Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia): Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-76, Vol. XVIIIHaeckel, Ernst
Science
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia): Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-76, Vol. XVIII
Haeckel, Ernst
Radiolaria
D. The so-called "fresh-water Radiolaria," which have been described by
Focke, Greeff, Grenacher and others, are all Heliozoa, without either
central capsule or calymma.
227. _Local distribution._--As regards their local distribution and its
boundaries the Radiolaria show in general the same relations as other
pelagic animals. Since they are only to a very slight extent, if at all,
capable of active horizontal locomotion, the dispersion of the different
species from their point of development (or "centre of creation") is
dependent upon oceanic currents, the play of winds and waves and all the
accidental causes which influence the transport of pelagic animals in
general. These passive migrations are here, however, as always, of the
greatest significance, and bring about the wide distribution of individual
species in a far higher degree than any active wanderings could do. Any one
who has ever followed a stream of pelagic animals for hours and seen how
millions of creatures closely packed together are in a short time carried
along for miles by such a current, will be in no danger of underestimating
the enormous importance of marine currents in the passive migration of the
fauna of the sea. Such constant currents may, however, be recognised both
near the bottom of the sea and at various depths, as well as at the
surface, and are therefore of just as much significance for the abyssal and
zonarial as for the pelagic Radiolaria. It is easy to explain by this means
how it is that so many animals of this class (probably indeed the great
majority) have a wide range of distribution. The number of _cosmopolitan_
species which live in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans is already
relatively large. In each of these three great ocean basins, too, many
species show a wide distribution. On the other hand, there are very many
species which are hitherto known only from one locality, and probably many
small local faunas exist, characterised by the special development of
particular groups. The observations which we at present possess are too
incomplete, and the rich material of the Challenger is too incompletely
worked out, to enable any definite conclusions to be drawn regarding the
local distribution of Radiolaria.
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