I don’t quite understand the concern. Allow me to express what I hope is obvious. Evolution is an ongoing process, which means it is happening now. At any one time, most species are and should be distinct but some small number of species will be in various stages of separation. Suggesting a consistent list is helpful but suggesting that there should always be a correct answer is flawed. Then impose our various ways (differences of opinions etc) on what constitutes enough distinction, of interpreting these dividing lines and of course there would be troubles. I would hate the idea of a different list every year and wouldn’t be too comfortable about the costs of doing the committee David suggests, relative to the expenditure of those funds on more practical things. Of course knowing about species diversity is important to doing the conservation etc.
Philip
