FW: What level taxa to protect?

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

Whoops ! Forgot to share these radical ideas with the discussion group, so
here they be:)

-----Original Message-----
From: Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX 
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 3:02 PM
To: 'Bruce Walsh'
Subject: RE: What level taxa to protect?


Excellent question with no easy answer. I understand that the prime
motivation for dealing with population level protection (outside of those
populations that are critical for species or subspecies survival from a
metapopulation perspective) has to do with maintaining genetic diversity so
I would be inclined to look at chemical data that transcends the level of
variability within a population. In the absence of resources to do the
chemical comparisons one could use "distinct phenotypes" as a surrogate
measuring device with the appropriate level of distinctness being derived on
a case by case review through simple consensus decision-making (Delphi
approach ?)  Beyond that one could construct an argument for protecting
populations at the peripheries of the known range so as to maximize the
capture of genetic variability. And even further beyond the realm of science
and rational thought there is nothing wrong with human society deciding that
a population warrants protection for no other reason that the critters look
nice or just "because". And finally there is the issue of "protect from
what". I for one am not inclined to spend valuable resources protecting
anything from natural extinction unless we have some specific self-serving
reason for doing so. Extinction of populations, subspecies and species will
continue regardless of what we humans do or not do.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Walsh [mailto:jbwalsh at u.arizona.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 1:43 PM
To: Lep List
Subject: What level taxa to protect?


After a number of very useful postings on under what conditions can
collecting pose a risk, which very by and large both very civil and very
informative, I'd like to open up another potential can of worms.

While it is clear that a distinct species is fine to list, and even a
distinct subspecies, what criteria should be used for deciding whether to
list a population?   There are certainly a lot of bad subspecies and a lot
of
very good species that we do not at all recognize as such.  What criteria
should we use for deciding that a population is sufficiently distinct for
listing?

I have some thoughts on this issue, but which to hear others.

Peace

Bruce