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The Concept Of Species With Constant Reference To Killer Whales, Thomas Wheeler

Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy

Watson recognized 182 species, Babington 251, and Bentham only 112. Over 150 years since Darwin’s time, scientists continue to debate what constitutes a species. But while this uncertainty remains unchanged, the law has: the United States has committed to protect individual (endangered) species. What was once merely an academic dispute now carries legal weight under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): recognition of a species can trigger significant economic consequences and non-recognition can doom a species to extinction. This comment examines the scientific roots of taxonomic uncertainty, the legal landscape of the ESA, and the potential unforeseen consequences of the relationship …