Re: Dodos, Auks and pigeons
Andrew Marshall (andrewm@eskimo.com)
Tue, 5 Mar 1996 08:10:43 -0800 (PST)
Michael,
FYI, these three birds that you mention, the Passenger pigeon, Great Auk,
and the Dodo, their mode of extinction can not be remotely compared to
our plants. We all agree that habitat destruction, legal or not is the
principle cause of the demise in most plant species rather then private
collecters. However, it was not private collection that wiped out the
three birds that you mentioned either. The Auk and the Dodo were
exterpated by sailors on commercial ships. They were collected in huge
numbers (almost as easily as if they were plants), stored in barrels and
either eaten or rendered for oil. There was no oppertunity for private
collection there as the islands were far to remote for those without
commercial sized boats. The Passenger pigeon was wiped out mostly by
commercial and sport hunters for food and target practice. Habitat
destruction was not a factor in any of the three cases.
A better analogy would have been the Carolina parakeet, that was almost
as populous as the passenger pigeon in its prefered habitat. This
habitat is coincidentally the same as that prefered by S. rubra
alabamensis if I'm not mistaken. The vast areas of cane stands that used
to exist and were plowed up for agriculture. We see here a case again
however against commercial interests rather then private collecters.
I find it is usual that the private collecter is along after the fact so
to speak in alot of cases. The habitat has been exposed by a road cut,
riding path, boat ramp, canal or field etc... and is merely collecting
whats left. This can be looked at as both good or bad depending on the
circumstances of the individual site. In many cases though, it is only a
matter of time, even if folks like the good people of the Nature
Conservancy and their interesting method of bog preservation acquire the
site, the plants are going to go.
There is the arguement that goes... if everybody that visited took only
one, soon there wouldn't be any...versus the guy that visits and takes
the lot. I personally believe that the best way to preserve a species of
plant is to leave it alone in its place. If that can not be done, then
rather then waste time waiting for the lawyers to sort things out,
collect it, propagate it and DISTRIBUTE it to all and sundry. If a
nominal charge is levied, whats the problem? The plant doesn't care as
long as it is grown and propagated, its progeny widely distributed, it
has accomplished its purpose. Try and trace where all of your plants
came from originally.
I am sticking my neck out here and if you or anyone wants to torch me, go
ahead. I have full use of the delete key so I don't care.
A bargain for the two cents I think...
Good Growing
Andrew