Vital bodies of evidence

摘要

Should scientists continue to kill animals and plants to add to museums and other collections for study? Not according to a recent paper in Science (vol 344, p 260) that questions this long-established practice in some circumstances. The four authors, who are experts invertebrate biology and environmental ethics, argue that the gathering of "voucher specimens" - dead animals or plants collected for reference and study-can, and does, contribute to the extinction of rare species. They cite examples and contend that alternative methods of documentation, including photographs, tissue samples (such as skin swabs) and recordings of mating calls, are just as effective as voucher specimens, given modern technology for imaging, DNA analysis and capturing audio.