[Taxacom] Biodiversity and Species Value

[Kenneth Kinman]

Hi Curtis,
         Keystone species are clearly also important, even though they
may not be endangered as a species.  Prairie dogs are an excellent
example, although they have been extirpated from all of Kansas except in
parts of one county.  Clearly a keystone species (and particulary vital
to the reestablishment in Kansas of the black-footed ferret, a species
so endangered it was once considered extinct).  Therefore, a few
ranchers there "fancy" prairie dogs on their land as a keystone species,
even though at great expense to themselves in their fight with other
ranchers and the County Commission (who have used an old state law to
enter private land, poison prairie dogs and associated wildlife, and
then send the land-owner the bill, adding insult to injury).       
     And Robin is correct that humans generally find many vertebrates
more appealing than invertebrates.  Being vertebrates ourselves, I guess
that is understandable.  But butterflies, especially brightly colored
ones, are viewed as far more appealing than most rodents and bats (i.e.,
the vast majority of mammal species).  
       Frankly, except for the monarch butterflies that fly through
twice a year, I find butterflies rather boring.  I personally think
jumping spiders are much cuter and more interesting, but I suspect there
are FAR more butterflies on endangered species lists than there are
spiders (even though lots of spiders are beautifully colored).  Without
spiders and bats (as well as birds), we'd be overrun by insect pests,
but all they get is bad press (especially every Halloween).  I wish the
Halloween industry would stick to witches and ghosts, and quit
discriminating against spiders and bats.  Anyway, even among
invertebrates, the butterflies are probably overrated, and spiders are
widely underrated and misunderstood.  As for Craseonycteris (the
bumblebee bat), I'm not sure if it is considered a keystone species or
not.  
        -----------Ken

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Curtis Clark wrote:
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. 
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