Living fossils and conservation values

Horseshoe crabs ( Limulus polyphemus ) have been in decline Long Island Sound, and recently there has discussion of whether the state Connecticut should stop issuing licenses for commercial harvesting. This paper argues that spite concerns about living fossil concept, fact horseshoe are fossils count favor more stringent protection. The distinguishes four different views status concept: 1) eliminativism; 2) redefinition; 3) reframing; 4) conceptual pluralism. Approaches 2–4 all treat criteria associated with as picking out distinctive features evolutionary history. Those history link up conservation values several ways. More generally, drawing upon relevant work environmental philosophy, it is argued to aesthetic value. Moreover, eliminativists trouble rendering intelligible a striking pattern recent scientific literature. Researchers undertaking conservation-relevant frequently highlight taxa under study.