relative arbitrariness (different perspective)

[Ken Kinman]

Richard,
     Thank you for your defense of the BSC (as biological, not "bogus"
species concept).
     However, regarding your inclination to disagree that species is the
least arbitrary unit of classification, I think you might want to reconsider
if you change your perspective somewhat.
     The fact that some genera (such as Quercus) may appear to be less
arbitrary than the species they contain is largely due to extinction of
species which would close the gap between Quercus and related genera.  Until
one looks at it from a broader paleontological perspective, and takes the
time dimension into account, one will not be able to fully grasp the
relative arbitrariness of non-species taxa.  I think paleontologists in
general probably understand this better than the rest of us.
                       -------Ken Kinman
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Richard Jensen wrote:
>I am inclined to disagree with others who argue that the species is the
>least arbitrary unit of classification.  For example, in the group I work
>with, the oaks, there is not really much uncertaintly about the recognition
>of the genus (Quercus) and of several of the major sections within the
>genus (section Lobatae, section Quercus).

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