In OGD V10 #287, K Barrett (perhaps wrongly) cited a study (possibly by Koopowitz) that says "the more a place is studied the more species disappear".
Kathy, I cannot agree with this comment. In Peninsular Malaysia the most-studied locality is a tourist-hotspot called the Cameron Highlands. Every year new records (and occasionally new species) are reported from the same old area; in some cases these discoveries are made on trees right in the middle of town. In April this year we found an undescribed Acriopsis species growing on the tall trees along the fence between the Forestry Dept compound and the town campsite; only 2 years ago we found Microtatorchis javanica (a new record for the area) on ornamental trees in a park less than 50 metres away from the same spot. I've been visiting the Cameron Highlands intermittently for 15 years, during which time I've noted a dramatic decline in the numbers of orchids along the hiking-trails. This is almost certainly due to tourists (both local and foreign) ripping plants off the trees next to the paths. You know the sort of thing ... "I'll take that home with me ... no-one will miss it", or the other "conservationist" favorite: "look, an orchid growing by the path, that is in danger of getting stolen by someone, so I'll conserve it by taking it home with me." Luckily, these people seldom seem to venture far off the paths. Cheers, Peter O'Byrne _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
