Conditions for Overcollecting

Sat Jan 1 13:40:06 EST 2000

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Bruce Walsh wrote:

> Some of the comments from the US Fish and Wildlife services contained in
> the recent posting (by Neil) on the potential listing of the Sacramento
> Mountains Checkerspot inspired me to think about the parameters under which
> overcollecting can be a serious issue.

Ditto here - and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that this can be
the case.  The problem is what constitutes overcollecting

> I'm interested in the thoughts of others on the Leps-l about which
> factors can make a population vulnerable to overcollecting.  I'm especially
> interested in examples, either valid or cited by others, where overcollecting
> has caused significant harm to a population.
>
> I'm NOT trying to restart the collecting debate, so please let's start
> the last year of the old millennium with a truce on this issue.  Rather, I
> think that all sides will agree that there are certainly populations where
> modest collecting has at best a trivial effects.  Likewise, I think all
> sides will agree that there can be conditions under which very significant
> collecting can have a serious impact.  What are these conditions?  All
> thoughts are welcome.  You can send them to me or post them for the amusement
> of all of the list.

I appreciate your attitude.  I don't want it restarted either.

There was (is?) a small primrose-feeding sphinx moth (Euproserpinus euterpe?) in
Walker Basin (in the Sierra Nevada east of Bakersfield [Kern County, California])
which is said to have become extinct due to grazing pressures by cattle.  The
area is dominated by cattle ranching and the insect's range is restricted (as far
as I know) to Walker Basin.  I believe one specimen is preserved in a museum
collection (unfortunately, I don't know which).  I have also heard that there was
a something of a rush to get specimens because of its unusual appearance.
Whether this is related to its demise I do not know, but it sounds logical
chronologically.

Pierre A Plauzoles
sphinxangelorum at bigfoot.com
ae779 at lafn.org

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Bruce Walsh wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>Some of the comments from the US Fish and Wildlife
services contained in
 the recent posting (by Neil) on the potential listing of the Sacramento
 Mountains Checkerspot inspired me to think about the parameters under
which
 overcollecting can be a serious issue.</blockquote>
Ditto here - and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that this
can be the case.&nbsp; The problem is what constitutes overcollecting
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>I'm interested in the thoughts of others on the Leps-l
about which
 factors can make a population vulnerable to overcollecting.&nbsp; I'm
especially
 interested in examples, either valid or cited by others, where overcollecting
 has caused significant harm to a population. 
 
I'm NOT trying to restart the collecting debate, so please let's start 
the last year of the old millennium with a truce on this issue.&nbsp; Rather,
I
 think that all sides will agree that there are certainly populations
where
 modest collecting has at best a trivial effects.&nbsp; Likewise, I
think all
 sides will agree that there can be conditions under which very significant
 collecting can have a serious impact.&nbsp; What are these conditions?&nbsp;
All
 thoughts are welcome.&nbsp; You can send them to me or post them for
the amusement
 of all of the list.</blockquote>
I appreciate your attitude.&nbsp; I don't want it restarted either.
There was (is?) a small primrose-feeding sphinx moth (Euproserpinus
euterpe?) in Walker Basin (in the Sierra Nevada east of Bakersfield
[Kern County, California]) which is said to have become extinct due to
grazing pressures by cattle.&nbsp; The area is dominated by cattle ranching
and the insect's range is restricted (as far as I know) to Walker Basin.&nbsp;
I believe one specimen is preserved in a museum collection (unfortunately,
I don't know which).&nbsp; I have also heard that there was a something
of a rush to get specimens because of its unusual appearance.&nbsp; Whether
this is related to its demise I do not know, but it sounds logical chronologically.
Pierre A Plauzoles
 sphinxangelorum at bigfoot.com
 ae779 at lafn.org
 &nbsp;</html>

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