Despite the increasing recognition of a global shortage of taxonomists (the 'taxonomic impediment'; see the Governments Convention on Biological Diversity, Darwin Declaration 1998) and the impact this will have on our ability to scientifically assess loss of biodiversity in the context of contemporary global change, there has been little indication (accepting specific funding initiatives such as 'SINTHESYS' in Europe and 'PEET' in America) as to how young scientists might be encouraged to undertake training in that field, or what educational approach would be appropriate to train taxonomists. There is also clear evidence from the literature that many recognised protocols in terms of the methodology of taxonomy have been eschewed by numerous practitioners, such that problems associated with synonymy and homeomorphy must significantly impact on quantitative assessments of biodiversity in many groups of plants and animals. We use deep-sea podocopid ostracods (Crustacea) to illustrate how less than rigorous taxonomic practice not only leads to confusion with respect to definitions of individual taxa, but also affects on the total number of species and their inferred ecology, distribution and geological record. Descriptions of two new species from the Angola Basin, southern Atlantic Ocean (Pseudobosquetina semireticulata n. sp. and Pseudobosquetina nobilis n. sp.) illustrate the level of historical enquiry we consider mandatory to clearly establish definitions for each taxon. A focus on such detail, although time consuming, in our view establishes an important, almost personal historical context for the subject, few other areas of science offer such continuity. Concerns for biodiversity give taxonomy its relevance, historical linkages and strands give that subject its life.
Is the cosmopolitan model still valid for deep-sea podocopid ostracods? With the discussion of two new species of the genus Pseudobosquetina GUERNFT & MOULLADE 1994 and Cytheropteron testudo (Ostracoda) as case studies
Mazzini Ilaria
2006
Abstract
Despite the increasing recognition of a global shortage of taxonomists (the 'taxonomic impediment'; see the Governments Convention on Biological Diversity, Darwin Declaration 1998) and the impact this will have on our ability to scientifically assess loss of biodiversity in the context of contemporary global change, there has been little indication (accepting specific funding initiatives such as 'SINTHESYS' in Europe and 'PEET' in America) as to how young scientists might be encouraged to undertake training in that field, or what educational approach would be appropriate to train taxonomists. There is also clear evidence from the literature that many recognised protocols in terms of the methodology of taxonomy have been eschewed by numerous practitioners, such that problems associated with synonymy and homeomorphy must significantly impact on quantitative assessments of biodiversity in many groups of plants and animals. We use deep-sea podocopid ostracods (Crustacea) to illustrate how less than rigorous taxonomic practice not only leads to confusion with respect to definitions of individual taxa, but also affects on the total number of species and their inferred ecology, distribution and geological record. Descriptions of two new species from the Angola Basin, southern Atlantic Ocean (Pseudobosquetina semireticulata n. sp. and Pseudobosquetina nobilis n. sp.) illustrate the level of historical enquiry we consider mandatory to clearly establish definitions for each taxon. A focus on such detail, although time consuming, in our view establishes an important, almost personal historical context for the subject, few other areas of science offer such continuity. Concerns for biodiversity give taxonomy its relevance, historical linkages and strands give that subject its life.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
