At 10:12 AM 7/20/01 -0600 Michael Harney wrote:
>Actually, the protection of the spotted owl was not so much about preserving
>the genetic data of that one species, but protecting an entire ecosystem.
>Spotted owls are what is known as an indicator species.
Out of curiosity, are there any endangered species that are *not*
"indicator species?" Is there a listing of "indicator species" anywhere
that I can find?
>Simple, because there are
>no ecosystem protection laws, but there are species protection laws, so
>rallying behind one species can save a dozen species or more, not to mention
>a large area of pristine forest.
Well, this isn't true. Florissant Fossil Beds NM, where I once worked, is
covered under an ecosytem-protection law. Interestingly enough, most of
the Land encompassed by the monument does not contain any fossils.
Indeed, the National Preserve System (adminsitered by the Park Service) was
set up to preserve unique ecosystems.
JDG
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John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
We are products of the same history, reaching from Jerusalem and
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We share a civilization. - George W. Bush, Warsaw, 06/15/01
