INDEPENDENTLY of Charles Darwin, English naturalist Alfred Russel
Wallace developed the theory of natural selection. But Wallace鈥檚 work and
ideas have received far less attention than his famous contemporary. One of his
most important discoveries was the biological boundary between Bali and Lombok
in the Makassar Strait, although the islands are only 24 kilometres apart. On
the western side of the boundary the flora and fauna are Oriental and on the
eastern side they are Australian. Darwin author Penny van Oosterzee
explores this sharp biogeographical division and the naturalist who first
described it in Where Worlds Collide ($24.95, Reed Books).
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles