Re: Examples of new species

From: M.B.Roberts (topper@robertschirk.u-net.com)
Date: Wed Jan 31 2001 - 18:12:07 EST

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    You will have to wait. I am going to bed.

    Wouldn't you rather hear about Dariwn's Fanny? It's more fun than evolution.

    Michael
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Jonathan Clarke" <jdac@alphalink.com.au>
    Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 10:42 PM
    Subject: Re: Examples of new species

    > Please tell us more about Darwin and Herbert. Most intriguing!
    >
    > Jon
    >
    > "M.B.Roberts" wrote:
    >
    > > The chief problem to a geologist over the BSC is that no one has ever
    seen
    > > fossils mate though Beverley Halstead tried to act it out wearing a
    dinosaur
    > > suit.
    > >
    > > I am fully aware of the problems of definition which in itself negates
    the
    > > fixity of species.
    > >
    > > To continue in the same vein. One of the first to challenge the fixity
    of
    > > species was The Hon and Very Rev William Herbert, the Dean of Manchester
    > > Cathedral. Darwin visited him in May 1847 and the poor old dean died a
    few
    > > hours later. History of science is fun!
    > >
    > > Michael
    > >
    > > ----- Original Message -----
    > > From: "Jonathan Clarke" <jdac@alphalink.com.au>
    > > Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
    > > Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 9:35 PM
    > > Subject: Re: Examples of new species
    > >
    > > > Hi Jim (and Michael)
    > > >
    > > > Mayr gives a worthy defense of the biological species concept (BSC).
    It
    > > has
    > > > many merits, but also some practical problems. The BSC is also
    difficult
    > > to
    > > > apply to asexual reproducing creatures and fossil organisms. Support
    for
    > > the
    > > > BSC appears strongest among veterbrate zoologists and entomologists
    (Mayr
    > > is an
    > > > ornithologist), none of which are truly asexual (although some are
    > > > parthnogenic). Botanists, palaeontologists, and coral taxonomists (to
    > > name just
    > > > a few) have problems with the the BSC.
    > > >
    > > > There are at least eight different definitions of species out there:
    folk,
    > > > biological, morphological, genetic, palaeontological, evolutionary,
    > > phylogenetic
    > > > and biosystematic. Joseph Boxhorn, in the first link I gave
    > > > <http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-speciation.html> has a short but
    > > useful
    > > > review of four of these, folk, biological, morphological, and
    > > phylogenetic.
    > > >
    > > > respectfully
    > > >
    > > > Jon
    > > >
    > > > "Hofmann, Jim" wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > Here's an on-line article that addresses some of the relevant
    issues:
    > > > >
    > > > > "What is a Species, and What is Not?"
    > > > > by ERNST MAYR
    > > > >
    > > > > http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/dbsr/EVOLUT/mayr.htm
    > > > >
    > > > > Jim Hofmann
    > > > > Philosophy Department and Liberal Studies Program
    > > > > California State University Fullerton
    > > > >
    > >
    http://nsmserver2.fullerton.edu/departments/chemistry/evolution_creation/web
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    >
    >
    >



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