Its more likely that you will get the following from a specimen than
from a photo:
DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, minerals,....
pathogens and partasites
morphometrics of taxonomic or health importance
developmental abnormalities
histological biomarkers
evidence of predation
dietary data
growth data
gender data
reproductive status
nutritional status
isotope biomarkers
contaminant exposure
anatomical variation
I'll stop there. Tranted, a few of these are not currently possible
with great dependability, but they will be.  I doubt most of this will
ever be obtainable via a photograph.  Having said that, I do support
accepting a photograph as evidence of occurrence providing the species
can be identified conclusively from the photo, which is often the
case.

when you can get all of that and more out of the same photograph, then
maybe iI'll agree with this.

Malcolm


On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 8:35 AM, David Shiffman
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Last week, a "perspectives" piece entitled "Avoiding (Re)extinction" was
> published in Science. It argued that scientists should no longer collect
> specimens, but should use photographs.
>
> 2 different blogs have responded to this.
>
> 1) (Re)affirming the specimen gold standard, by ornithologists
> http://www.universityofalaskamuseumbirds.org/reaffirming-the-specimen-gold-standard/
>
>
> 2) Collecting organisms to save their species, by an ichthyologists
> http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=16957
>
> Please read and share!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> --
>
> *David Shiffman*
> *Ph.D. Student, Research Assistant,*
> Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy <http://www.cesp.miami.edu/>
> R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program <http://rjd.miami.edu/>
>
> [image: RJD]
>
> *e: *[email protected] | *p: *412.915.2309
> *a: *4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, Florida, 33149
> *t: *@WhySharksMatter <http://twitter.com/#!/WhySharksMatter> | *b: *Southern
> Fried Science Blog <http://www.southernfriedscience.com/>



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Department of Environmental Studies
University of Illinois at Springfield

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