Science is not always … well, and exact science. In particular, taxonomy and speciation studies have been known to be in error in the past. With new genetic testing and the like, we’ve seen sometimes significant changes in how plants and animals are classified.
Ordinarily, that’s more of interest to academics than anyone else. Except when it might affect Endangered Species status.
The scientist who first classified the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse as a distinct subspecies now believes the mouse is no different from a species found widely in North America, according to Gov. Dave Freudenthal’s office. Wyoming has asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider its 1998 decision to list the mouse as a threatened species.
Freudenthal spokeswoman Lara Azar said Wednesday that Philip Krutzsch, now professor emeritus with the University of Arizona, determined in 1954 that the Preble’s mouse was a distinct subspecies. His research analyzed three adult specimens.
A Denver Museum of Nature and Science study commissioned by the state and others has apparently changed Krutzsch’s mind. In a March 31 e-mail to Rob Roy Ramey, who conducted the new study, Krutzsch said the research clearly invalidates his own findings of almost 50 years ago. He called Ramey’s methods “cutting edge” and his analysis “in-depth and reproducible.”
Due to the Threatened status, cities and counties are faced with “restrictions on irrigation ditch maintenance, weed control, haying and other farm and ranch activities. Municipalities face having to set aside mouse habitat.” If the Endangered Species Act classification for the mouse is reversed, those restrictions will be dropped.
(via Walter)
Too bad…
It was a great way to take land out of the hands of the McMansion builders.
On the plus side, hatchery raised salmon is now going to be considered the same as wild salmon so some stupid farmers can raise water intensive crops in a desert.
Yeah, I have to dig up an article on that one. Heard about it on the way home last night.
And while I’m not a big fan of McMansions, I’d rather that if we’re going to try and stop their spread, we do so for legitimate and/or factual reasons.
Yeah. My Field Guide to Western Birds has several entries that have been crossed out, new species name written in, crossed out again, old name written back in…
I can’t keep up with all the splitting and lumping. Is it the White-tailed Kte or the Back-shouldered Kite now? Green Heron or Green-backed Heron?
Of course, I’m probably the only birder here, so you’re all probably shaking your heads, wondering why I’m whining about this.
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled feature…
do birding…lite.
you sound like a master birder Avocet.
Well, for a fellow code-named Avocet, what would you expect?
Well yeah, it makes sense now.
Before I just thought “Hmmm…Dave’s friend from California is using a cool bird name for his tag line, or maybe it’s the missile. Don’t know, ponder mode off”.