Conservation biologists know that it will not be possible to save every species from extinction, given the speed of the process. Answers to these questions could contribute to a more informed conservation policy. Part of the problem is that only a fraction of the Earth's animals and plants have been named and identified. An area rich in indicator species will be regarded as a more worthy candidate for conservation than one that is poorer in species. There is a catch, though.
Extinction means more than the disappearance of species.
Each species contributes to the health and stability of the overall ecosystem, so some species will be missed more than others. Jukka Jernvall of the University of Helsinki, Finland, and Patricia C. Wright of the State University of New York, Stony Brook, examine the problem in a report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. As animals, primates are highly visible. Zoologists know their habits well. Many of them are also threatened with extinction.