[Coral-List] A controversy of "Great durability" (Darwin was wrong?)

[Bill Allison]

Hello All,
I happened to come across this relevant observation today as I delved into
the older literature about atoll island groundwater.

"The geological problem of the origin of coral reefs and atolls has been
one of recurrent interest and great durability, commencing with the famous
subsidence theory of Darwin (1837). Both geologists and biologists in the
century since Darwin's publication have accumulated facts according to
their opportunities and contributed to the discussion. Several divergent
theories have been developed including Semper's lagoon-solution theory,
Daly's glacial control theory, and the antecedent-platform theory invoked
by Ladd and Hoffmeister, with the greater number of Workers supporting
either the subsidence or the glacial-control theory. *In recent years it
has become apparent that for the various observed conditions no single
answer may be sufficient, and that the merits of the leading hypotheses
vary according to the age of the atoll and its location.*" (My bold)

Cox, Doak C., Davis, Dan A., and Wentworth, Chester K. 1951. "Geology and
ground water of atolls." Atoll Research Bulletin. 2:3–4, p.3.
https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/34027