Читать книгу Fundamentals of Conservation Biology - Malcolm L. Hunter Jr. - Страница 71

1 If you had a large budget to support global conservation biology research, say $200 million per year, what percentage of it would you allocate to: (a) estimating the number of species in existence; (b) surveying and classifying little‐known groups of organisms; and (c) studying species and ecosystems known to be threatened? Defend your budget. How would your budget change if your activities were confined to the continent you live on and the adjacent oceans?

2 Should a species' instrumental value be evaluated when deciding whether to place it on a list of endangered species that will be a priority for conservation efforts? Why or why not?

3 What approaches would you use to estimate a species’ potential instrumental value? Should potential values influence conservation decisions?

4 Should we seek to eradicate species such as the smallpox virus, or should we confine them to research laboratories where they cannot harm people?