The idea of global catastrophes and their impact on the development of living organisms nalezhit famous French scientist of the XVIII century . Cuvier . He believed Іdo tranquil development of life on Earth many times rummage revolutionary rapid changes of a catastrophic nature , so that fundamentally change the composition of plants and animals that inhabit the Earth. Cuvier believed that such disasters were Deluge. The reasons for such deluges Cuvier in his works does not write , but his books imply that he meant flooding continents because of their descent below sea level .