Chapter XI: 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