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Date: | Sun, 3 Apr 2011 23:04:27 +0100 |
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> That species are a natural entity and subspecies are an entity created by
> humans
> should be obvious if you had carefully read my first post.
I can understand that humans created the names, but I fail to see how humans
physically 'created' all the sub-species. Could you explain how the humans
that were around all those years ago actually did this?
> Species are fixed, separate from each other and form a closed natural
> unit.
We agree.
> Subspecies are not a closed unit, they can interbreed and develop new
> forms
> within the species unit.
We agree again - but the operative word is 'can'.
> If a part of the population of a species occurs over a part of the species
> range and has developed certain characters common to all the
> individuals in that part of the population it has been named a subspecies
> by human taxonomists.
Yes, named - but not created.
> It's not a natural division...
So why is it unnatural?
> and many subspecies interbreed and form clines between themselves. If a
> subspecies becomes isolated from the
> main stem for a very long period of time, it may change enough for it to
> become
> a separate unit that is unable to interbreed with the main stem and thus
> form a
> new distinct species.
Agreed - that is a natural process - and I would have thought that few would
disagree. So what is your point? We know that this can happen naturally
and over time. I am simply arguing that it is wrong for mankind to 'force'
the process by transporting genetic material half way around the world in a
way that 'nature' would - could - never have done. We only have to open our
eyes to see the damage that we (er - not me!) have done - and are still
doing; surely I do not need to spell it out?
> Most conservation efforts deal with species, not subspecies.
Most - but not all; and there is no logical reason that I can see why we
should not seek to preserve the diversity that 'nature' has created in this
abundance of sub-species.
Best wishes
Peter
52o11'39.10"N 1o40'26"W
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