[NeverEnough]

Don't endangered species contribute some portion of new pharmaceuticals each year? Didn't we just finish unraveling the complex dynamics of a bee's flight, which our previous models couldn't explain?

My impression was always that the study of ecology and such is a big driver for technology, and by extension the economy and quality of life.

[reuben364]

My point stands. A non-endangered species is equally likely to yield useful insight as an endangered one.

Though I realise that I have made a weak argument and that I do have a, perhaps unreasonable, bias towards not expending effort to preserve endangered species. In my mind preservation of endangered species is hoarding on a larger scale: someday this species may be useful to us, so let us keep it around.