Biodiversity? Not so much

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools

You are here: home Issues Back to the future Biodiversity? Not so much

Topic: Flora & Fauna Department: Letters

Document Actions

Letter - From the October 13, 2008 issue by Dr. Gary Noonan

Your article "McCain: T.R. or W?" contains this statement: "The San Pedro hosts the second-most biologically diverse array of mammals in the world, second only to the Costa Rican cloud forests" (HCN, 9/1/08). As far as I know, no scientists have ever claimed that the San Pedro River had biodiversity second only to Costa Rica. Apparently what happened is that someone read an approximately 40-year-old scientific paper and completely misunderstood it. People liked to think there was incredible biodiversity along the San Pedro and in time the misconception probably became more and more incorrect.

Unfortunately, the incorrect statement about biodiversity has become widely believed and even crops up on government Web pages that provide general information about the San Pedro River. The consensus of scientists working on biodiversity has for about two centuries been that the greatest mammal biodiversity is in the tropics. EPA graphics showing the number of mammal species per water district suggest that the San Pedro River area has the same mammal biodiversity as found throughout much of Arizona and New Mexico.

Dr. Gary Noonan
Sierra Vista, Arizona

Document Actions

RE: Biodiversity? Not Much

Scott Bailey, Twin Falls, Idaho

Oct 16, 2008 11:09 AM

I believe the writer was referring to biodiversity as in all life forms not just mammals as narrowly defined by the good Dr. You attempt to deny the reality by focusing on a single group of species, when biodiversity refers to all plants, animals, and other life forms.

It may not be the second most diverse place on the planet, but southern Arizona in general, and the San Pedro Conservation Area in particular, is an incredibly diverse and important area with respect to biodiversity (especially in the US). It is also at extreme risk of irreversable damage due to an ever increasing human population and unrestrained use of natural resources. Head in the sand attitudes and outright denial of the problem, as exhibited by the Dr., can only exacerbate the problem

Exaggerations do not help the cause

Aaron

Oct 19, 2008 10:11 PM

There is no doubt that the biodiversity of southern Arizona is impressive. There is also no question that it is at risk because of climate change and other anthropogenic influences, but, like Dr. Noonan, I must take issue when these biodiversity "statistics" are incorrectly reported. Exaggerations and misstatements, whether intentional or not, always diminish the effectiveness of arguments for conversation. As a watershed, the San Pedro does not come close to being the 2nd-most bio-diverse place on earth. . .for any taxon, mammals or otherwise. But that doesn't mean the San Pedro doesn't deserve conservation. Clearly, the "head in the sand" problem you mention works both ways.

Search: Advanced Search…

Email Newsletter

The West in your Inbox

Comments Most Commented Most Emailed

Lucy McConnell on Montana court defends law defying Citizens United Corporations have our legislatures, and possibly o...
Mike Welch on When an avalanche comes calling Good stuff. Informative piece. We have had similar...
Kenny Custer on The Sackett Saga Could someone enlighten me on what the deputy soli...
Linda G Johnson on Fearful of Agenda 21, an alleged U.N. plot, activists derail land-use planning The reason for community planning is to make sure ...
Danielle Venton on Seal Stories from the Pribilof, middle of everywhere Thanks for reading Trey.

Fearful of Agenda 21, an alleged U.N. plot, activists derail land-use planning | A two-year planning process in La Plata County, Co...
Billboard corporations use money and influence to override your vote | In Salt Lake City and other Western communities, b...
The logging town of Darrington, Wash., fights to save a fire lookout | A lawsuit raises questions about how far environme...
Feeding the deer | A rural Californian doesn't apologize for feeding ...
Residents of Montana's High Plains are angry - but not at the real threats | Though climate change and the economy are the issu...

Fearful of Agenda 21, an alleged U.N. plot, activists derail land-use planning | A two-year planning process in La Plata County, Co...
Billboard corporations use money and influence to override your vote | In Salt Lake City and other Western communities, b...
The logging town of Darrington, Wash., fights to save a fire lookout | A lawsuit raises questions about how far environme...
Residents of Montana's High Plains are angry - but not at the real threats | Though climate change and the economy are the issu...
Picking ranchers' brains, from Colorado to Mongolia | Colorado State University professor Maria Fernande...

Special coverage

High Country News on Twitter

HCN Classifieds

More from Flora & Fauna: A young wolf wanders the West OR-7, a young Oregon wolf, has logged some 1,000 miles in his journey through the West, becoming the first wild wolf seen in California since 1924.; John Mionczynski: naturalist, accordionist, and Bigfoot expert In rural Wyoming, naturalist John Mionczynski plays piano, restores motorcycles, studies wildlife and tracks down evidence for the mysterious creature known as Sasquatch.; Can snowshoe hares outrace climate change? The seasonal coat changes of snowshoe hares may provide wildlife biologists with clues about how wild animals evolve in response to climate change.; All Flora & Fauna

Personal tools