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Will Canadian Policies Protect British Columbia's Endangered Pairs of Sympatric Sticklebacks?
Author(s) -
Wood Paul M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(2003)28[19:wcppbc]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - gasterosteus , stickleback , biodiversity , endangered species , sympatric speciation , geography , threatened species , iucn red list , limnetic zone , ecology , biodiversity conservation , fishery , biology , habitat , fish <actinopterygii> , littoral zone
Limnetic‐benthic sympatric species pairs of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus spp.) are unique to lakes of southwestern British Columbia. One pair has gone extinct and the remaining three pairs are listed as endangered. The biodiversity conservation policies that could potentially protect these species are examined. The plight of the stickleback pairs serves as a test of the sufficiency of Canada's constellation of biodiversity conservation policies. This article finds that until very recently not even the combination of national and provincial policies offered unequivocal protection for these species. A new national Species at Risk Act now offers more promise. Nevertheless, a more fundamental issue remains. A misconception concerning the value of biodiversity may be impeding the formulation of adequate policies and plans for biodiversity conservation in general, both in Canada and worldwide.