Otto Zacharias
Encyclopedia
Emil Otto Zacharias was a German
zoologist, plankton
researcher and journalist.
and elsewhere, including Ernst Haeckel
, Charles Darwin
, Rudolf Virchow
, Joseph Kürschner
and Wilhelm Bölsche
. In 1891, Zacharias was supported financially by the Prussian government and several private individuals on Großer Plöner See
, the first "Biological Station" for freshwater research based on German soil as a private research institute. The inspiration for this was a zoological station founded in 1870 in Naples
by Anton Dohrn
, which was already highly recognized.
As the director Zacharias published research reports from 1893 on the activities at Plön
station, which were recorded from 1905 in the Archives of Hydrobiology. In so-called "summer schools" Zacharias trained teachers and laity interested in working with the microscope
.
As of 2008 the Institute for Limnology
is no longer in the original building but still in Plon. It was renamed in April 2007 as part of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology.
Zacharias has a water mite Arrenurus zachariae Koenike, 1886 named after him.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
zoologist, plankton
Plankton
Plankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...
researcher and journalist.
Life
Otto Zacharias studied in Leipzig, including mathematics, philosophy and zoology. For many years he worked as a tutor in Italy, where he devoted himself mainly to the popular science presenting complex issues of biology. He held a long correspondence with leading researchers and writers in PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and elsewhere, including Ernst Haeckel
Ernst Haeckel
The "European War" became known as "The Great War", and it was not until 1920, in the book "The First World War 1914-1918" by Charles à Court Repington, that the term "First World War" was used as the official name for the conflict.-Research:...
, Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
, Rudolf Virchow
Rudolf Virchow
Rudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
, Joseph Kürschner
Joseph Kürschner
Joseph Kürschner was a German author and editor most often cited for his critical edition of classics from German literature.-Biography:...
and Wilhelm Bölsche
Wilhelm Bölsche
Wilhelm Bölsche was a German author, editor & publicist.-Life:...
. In 1891, Zacharias was supported financially by the Prussian government and several private individuals on Großer Plöner See
Großer Plöner See
The Großer Plöner See or Lake Plön is the largest lake in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located near the town of Plön...
, the first "Biological Station" for freshwater research based on German soil as a private research institute. The inspiration for this was a zoological station founded in 1870 in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
by Anton Dohrn
Anton Dohrn
Felix Anton Dohrn was a prominent German Darwinist and the founder and first director of the Stazione Zoologica, Naples, Italy.-Family history:...
, which was already highly recognized.
As the director Zacharias published research reports from 1893 on the activities at Plön
Plön
Plön is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13,000 inhabitants. It lies right on the shores of Schleswig-Holstein's biggest lake, the Great Plön Lake, as well as on several smaller lakes, touching the town on virtually all sides...
station, which were recorded from 1905 in the Archives of Hydrobiology. In so-called "summer schools" Zacharias trained teachers and laity interested in working with the microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
.
As of 2008 the Institute for Limnology
Limnology
Limnology , also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of ecology or environmental science. It covers the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes of all inland waters...
is no longer in the original building but still in Plon. It was renamed in April 2007 as part of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology.
Zacharias has a water mite Arrenurus zachariae Koenike, 1886 named after him.
Selected works
- Charles Darwin und die kulturhistorische Bedeutung seiner Theorie vom Ursprung der Arten. Berlin 1882.
- Über gelöste und ungelöste Probleme der Naturforschung. 2. Aufl. Leipzig 1891.
- Katechismus des Darwinismus. Leipzig 1891.
- Die Tier- und Pflanzenwelt des Süßwassers. 2 Bde. Leipzig 1891.
- Das Plankton. Leipzig 1907.
Further reading
- N. Wetzel, R. Nöthlich: Vom „Homo literatus“ zum „Self made man“ – Der Werdegang des Emil Otto Zacharias. In: Mauritiana, 19 (2006), Heft 3, p. 463-477.
- R. Nöthlich, N. Wetzel, U. Hoßfeld, L. Olsson: „Ich acquirirte das Schwein sofort, ließ nach dem Niederstechen die Pfoten abhacken u. schickte dieselben an Darwin“ - Der Briefwechsel von Otto Zacharias mit Ernst Haeckel (1874–1898). Annals of the history and philosophy of biology, 11 (2006), p. 177-248.
- A. W. Daum: Wissenschaftspopularisierung im 19. Jahrhundert. Bürgerliche Kultur, naturwissenschaftliche Bildung und die deutsche Öffentlichkeit, 1848-1914. München: Oldenbourg 1998.