The species problem and its implications for the survey development and biodiversity estimations

Abstract

The species is fundamental to taxonomy as a category, a natural group, and a basic unit of evolution. The species concept is an old and controversial problem. Historically we have two main polemics: the first one about the reality of the species (realism vs. nominalism) and the second about its change over time (fijism vs. evolutionism). In this paper we review the different species concepts, considering their authors, uses, interpretations, and some historical and philosophical considerations. In addition, we discuss some implications of these concepts for biodiversity studies.