[Taxacom] Biodiversity and Species Value

[Steve Manning]

Hi,

I prefer placing a higher priority on preserving ecosystems rather 
than particular species.  The ecosystems that are known to harbor the 
most species would seem to have the highest priority; whether the 
species therein are especially unique or threatened would 
have  secondary priority; and the nature and relationships of species 
therein would seem to me to be of tertiary importance.

Steve

At 09:59 PM 5/31/2010, Curtis Clark wrote:
>On 5/31/2010 6:07 PM, Kenneth Kinman wrote:
> > Hi Robin,
> >       Family Crasionycteridae is endangered due to human activity,
> > particularly deforestation.  Therefore I think humans should do what
> > they can to mitigate that damage.  It is often called the bumblebee bat,
> > because it is the smallest of all bats, and considered by many to be the
> > smallest of ALL mammals.
> >        Anyway, I see that it is on the EDGE Species List (EDGE =
> > Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered).  I've always thought
> > such species are special and should a higher level of protection than
> > species in speciose genera and families, and was glad to see the EDGE
> > Society formed a few years ago to promote that view.  I still think they
> > are deserving of priority protection, especially when humans caused
> > their endangered situation.
> >
>
>So you'd rather we save an "evolutionarily distinct" species that by
>definition tickles our fancy than an "ordinary" species that is a
>keystone species in an endangered community? Interesting priority.
>
>--
>Curtis Clark                  http://www.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
>Director, I&IT Web Development                   +1 909 979 6371
>University Web Coordinator, Cal Poly Pomona
>
>
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