This will be a lecture and discussion on contemporary species concepts. In the lecture, major categories of contemporary species concepts will be reviewed. They will then be discussed in terms of both what they have in common and how they differ. A perspective based on the common element will be developed that clarifies the problem of species delimitation, methods of which will be covered in the following sessions.
There are no required readings, but the following two papers are provided as pdfs for people who are interested in reading more on this topic:
Species concepts and species delimitation.pdf (covers much of the same material in the lecture)
Different species problems.pdf (a more philosophical paper that attempts to clarify the distinction between three different issues that are commonly referred to as "the species problem").
Species Concepts.ppt Slides from lecture.
