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if Congress exempted the Tellico project and established a precedent such that any agency could avoid compl~ancewith the Act by ignoring its provi- sions and delaying enforcement until it could argue that stopping the project would be economically unsound. Wheelwright (1977) provided another example--a plant (lousewort) if listed as an endangered species--that could stop the construction of a dam on the St. John River in Maine because Section 7 would be violated. He also provided a number of examples of rare plants and animals that could potent- ially be listed as endangered and obstruct or stop other commercial develop- ment or government projects. Wheelwright also stated, however, that the majority of nearly 150 conflicts between the provisions of Section 7 and planned federal projects in the 4-year history of the 1973 Act have been resolved through negotiation and compromise. The general solution has been to modify the project so that the habitat of the endangered species would not be adversely affected. A number of water development projects are in progress or planned for the Upper Colorado River Basin that could jeopardize the continued exist- ence of four species of endemic fish. The Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius) and the humpback chub (Gila cypha) were officially designated as Ilendangeredll by the U.S. Department of the Interior (1973). . In 1975, the Desert Fishes Council recommended the bony tail chub (Gila ele ans) for list- ing as "endangered" and the humpback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus as "threat- ened." laws are mechanisms for getting things done for the purposes of society, and therefore will protect and foster the greatest values for society (Trel- case, 1976). Trelcase believes that any laws can be changed if society so dictates, but sometimes such changes require a long time to be implemented. Public attitudes and values have changed since 1950 and public concern about the progressive deterioration of the environment is expected to con- tinue in the future (Goldman, 1973). Although the 1973 Act is concerned with conservation of threatened and endangered species, it is also concerned with the integrity of the ecosystems where these species live. . Therefore, it is realistic to assume that the public will continue to support the Act and to use it, where necessary, to protect the environment. MORAL OBLIGATION OF BIOLOGISTS TO ALL WILDLIFE SPECIES The study of geological history has shown that the earth has undergone numerous vast environmental changes, and that various organisms have become extinct and have been replaced by new species during the process of evolution. As environmental conditions become critical, a species must adapt to the new conditions, migrate to more favorable habitat, or die. Organisms can adapt by changes in morphology, physiology, or behavior so that they can func- tion and exist under certain newly imposed environmental conditions. These adaptations can be influenced by environmental or genetic factors or both. Genetic diverSity is believed to be the more.likely characteristic that per- mits adaption for survival. If a species becomes highly specialized in its biological requirements, the probability that it will adapt to change is less likely. . 275 r'"