What Makes A Species A Species
By Matt J. Weiss, November 19, 2008 @ 02:00 AM (EST)
I read an argument today by economist Julian Simon who was countering many of the current reports on the "extinction crisis" many conservation biologists are predicting. Among his arguments was that there is no absolute definition of a species, so how can we species are declining. This at first seemed like a valid point, before I read E.O. Wilson's article on defining species, in which he gives a really interesting argument. Wilson argues that we can't define what a species is but we can define a species as two animals that can breed together through natural cause for most species, most of the time.
Wilson goes on to very convincingly describe why this definition works and counters Simon's argument indirectly and quite nicely. What struck me, however, is that there really isn't an umbrella definition that accurately describes a species for all living organisms. That’s how intricate and diverse the living world is. I have said it before, and I'll say it again - "Mother Nature's non fiction story of the life on this planet is more unbelievable, mystifying and awe inspiring than any fiction story.
Wilson goes on to very convincingly describe why this definition works and counters Simon's argument indirectly and quite nicely. What struck me, however, is that there really isn't an umbrella definition that accurately describes a species for all living organisms. That’s how intricate and diverse the living world is. I have said it before, and I'll say it again - "Mother Nature's non fiction story of the life on this planet is more unbelievable, mystifying and awe inspiring than any fiction story.
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