New taxonomy and the origin of species
2007
New Taxonomy and the Origin of Species
Editorial
Author Information
Author(s): Shai Meiri, Mace Georgina M
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
Stronger evidence is needed to show that populations are sufficiently distinct to merit specific status.
Conclusion
The trend of elevating subspecies to species status may divert conservation funds from other important species.
Supporting Evidence
- Recent studies suggest that many newly recognized species are not genuinely new but rather elevated subspecies.
- Taxonomic inflation has led to an increase in the number of recognized mammal species without new discoveries.
- Conservation resources may be misallocated towards newly identified species at the expense of others.
Takeaway
Scientists are saying we need to be careful when calling a group of animals a new species because it can take money away from other animals that need help.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias in how species are classified based on minor differences.
Limitations
The editorial discusses the potential misallocation of conservation resources but does not provide specific limitations of the study.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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