Lord of the Ants- Notes and Paper on E. O. Wilson
Lord of the Ants Ed Wilson Was hit in the eye by the dorsal fin of a Pin fish and went partially blind, so he turned his interest to animals small enough for him to see entirely and up close, something small enough for him to hold between his thumb and pointer finger to inspect. Pheidole Jim Watson- Newly appointed head at Harvard Watson inspired Wilson to apply chemistry to how ants stay so organized Chemical trail ants leave to direct and guide other ants towards food, away from an enemy, a new home, and so on. Pheromones Sociobiology Many protested his theory of sociobiology Encyclopedia of Life E. O.
Wilson was intrigued by nature at a very young age, growing up in Alabama offered him a natural world, rich in plants, insects, and plenty other species just waiting to be discovered. He had a true passion for understanding the natural world that we inhabit. As a young boy, he was hit in the eye by the dorsal fin of a Pin fish and went partially blind. He didn’t let this hold him back, instead he focused his interest to animals small enough for him to see entirely and up close, something small enough for him to hold between his thumb and pointer finger to inspect. Wilson’s interest in nature grew with his age, he earned his B.
S. and M. S. degrees at the University of Alabama, and went on to earn his Ph. D. from Harvard University. Wilson wrote On Human Nature, a Pulitzer Prize-winning book on his theory of Sociobiology, explaining how the many characteristics of human and society can be explained from an evolutionary point of view. He explained that all animal behavior, including human behavior, is the outcome of hereditary factors, environmental stimuli, and past experiences. His work faced much resistance from many, as a lot of critics had a hard time accepting his theory as it applied to humans.
His theory rejects the previously established doctrine of tabula rasa, which holds that human beings are born a clean slate, and that culture functions to aid in human knowledge, survival, and success. Island biogeography is a field of biogeography that studies species richness in isolated natural areas. This theory examines extinction and migration patterns of different species to isolated areas. Wilson’s work has lead to the understanding and need for species conservation. His theory led to establishing national parks and the development of habitat corridors.
