The controversy over the ivory-billed woodpecker has pitted those who want to build a massive irrigation project against environmentalists who want to stop the project to protect the woodpecker and other species. A biocentric species egalitarian would probably insist that the a. project be stopped to protect the ivory-billed woodpecker and all the other species of plants and animals. b. project be completed to maximize the welfare of humans. c. project be completed but with rigid safeguards to protect all sentient beings. d. project be curtailed (but not stopped) to promote the interests of humans and the ivory-billed woodpecker only.

ANSWER:

(A) project be stopped to protect the ivory-billed woodpecker and all the other species of plants and animals.

EXPLANATION:

Option A (project be stopped to protect the ivory-billed woodpecker and all the other species of plants and animals) is most appropriate for a biocentric species egalitarian, because it provides equal rights and support for all forms of life without being baised on favoring sentient animals (animals who can feel and can be emotional).

NOTE: Species egalitarianism is the philosophic view that all living things have the same moral right and support and all forms of life have intrinsic value.

phylogenetic tree is the tree of life or evolution tree. it shows the different branches of evolution. the sequence goes like tissues - coelom - backbone - endoskeleton - segmentation