Lourens Bass Becking
Encyclopedia
Lourens G. M. Bass Becking (January 4, 1895 – January 6, 1963) was a Dutch botanist and microbiologist. He is known for the Baas-Becking hypothesis, which he originally formulated as "Everything is everywhere, but the environment selects".
on January 4, 1895. Baas Becking studied microbiology at Delft University before studying biology
at Utrecht University
with a focus on botany. In between completing his studies in Utrecth and submitting his thesis, Baas Becking worked in the laboratory of Thomas Hunt Morgan
in the United States
. In 1923, Baas Becking accepted the position of professor at Stanford, where he taught economic botany and plant physiology.
Baas Becking's studies at Stanford heavily influenced his later work by introducing him to research on extremophile
s, research he conducted himself as the director of the Jacques Loeb Marine Laboratory in Pacific Grove
. In particular, Baas Becking studied the salt lakes and methane-rich reservoirs in California
.
Baas Becking returned to the Netherlands in 1930 as a professor of general botany at the University of Leiden and prefect (director) of the Hortus Botanicus Leiden
. It was in Leiden that Baas Becking formulated the hypothesis known by his name. At Leiden in 1940, he was appointed Director of Botanic Lands, with the intention of restoring the University's Botanical Garden of Buitenzorg in present-day Bogor
, on the island of Java
.
Although his family moved to Java in 1940, the Battle of the Netherlands
prevented his leaving, and he remained in the Netherlands during the five year occupation. During this time, he was twice imprisoned for trying to escape to England
. During his imprisonment, Baas Becking studied the typhoid fever
spreading through his prison camp, and he began writing a book on Geobiology
.
After World War II
, Baas Becking was initially prevented from beginning his work in Bogor due to the Indonesian Revolution. He moved to New Caledonia
in 1948, after being appointed president of the scientific council of the South Pacific Commission
.
Baas Becking later worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
in Cronulla
and Canberra
. The Bureau of Mineral Resources
in Canberra recognized Baas Becking's contributions by opening the Baas Becking Geobiological Laboratory.
. The application of this hypothesis to microorganisms, specifically to the dependence of their geographic distribution over the earth on their metabolic properties, formed the basis of Baas Becking's research program at the Leiden Botanical Laboratory.
Baas Becking presented a series of lectures on the subject to the Diligentia
in The Hague
, which he published as a book titled Geobiology in 1934.
Baas Becking's hypothesis is often misquoted, with the "but" missing or replaced with "and."
Biography
Bass Becking was born in DeventerDeventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
on January 4, 1895. Baas Becking studied microbiology at Delft University before studying biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
with a focus on botany. In between completing his studies in Utrecth and submitting his thesis, Baas Becking worked in the laboratory of Thomas Hunt Morgan
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Thomas Hunt Morgan was an American evolutionary biologist, geneticist and embryologist and science author who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933 for discoveries relating the role the chromosome plays in heredity.Morgan received his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in zoology...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1923, Baas Becking accepted the position of professor at Stanford, where he taught economic botany and plant physiology.
Baas Becking's studies at Stanford heavily influenced his later work by introducing him to research on extremophile
Extremophile
An extremophile is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth. In contrast, organisms that live in more moderate environments may be termed mesophiles or neutrophiles...
s, research he conducted himself as the director of the Jacques Loeb Marine Laboratory in Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
. In particular, Baas Becking studied the salt lakes and methane-rich reservoirs in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Baas Becking returned to the Netherlands in 1930 as a professor of general botany at the University of Leiden and prefect (director) of the Hortus Botanicus Leiden
Hortus Botanicus Leiden
The Hortus botanicus of Leiden is the oldest botanical garden of the Netherlands, and one of the oldest in the world. It is located in the southwestern part of the historical centre of the city, between the Academy building and the Leiden Observatory....
. It was in Leiden that Baas Becking formulated the hypothesis known by his name. At Leiden in 1940, he was appointed Director of Botanic Lands, with the intention of restoring the University's Botanical Garden of Buitenzorg in present-day Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
, on the island of Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
.
Although his family moved to Java in 1940, the Battle of the Netherlands
Battle of the Netherlands
The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the German invasion of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the main Dutch forces surrendered...
prevented his leaving, and he remained in the Netherlands during the five year occupation. During this time, he was twice imprisoned for trying to escape to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. During his imprisonment, Baas Becking studied the typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
spreading through his prison camp, and he began writing a book on Geobiology
Geobiology
Broadly defined, geobiology is an interdisciplinary field of scientific research that explores interactions between the biosphere and the lithosphere and/or the atmosphere....
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Baas Becking was initially prevented from beginning his work in Bogor due to the Indonesian Revolution. He moved to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
in 1948, after being appointed president of the scientific council of the South Pacific Commission
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community, or SPC , is a regional intergovernmental organisation whose membership includes both nations and territories...
.
Baas Becking later worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
in Cronulla
Cronulla, New South Wales
Cronulla is a beachside suburb, in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cronulla is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Sutherland Shire....
and Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. The Bureau of Mineral Resources
Geoscience Australia
Geoscience Australia is an agency of the Australian federal government. It carries out geoscientific research.On a user pays basis it produces geospatial products such as topographic maps and satellite imagery.-History:...
in Canberra recognized Baas Becking's contributions by opening the Baas Becking Geobiological Laboratory.
Baas Becking hypothesis
Based on his research in California's salt lakes, as well as work by others on salt lakes worldwide, Baas Becking concluded, "Everything is everywhere, but the environment selects". Baas Becking attributed the first half of this hypothesis to his colleague Martinus BeijerinckMartinus Beijerinck
Martinus Willem Beijerinck was a Dutch microbiologist and botanist. Born in Amsterdam, Beijerinck studied at the Technical School of Delft, where he was awarded the degree of Chemical Engineer in 1872. He obtained his Doctor of Science degree from the University of Leiden in 1877...
. The application of this hypothesis to microorganisms, specifically to the dependence of their geographic distribution over the earth on their metabolic properties, formed the basis of Baas Becking's research program at the Leiden Botanical Laboratory.
Baas Becking presented a series of lectures on the subject to the Diligentia
Diligentia
Diligentia is a learned society founded in The Hague in 1793. All reigning monarchs of The Netherlands since King William I have been patrons of Diligentia, and many members of the Royal Family have been honorary members....
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, which he published as a book titled Geobiology in 1934.
Baas Becking's hypothesis is often misquoted, with the "but" missing or replaced with "and."