Exist sub-species?????

[Panza, Robin]

-----Original Message-----
From: martin at CUSLM.CA [mailto:martin at CUSLM.CA]

>I would say that species is the least arbitrary level of taxonomical
>hierarchy; it is not devoid of arbitrariness.

I have to agree with Martin on this.  I don't understand the metaphysics of
species concepts, but I find it hard to envision a "foolproof" method of
defining species.  There are too many taxa with very low but very real
genetic exchange. There is a lot of hybridization among members of the avian
genus _Anas_, and even some with other duck genera.  Are all ducks a single
species?


> Some folks
> may find the term useful, but I don't, and I doubt population geneticists
> care for the term either....  Rank them if
> you wish, but there are ways to describe variation within and among
> populations less arbitrary than the information content of "sub-species."

Until I have a chance to read your references, Byron, can you explain these
other methods of describing variation?  I've heard the declaration before,
but I haven't found an alternative.

thanks,
Robin

Robin K Panza                  panzar at carnegiemuseums.org
Collection Manager, Section of Birds      ph:  412-622-3255
Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4080  USA