MJB
Well-known member
Yep - why on earth 8? Couldn't they be satisfied with one for a type specimen, and feather samples for DNA for the rest? Gross overkill.
A sample size of one isn't a valid basis for any subsequent statistical analysis or argument, and certainly not for any proposal to establish any conservation policy. The bad guys wouldn't need to shell out for a good lawyer to win a case against conservation of any new taxon on that basis. Even eight might not be sufficient, but at least they could indicate that the first specimen wasn't atypical in any way...
If you're going to build a conservation case, you need data and evidence. A single specimen (or DNA from blood samples) doesn't represent either.
Just playing Devil's advocate here - I am no supporter of a blanket approach on specimen collection!
MJB