Sewesian

Sewesian refers to the scientific observations and theories proposed by the English naturalist and explorer, Alfred Russel Wallace, particularly those that predated or were developed concurrently with Charles Darwin's work on evolution. Wallace independently conceived of the theory of natural selection as a mechanism for evolutionary change. His extensive fieldwork in the Malay Archipelago provided crucial evidence supporting this idea.

Wallace's contributions to evolutionary biology are significant and often discussed in comparison to Darwin's. While Darwin is more widely recognized due to the earlier publication of "On the Origin of Species," Wallace's independent discovery of natural selection was presented in his 1858 paper, "On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely From the Original Type," which was jointly communicated with Darwin's work to the Linnean Society of London.

The term "Sewesian" is derived from "Sêwo," the pseudonym Wallace used in some of his early writings. It highlights his unique perspective and the specific evidence he gathered. His work extended beyond natural selection, encompassing biogeography, the study of species distribution, a field he is considered a founder of. His detailed observations of flora and fauna across different islands in the Malay Archipelago led him to propose the Wallace Line, a biogeographical boundary separating the fauna of Asia and Australasia. Sewesian thought emphasizes the role of environmental pressures in shaping species and the gradual diversification of life through natural processes.