TAXONOMY DISCUSSION
Hannon (Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:55:38 PST)
Mark,
It seems likely that we will never have "precise" parameters for defining
species. It is a misleading question in terms of importance, though many
act as though it is of profound significance. A "species" in real life is
dynamic but our *species concept* is, for now, a static one. Other problems
include the fact that a species of *Romulea* is not analogous to a species
of *Aster* and so on.
Our understanding of populations, ideally a prerequisite for delimiting
species, is ever-changing. A useful system of classification must be
flexible enough to not fall apart every time new insights are published. We
can expect our state of knowledge and interpretation to change constantly,
but a taxonomy needs to weather such changes and not react (with name
changes, e.g.) with every discovery.
We must accept the fact that some species are more well-defined or
"natural" than others and that some plants do not fit the pigeonholes to
our satisfaction at all. This should be seen as a stimulation to our
curiosity and not as a source of dismay.
Dylan
On 3 February 2013 12:07, Mark BROWN <brown.mark@wanadoo.fr> wrote:
What are the precise parameters for defining a species and now that
genetics are here?
Mark
Message du 03/02/13 19:51
De : "Hannon"
A : "Pacific Bulb Society"
Copie à :
Objet : Re: [pbs] TAXONOMY DISCUSSION
"*The days of the Mexican stand off between so called 'lumpers and
splitters' is effectively soon to be at an end with these new tools and
allowing an inarguable case, more often than not, to be made one way or
another.*"
Who would make the "inarguable case"? A consensus or a central authority?
The arbiter is the scientific community, which derives much of its
strength
from the heterodox nature of its members. Friction between the latter can
be more productive than agreement.
I don't think the problem of ranking taxa, ultimately a subjective
necessity, can be resolved in a landscape of new information and evolving
interpretations. Two botanists with a similar, comprehensive
understanding
of a group may forward different and equally valid views on the
organization of taxa into a formal classification. Such differences
provide
a crucial forum for the improvement of phylogenies and taxonomy.
Dylan
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