Real Species

[Richard.Zander at MOBOT.ORG]

Figure it this way: A species is a standing wave of probability. Once you
use a species in some way (make a law that mentions it, base a biogeographic
theory on it), the standing wave collapses and you get a real species.

Maybe not quantum reality, but psychological reality.

______________________
Richard H. Zander
Bryology Group
Missouri Botanical Garden
PO Box 299
St. Louis, MO 63166-0299
richard.zander at mobot.org <mailto:richard.zander at mobot.org>
Voice: 314-577-5180
Fax: 314-577-9595
Websites
Bryophyte Volumes of Flora of North America:
http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/bfna/bfnamenu.htm
Res Botanica:
http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/resbot/index.htm
Shipping address for UPS, etc.:
Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110



-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Hyam [mailto:roger at HYAM.NET]
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 3:15 AM
To: TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
Subject: Re: [TAXACOM] Real Species

The answer is probably "Most species are real but you can't divide the
whole of diversity into species using a consistent set of criteria"