Describing Species - Practical Taxonomic Procedure for Biologists

Erscheinungsjahr 1999
ISBN: 978-0-231-06825-3
Verlag: Columbia University Press

Buch, Englisch, 512 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 227 mm, Gewicht: 730 g

New species are discovered every day and cataloguing all of them has grown into a nearly insurmountable task worldwide. Now, this definitive reference manual acts as a style guide for writing and filing species descriptions. New collecting techniques and new technology have led to a dramatic increase in the number of species that are discovered. Explorations of unstudied regions and new habitats for almost any group of organisms can result in a large number of new species discoveries and hence the need to be described. Yet there is no one source a student or researcher can readily consult to learn the basic practical aspects of taxonomic procedures.

Species description can present a variety of difficulties: Problems arise when new species are not given names because their discoverers do not know how to write a formal species description or when these species are poorly described. Biologists may also have to deal with nomenclatural problems created by previous workers or resulting from new information generated by their own research. This practical resource for scientists and students contains instructions and examples showing how to describe newly discovered species in both the animal and plant kingdoms.

With special chapters on publishing taxonomic papers and on ecology in species description, as well as sections covering subspecies, genus-level, and higher taxa descriptions, Describing Species enhances any writer's taxonomic projects, reports, checklists, floras, faunal surveys, revisions, monographs, or guides.

The volume is based on current versions of the International Codes of Zoological and Botanical Nomenclature and recognizes that systematics is a global and multicultural exercise. Though Describing Species has been written for an English-speaking audience, it is useful anywhere Taxonomy is spoken and will be a valuable tool for professionals and students in zoology, botany, ecology, paleontology, and other fields of biology.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Winston, Judith

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierpathologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierethologie
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Paläozoologie
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Taxonomie und Systematik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

I. IntroductionDescribing the Living WorldWhy Is Species Description Necessary?How New Species Are DescribedScope and Organization of This BookThe Pleasures of SystematicsSources2. Biological NomenclatureHumans as TaxonomistsBiological NomenclatureFolk TaxonomyBinomial NomenclatureDevelopment of Codes of NomenclatureThe Current Codes of NomenclatureFuture of the CodesSourcesII. Recognizing Species3. Species and Their DiscoverySpecies ConceptsProcesses Affecting SpeciationTaxonomic CharactersExamples of Ways in Which Biologists Have Discovered New SpeciesSources4. Establishing Identity: The Literature SearchMistakes and Bad ExamplesEstablishing IdentityWhere to Find the Taxonomic LiteratureHow to Read the Taxonomic LiteratureSpecies DescriptionsTaxonomic Literature Searching on the InternetSources5. Establishing Identity: Using Museum CollectionsCollections, Museums, and HerbariaLocating MaterialBorrowing MaterialType MaterialVisiting Collections: What to Expect and How to BehaveCooperation with SystematistsSourcesIII. Writing Species Descriptions6. Species Descriptions in TaxonomyReasons for Writing Species DescriptionsDifferent Kinds of Taxonomic PublicationsForm of the Descriptive Paper7. Headings and SynonymiesDescription HeadingsSynonymsSynonymiesNew SpeciesTypes of SynonymiesTerms Used in SynonymiesDifferent Kinds of SynonymiesReferences in Headings and Synonymies8. Naming Species: EtymologyBrief Review of Latin and GreekBasic Rules of Species NamesDescriptive Species NamesGeographic Species NamesCommemorative Species NamesNonsense Species NamesThe Etymology SectionSources9. Type and Voucher MaterialRationale for Types and VouchersRules of Nomenclature Regarding TypesSelection of Types and VouchersComposition of Type MaterialDocumentation of Type MaterialDeposition of TypesType SectionSources10. DiagnosisWhat Is a Diagnosis?Diagnosis in Zoological TaxonomyDiagnosis in Botanical TaxonomyWhat Is a Diagnostic Character?The Diagnosis Section: AnimalsThe Diagnosis Section: PlantsAdditional Uses for Diagnoses11. Description SectionDescriptive WritingInformation Used in the Description SectionWriting the DescriptionTelegraphic StyleThe Description Section: Animals (Examples of Style for Different Groups)The Description Section: Plants (Examples of Style for Different Groups)Illustrating Taxonomic DescriptionsSources12. Taxonomic Discussion SectionPurpose of the Discussion SectionDiscussion in Descriptions of New SpeciesEvidence to IncludeComposite PapersThe Discussion Section in Other Species DescriptionsTaxonomic Ethics13. The Ecology SectionEcology in Species DescriptionsAnalysis of Ecological VariationField Records: Getting the Most from Field WorkEcological Information from Museum SpecimensThe Ecology SectionSources14. Occurrence and DistributionDistributional Information in Species DescriptionsParameters of Species DistributionsThe Distribution SectionDistribution PapersSources15. Material ExaminedPractical ValueIn Original DescriptionIn Other DescriptionsMaterial Examined SectionMaterial Examined: Botanical TaxonomyThe Material Examined PaperSources16. PublicationCriteria of Publication: ZoologyCriteria of Publication: BotanyPreparation of the ManuscriptSubmission of the ManuscriptFinal Revision and PublicationJournals That Publish Taxonomic PapersIV. Beyond Species Description17. SubspeciesWhy Are Subspecies Important?Infraspecific VariationRules of Infraspecific Nomenclature: ZoologyRules of Infraspecific Nomenclature: BotanyDeciding When to Name an Infraspecific TaxonWriting Infraspecific DescriptionsSources18. Genus-Level Description and RevisionThe Genus ConceptWhen to Describe a New GenusGeneric NamesPublication of Generic NamesGeneric TypesExamples of Generic-Level DescriptionProblems Caused by Generic RevisionInfrageneric Categories and NamesSources19. KeysKeys in TaxonomyKey CharactersSingle-Access (Analytical or Sequential) KeysMultiaccess Keys (Polyclaves)Interactive IdentificationKey ConstructionComputerized Key ConstructionSources20. Description of Higher TaxaFamily Concepts and Their Use in TaxonomyPractical Significance in BiologyDescribing FamiliesFamily-Level Descriptions: ExamplesRedescriptions of Family-Level TaxaDescriptions of Taxa Above the Family LevelProblems with Nomenclature of Higher TaxaSources21. Common ProblemsMissing TypesLectotypesNeotypesNecessary Name ChangesReplacement Names: HomonymyConservation of a NameEmendationsNew CombinationsLack of Information22. Further Studies in SystematicsEvolutionary SystematicsPheneticsCladisticsMolecular SystematicsBiogeographyComparative BiologySourcesLiterature Cited

Über Autor(innen)

Judith E. Winston is director of research at the Virginia Museum of Natural History and a former curator and chair of the Department of Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History.