Re: Examples of new species

From: Jonathan Clarke (jdac@alphalink.com.au)
Date: Wed Jan 31 2001 - 18:25:48 EST

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    The mind boggles! Can we have both?

    Jon

    "M.B.Roberts" wrote:

    > 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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