emerges as an adult that can fly and mate. <ref name="Scarabaeids"> Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids. </ref>

==References==
<references/>

Scarabaeidae

2025-05-02T15:32:11Z

Kyliecro:

[[File:scarab1.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes Tityus<ref name=”Scarabaeidae”>[ https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-coleoptera/family-scarabaeidae/ “Scarabaeidae”] </ref>]]
==Description==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right; margin-left: 12px;
|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(235,235,210)|'''Taxonomic Ranks'''
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Domain:
|style="min-width:6em; |Eukaryota
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Kingdom:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Animals|Animalia]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Phylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Arthropoda]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Subphylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Hexapod]]a
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Order:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Coleoptera]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Family:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Scarabaeidae]]
|-
|colspan=”2”|<ref name=”Coleoptera”> Bouchard, P., Y Bousquet, A. E. Davies, A. Alonso-Zarazaga, C. H. C. Lyal, A. F. Newton, C. A. M. Reid, M. Schmitt, S. A. Ślipiński, and A. B. T. Smith. 2011. Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys: 1-972 </ref>
|}
The scarab beetle family, formally known as Scarabaeidae, is a family of approximately 30,000 species of beetles, and approximately 1,700 species found in North America north of Mexico.<ref name=”Scarab Beetles”>[ Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids.] </ref> They are dense, hard-bodies [[insects]] with a robust oval shape. They can be distinguished form other beetles via their antennae, which terminates in three flattened plates. These plates at the end of each antennae then fit together to form a club. The beetles often have toothed or scalloped front legs to facilitate digging. They come in a wide variety of sizes, varying from 5 mm to approximately 12 cm. The largest species of scarab beetle is the African Goliath Beetle, which is also the heaviest insect on earth. There are also many subfamilies of scarabs, for example the [[Dung Beetle]] subfamily. It is important to note that while all dung beetles are scarabs, not all scarabs are dung beetles. <ref name=”Scarab”>Scarab Beetle Definition & Facts https://www.britannica.com/animal/scarab-beetle. </ref>
==Habitat and Range==
Scarab beetles have an incredibly wide range. They can be found in almost every part of the world, aside from the oceans and Antarctica. <ref name=”Scarabs”> Scarabs. National Geographic. 2010, March 12. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/scarabs. </ref> Depending on the species of scarab beetle, they tend to occupy different habitats. For example, scarabs that feed on [[decomposing]] materials, such as green June beetles and Dung beetles, are typically seen on or around rotting materials, and plant feeders can be found on their favorite plant species. They are typically either nocturnal or diurnal (active during the day-time), and that also varies with species.<ref name=”Scarabaeids”> Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids. </ref>
==Life Cycle==
[[File:lifecyclescarab.png|300px|thumb|right|Scarab Beetle Life Cycle<ref name=”Centipede”> [Malcolm. Centipede and scarab. https://malcolmtattersall.com.au/wp/2015/01/centipede-scarab/] </ref>]]

When it comes to mating in scarabs, it usually takes place near the food material required for the offspring to survive. The clubbed antennae previously mentioned are used by adults to smell and locate the ideal mating area. After being fertilized, females deposit eggs in the [[soil]] or on decomposing organic material. The larvae, or grubs, then focus on eating and growing. In some species, this may take years, and some species descend lower into the soil for overwintering. Once the larvae is fully grown, it pupates and emerges as an adult that can fly and mate. <ref name=”Scarabaeids” Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids). (n.d.). . https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scarab-beetles-scarabaeids. </ref>

==References==
<references/>

File:Lifecyclescarab.png

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Scarabaeidae

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Kyliecro:

File:Scarab1.jpeg

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Kyliecro: Kyliecro uploaded a new version of File:Scarab1.jpeg

Scarabaeidae

2025-05-02T13:22:39Z

Kyliecro: Created page with "Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes Tityus<ref name=”Scarabaeidae”>[ https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-coleoptera/family-scarabaeidae/ “Scarabaeidae”"

[[File:scarab1.jpeg|600px|thumb|right|Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes Tityus<ref name=”Scarabaeidae”>[ https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-coleoptera/family-scarabaeidae/ “Scarabaeidae”]]

File:Scarab1.jpeg

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Kyliecro:

Regolith

2025-03-12T17:12:25Z

Kyliecro: Adding more information to wikipage as well as corrected grammar mistakes in original.

==Definition==
Regolith is "the layer of unconsolidated, weathered, broken rock debris, mineral grains, and superficial deposits which overlie the unaltered [[bedrock]]" of a planet or moon. It is formed in the weathering processes that occur in the lithosphere. The depth varies greatly depending on the, "intensity and duration of the weathering process." Within the tropics of Earth, it may be hundreds of metres deep, whereas in other regions, such as the Rocky Mountains, it can be practically nonexistent. [1]

==Components==
Earth's regolith is comprised of the following components: [2][3][4]
* [[Soil]] or pedolith
* Transported cover, including but not limited to glacial and gravitational flow.
* Volcanic ash and lava flow
* "Saprolith", which can be divided into;
** Upper saprolite: oxidised bedrock
** Lower saprolite: chemically reduced, partially weathered bedrock
** Saprock: fractured bedrock. Weathering restricted to fracture margins
* Groundwater and water-deposited salts
* Biota and Organic Compounds
* Duricrust, which is formed by the cementation of saprolith, soils, and other transported materials into non-friable layers. Non-friable layers are unlikely to crumble and break into smaller pieces, and they are resistant to weathering and erosion.

==References==
#Oxford University Press. "Regolith". Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110810105721161#:~:text=A%20general%20term%20for%20the,which%20overlie%20the%20unaltered%20bedrock.
#Ollier, Cliff; Pain, Colin (1996). "Regolith, soils and landforms". Chichester: John Wiley. ISBN 978-0471961215
#Taylor, G.; Eggleton, R.A. (2001). Regolith geology and geomorphology. Chichester: J. Wiley. ISBN 978-0471974543
#Scott, Keith M.; Pain, Colin (2009). Regolith science. Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Pub. ISBN 978-1402088599