Rare species

[Paul Selden]

Dear Taxacomers

Would anybody like to define what they consider the adjective 'rare' (as
applied to a species) to mean? This term crops up more frequently nowadays,
generally in pleas to public bodies to preserve habitats.

I have always considered the term to be meaningless, since it covers
species whose habitats are restricted geographically or ecologically (i.e.
common where it occurs), or widespread but at low species numbers, and is
possibly only really applicable to species close to extinction (but then
this is normally due to the loss of habitat anyway).

Is there a discussion somewhere that someone could point me to?

Thanks

Paul Selden


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Paul A. Selden                              Phone: ## 161 275 3296
Department of Earth Sciences                     Fax: ## 161 275 3947
University of Manchester                         Home: ## 1625 582758
Manchester M13 9PL
United Kingdom                   Website: http://quercus.ge.man.ac.uk


=====================> Download Naturefile now! <=====================

Macintosh software for wildlife recording and collection management:

      http://quercus.ge.man.ac.uk/Naturefile/Information.html
======================================================================