CHAPTER XI.. The Geologic Functions of Life.

THE GEOLOGIC FUNCTIONS OF LIFE.

I. +The Distinctive Features of Organic Processes+ 638 The Chemical Work of Life 638 Life material chiefly atmospheric, 638. The non-atmospheric factors, 639. (1) Changes in the composition of the atmosphere 639 The consumption and restoration of carbon dioxide, 640. The freezing and consumption of oxygen, 640. The organic residue, 640. The meaning of the organic residue, 641. The more inert factor, 642. Probable fluctuations of atmospheric composition, 642. The climatic effects of organic action, 643. (2) Aid and hindrance to inorganic action 644 The promotion of disintegration, 644. Protection against erosion, 644. The influence of land vegetation on the character of the sediments, 645. (3) Distinctive deposits 646 Organic rocks, 646. Inorganic rocks due to life, 646. Fossils 646 The general order of life succession determined by stratigraphy, 647. Fossils as means of correlation, 647. Special Modes of Aggregation and of Movement 648 The Mental Element 649 (1) The material effects of the mental element, 649. Human modification of the animal and vegetal kingdoms, 650. (2) The psychological factors as such, 651.

II. +Special Contributions of the Organic Kingdoms+ 652 Contributions of the Plant Kingdom 652 Reference table of the principal groups of plants, 653. The contribution of the Thallophytes, 653. The contribution of the Bryophytes, 656. The contribution of the Pteridophytes, 657. The contribution of the Spermatophytes, 657. Plant life terrestrial rather than marine, 658. Contributions of the Animal Kingdom 658 Reference table of the principal groups of animals, 659. The contribution of the Protozoa, 660. The contribution of the Cœlenterata, 661. The contribution of the Echinodermata, 661. The contribution of the Vermes, 662. The contribution of the Molluscoidea, 662. The contribution of the Mollusca, 662. The contribution of the Arthropoda, 662. The contribution of the Vertebrata, 663.

III. +The Associations and Ecological Relations of Life+ 663 The Basis of Floras and Faunas 663 Assemblages Influenced by the Mutual Relations of Organisms 664 Food relations, 664. Adaptive relations, 665. Competitive relations, 665. Offensive and defensive relations, 665. Implied forms of life, 666. Assemblages Influenced by Environment 666 Plant societies, 667. The Influence of Geographic Conditions on the Evolution of Floras and Faunas 668 The development of provincial and cosmopolitan faunas, 668. Restrictive and expansional evolution, 672.

PLATES.

+plate+ +face page+

I. Bathymetrical Chart of the Oceans 10

II. Fig. 1. New Jersey. Fig. 2. Kansas. Fig. 3. Indiana. Fig. 4. Nebraska 39

III. Fig. 1. Kansas. Fig. 2. Nevada 72

IV. Fig. 1. Illinois. Fig. 2. North Dakota 73

V. Fig. 1. Kentucky. Fig. 2. Virginia 85

VI. Parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, California. 87

VII. Kansas 90

VIII. About 16 Miles Southwest of St. Louis, Mo. 91

IX. Niagara Falls 100

X. Fig. 1. Yellowstone Park. Fig. 2. Arizona 101

XI. Part of the Catskills, N. Y. 106

XII. Fig. 1. New Mexico. Fig. 2. Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland 107

XIII. Fig. 1. Colorado. Fig. 2. Kansas 162

XIV. Fig. 1. Pennsylvania. Fig. 2. California 163

XV. Near Hahnville, Louisiana 188

XVI. Missouri 189

XVII. Fig. 1. Hunterdon County, N. J. Fig. 2. Near Pikeville, Tenn. 232

XVIII. Fig. 1. Washington. Fig. 2. California 233

XIX. Part of the Big Horn Range, Wyoming 286

XX. Section of the California Coast near San Mateo, Cal. 287

XXI. New Jersey 356

XXII. Fig. 1. Portion of South Coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Fig. 2. Portion of the California Coast near Tamalpais 357

XXIII. Fig. 1. Massachusetts. Fig. 2. Maine 364

XXIV. Portion of the Coast of Maine 365

TABLES.

Analyses of American River-waters 106

Analyses of American Spring-waters 236

Analyses of the Waters of Inclosed Lakes 392

GEOLOGY