Natural Selection- biodiversità e specie in via di estinzione

Them or us | Naturally Selected

Il Prof. Ferdinando Boero in un articolo web di Richard Grant su The Scientist di questa settimana cita tre tipi di specie che necessitano protezione, come i soldati feriti sul campo di battaglia...

we’ve just published a dissent by Ferdinando ‘Nando’ Boero of the Universita’ del Salento (who, by the way, claims that Frank Zappa has cited his work. Read the full story). Nando, in an intelligent and well-argued dissent, while granting that more common species are indeed important to the continued functioning of ecosystems, maintains that rare species do deserve special attention.

During battles, military surgeons divide wounded soldiers into three categories: those who will die anyway (and they do not treat them); those who need immediate care, otherwise they will die (and they are treated immediately); and those who can be treated later because the wounds are not life-threatening. Maybe, with conservation biology, we are caring more about species that are practically extinct (the ‘soldiers that will die anyway’) and, in doing so, we let other species die because we do not care as much about them.

It’s a fascinating debate: do feel free to share your thoughts here.
And for some light relief this Thanksgiving weekend, also check out this video of Nando talking about jellyfish, art and music, including Frank Zappa’s response to having a jellyfish—Phialella zappai—named after him.
Inoltre, nell'articolo si può vedere il video (in inglese) con l'intervista, in cui parla di arte, musica e meduse...