On global biodiversity estimates

All measurements and estimates have meaning, if consistent with peer-reviewed data and gifted with heuristic value. In pure science, we judge measures and estimation techniques by their importance to theory. We devise them for maximum relevance, and advance their reliability and precision by success...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Paleobiology 2003-01, Vol.29 (1), p.14-14
Main Author: Wilson, Edward O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Biological taxonomies
Endangered species
Extinct species
extinction
fossil record
global
Matters of the Record
Matters of the Records
Paleontology
speciation
Species
Species extinction
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Description
Summary:All measurements and estimates have meaning, if consistent with peer-reviewed data and gifted with heuristic value. In pure science, we judge measures and estimation techniques by their importance to theory. We devise them for maximum relevance, and advance their reliability and precision by successive approximations. If better measures and estimation techniques come along, either by shifts in theoretical context or advances in technology, we discard the old and use the new.
ISSN:0094-8373
1938-5331
DOI:10.1666/0094-8373(2003)029<0014:OGBE>2.0.CO;2