From MZFLJS at MAIL1.MCC.AC.UK  Wed Apr  1 11:46:29 1998
From: MZFLJS at MAIL1.MCC.AC.UK (lindsey stables)
Date: Wed,  1 Apr 1998 11:46:29 
Subject: MANCH loans and visitors
Message-ID: <mailman.8984.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Manchester Museum Herbarium - temporary suspension of some loans.

Beginning in August 1998 all specimens (except bryophytes and
lichens) in the Manchester Museum Herbarium, Manchester, England,
will be packed for temporary storage.  Work to be carried out in the
Herbarium will include new shelving, Solander boxes for storage of
all specimens and installation of ventilation ducts for a new
exhibition on the floor below.

During that time, which is anticipated to be twelve months, only
mosses, liverworts and lichens will be accessible; other collections
will be inaccessible to visitors and for loans.  We regret the
inconvenience this may cause, but look forward to the increased
efficiency and improved storage conditions that the changes will
provide.

We are particularly grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the
Wellcome Institute for support in this project.

Lindsey Stables
Curatorial Assistant (Botany)
The Manchester Museum,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. UK
Tel: 0161 275 2672/1
Fax: 0161 275 2676
http://www.mcc.ac.uk/museum/



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Wed Apr  1 07:54:47 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Wed,  1 Apr 1998  7:54:47 
Subject: woody Horning address
Message-ID: <mailman.8985.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Toto je zprava ve formatu MIME obsahujmcm nlkolik hastm.

------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-2"
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Dear colleagues,

I am looking for address of Woody Horning (Australia) or his e-mail

Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

 (home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.


------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-2"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-2 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.11"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#82b733>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dear colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I am looking for address of Woody Horning =
(Australia) or his=20
e-mail</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Keep care and be of good=20
cheer<BR>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John=20
Baptiste<BR>of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Coleoptera - Australia, =
Tenebrionidae of=20
World</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Temporaly address =
1998:<BR>EDB.<BR>Husitska=20
15<BR>130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov<BR>CZECH Rep.<BR>ph.: (420+2) =
185</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;(home)<BR>32 Girrawheen =
Ave.<BR>Kiama NSW=20
2533<BR>Australia<BR>e-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:vratislav at bigfoot.com">vratislav at bigfoot.com</A><BR>&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
<A=20
href=3D"mailto:ricardo at login.cz">ricardo at login.cz</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
(before <A=20
href=3D"mailto:Ricardo at compuserve.com">Ricardo at compuserve.com</A>)</FONT>=
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Only after the last tree has been =
cut=20
down,<BR>only after the last river has been poisoned,<BR>only after the =
last=20
fish has been caught,<BR>only then will you find that money can not be=20
eaten.'<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CREE INDIAN=20
PROPHECY.<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00--



From stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU  Thu Apr  2 09:13:13 1998
From: stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU (Stuart Fullerton)
Date: Thu,  2 Apr 1998  9:13:13 
Subject: Dragonfly rearing (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.8986.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The message below is passed on from Zack Prusak, our local ant man, who
has been asked a dragonfly question by the folks out at WDworld. Anyone
who can help him with the rearing and releasing of dragonflies please
respone to him direct, or to me, and I will forward.  thanks.

cheers!! rof

Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Prusak <zjprusak at magicnet.net>
Subject: Dragonfly rearing

Stuart, congrats on the new UCF record for Discothyrea.  They are most
commonly encountered in Berlese samples.  Below is my simple question for
the bugnet...thanks!

Does anyone have any information or experience in the rearing and releasing
(like butterflies) of dragonflies?

Zach



From Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU  Fri Apr  3 17:13:22 1998
From: Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU (Yuri E. Mikhailov)
Date: Fri,  3 Apr 1998 17:13:22 
Subject: message from Yuri Mikhailov
Message-ID: <mailman.8987.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

-- [ From: Yuri E. Mikhailov * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Dear collegues,
Who would like to exchange information about and collection material from
regional faunas of Chrysomelidae. I am now working with large project on
variability regulations and polymorhism of Chrysomelidae (Cryptocephalus,
Chrysolina) of Palaearctics. So information of fauna of this geni is needed.
Also I am collecting a collection for this project and for my systematic
studies. All this not limited with Palaearctic.
My proposal - Russian Chrysomelidae (Urals, Altai, Tuva, ets.), including
mountain and endemic species. (Exept only Alticinae). Any available
information on Russian Chrysomelidae can be send to you as well. Including
my recently published paper on the Chrysomelidae of the Urals - the only
such rewiev and new unexpected findings.
What are your proposals?
Sincerely,
Yuri Mikhailov
e-mail:Yuri.Mikhailov at usu.ru



From alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA  Mon Apr  6 08:58:26 1998
From: alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA (Alec McClay)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998  8:58:26 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8988.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
reference to plant distribution?

Thanks.


Alec McClay
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds

alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada



From johnm at ROM.ON.CA  Mon Apr  6 11:13:54 1998
From: johnm at ROM.ON.CA (John McNeill)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 11:13:54 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8989.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Alec McClay asked about the term "Irano-Turanian".

The Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region has a fairly long history,
but the best accounts are perhaps those by M. Zohary in _Plant Life of
Palestine_, New York (1962) and in a paper "On the geobotanical
structure of Iran" _Bull. Res. Counc. Israel_ 11D: supplement. (1963).

Peter H. Davis in the Introduction to his _Flora of Turkey_ (vol 1 p.
21-24. 1965) says of the region: "In the broad sense the Irano-Turanian
region extends from Inner Anatolia southwards to Palestine and eastwards
to Mongolia ..."

There may be other, more recent and perhaps better, accounts of which I am
unaware.  There may even be an electronic one, though I doubt it.

John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Biogeographic term
Author:  Alec McClay <alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA> at Internet
Date:    06-04-98 09:55


Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
reference to plant distribution?

Thanks.


Alec McClay
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds

alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada



From colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU  Mon Apr  6 17:34:43 1998
From: colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU (Carmine Colacino)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 17:34:43 
Subject: Biogeographic term
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980406085826.007c5d20@mail.aec.arc.ab.ca>
Message-ID: <mailman.8990.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>reference to plant distribution?



Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")

Generally it refers here (in Italy) to plants in arid stations (Ephedra
distachya, Tribulus terrestris, etc.) or in coastal salty areas (Crypsis
aculeata, Salsola kali, Artemisia maritima, etc.) or (the major group) to
plants introduced with the cultivation of wheat (Avena fatua, Ranunculus
arvensis, Melilotus officinale, Matricaria chamomilla, etc.).

[cf. e.g., "Botanica" by C. Cappelletti, 1976]

--------------------------------------------------------------
Dott. Carmine Colacino
Herbarium Lucanum Universitatis Studiorum Basilicatae (HLUC) &
Dipartimento di biologia, difesa e biotecnologie agroforestali
Universita` della Basilicata - Via N. Sauro, 85
I-85100 Potenza, southern Italy
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tel.: ++39 971 474172; Fax: ++39 971 474256
--------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail & URL personale: colacino at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/utenti/colacino/mediterraneo.html
e-mail & URL Herbarium: hluc at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/dipartimenti/herbarium/hluc.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
'a vita e` n'affacciata 'e fenesta



From johnm at ROM.ON.CA  Mon Apr  6 11:46:00 1998
From: johnm at ROM.ON.CA (John McNeill)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 11:46:00 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8991.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Carmine Colacino replied to Alec McClay as follows:

>At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>reference to plant distribution?

>Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
>Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")

While this is true, it should be noted that the
"Irano-Turanian" phytogeographic region is but one that is
represented in the area Carmine Colacino describes.  For
example within the geographical entity of Palestine, Zohary
identifies the "Mediterranean" region near the coast, the
"Irano-Turanian" further inland, and the "Saharo-Sindian"
further east.  John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



From colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU  Mon Apr  6 18:59:41 1998
From: colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU (Carmine Colacino)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 18:59:41 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8992.1157126724.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>Carmine Colacino replied to Alec McClay as follows:
>
>>At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>>reference to plant distribution?
>
>>Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
>>Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")
>
>While this is true, it should be noted that the
>"Irano-Turanian" phytogeographic region is but one that is
>represented in the area Carmine Colacino describes.  For
>example within the geographical entity of Palestine, Zohary
>identifies the "Mediterranean" region near the coast, the
>"Irano-Turanian" further inland, and the "Saharo-Sindian"
>further east.  John McNeill

Thanks for pointing it out. Actually, my previous definition was
incomplete, as on further search, the Irano-Turanian region extends further
east than previously indicated (by myself, and more exactly, by the work I
referred to).
Regarding Palestine, actually Zohary refers to 4 different regions for
Palestine (cf. eg Zohary: Plants of the Bible): Mediterranean,
Irano-Turanian (Oriental Steppe), Saharan - all temperate - and Sudanian
(tropical Sudanian-Zambesian, e.g. Aravah Valley).

A more precise definition of the Irano-Turanian region can be found in vol.
1 of "Centers of Plant Diversity", in the chapter on South West Asia and
the Middle East:

"The Irano-Turanian covers 2,400,000 km2, extending eastwards from Anatolia
(Asiatic Turkey) to include most of Syria, Iran and noth-east Afghanistan,
northern Iraq and parts of Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. Outside south-west
Asia it extends northwards into Central Asia (including most of Kazakhstan)
and eastward to the Tien Shan and Altai Mountain chains. ... It is
topographically very diverse, including deserts, low plains, high plateaux
and high mountains."

This time we should all agree, I believe :-)

Greetings.


--------------------------------------------------------------
Dott. Carmine Colacino
Herbarium Lucanum Universitatis Studiorum Basilicatae (HLUC) &
Dipartimento di biologia, difesa e biotecnologie agroforestali
Universita` della Basilicata - Via N. Sauro, 85
I-85100 Potenza, southern Italy
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tel.: ++39 971 474172; Fax: ++39 971 474256
--------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail & URL personale: colacino at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/utenti/colacino/mediterraneo.html
e-mail & URL Herbarium: hluc at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/dipartimenti/herbarium/hluc.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
'a vita e` n'affacciata 'e fenesta



From leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV  Mon Apr  6 14:17:26 1998
From: leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV (Detlef Leipe)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 14:17:26 
Subject: job offer at NCBI/GenBank
In-Reply-To: John McNeill <johnm@ROM.ON.CA> "Re: Biogeographic term" (Apr  6,
              11:13am)
Message-ID: <mailman.8993.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear All,

I have appended a job offer to the end of this message. The
position would be most beneficial for somebody who has a
background in traditional systematics but also an interest in
sequence databases, molecular and computational biology. For
more information on the position you can call or email me but
formal applications should go to Dr. Landsman's address
below.

Sincerely,

        Detlef Leipe


Detlef Leipe, Ph.D.
NCBI (GenBank)
National Library of Medicine
NIH, Bldg 38A, Rm 8N-805     email:leipe at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike          phone: 301-435-5999
Bethesda, MD 20894, USA      Facs:  301-480-9241

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Taxonomist Position at NCBI/GenBank

The Taxonomy Project at the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI) in the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
is looking for a postdoctoral scientist with a minimum of 3
years of experience in metazoan systematics. The NCBI/GenBank
taxonomy group attempts to follow phylogenetic principles
wherever possible and it would be preferable if the candidate
were familiar with this approach. The successful candidate
will be required to devote 50% of her/his time to the work
associated with maintaining the taxonomy database. This
includes look-ups in the literature for taxonomic schemes,
keeping contact with our outside taxonomy advisors, checking
for the validity of names, and adding new organisms to the
existing taxonomy database. The other 50% of the time will be
available for independent research.

The initial salary will be between US$ 35,000-50,000 and will
depend on the successful applicants experience. The initial
appointment will be a commitment for two years and could be
extended. Starting dates are negotiable but appointments will
be made as soon as possible.

Applications can be sent via mail, e-mail or faxed to the
address below.

David Landsman, Ph.D.

Chair, Search Committee
NCBI (GenBank)
National Library of Medicine
NIH, Building 38A, Room 8N807      E-mail :  landsman at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike                Phone  :  301-496-2477 x223
Bethesda, MD 20984, USA            Fax    :  301-480-9241

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



From lcjbrick at ANTELOPE.WCC.EDU  Mon Apr  6 14:45:50 1998
From: lcjbrick at ANTELOPE.WCC.EDU (Jerry Bricker)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 14:45:50 
Subject: Weight of Human Head
Message-ID: <mailman.8994.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

A student sent this request to me.  Anyone out there know the answer?


JB

>> What is the proportion of the weight of the human
>head to that of the human
>> body? This is a serious question.

-------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Bricker
Department of Biology
Laramie County Community College
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007-3299
Phone: (307) 778-1139
Fax: (307) 778-1395
e-mail: lcjbrick at antelope.wcc.edu
Homepage: http://www.science.lcc.whecn.edu/biology/mainpage/biology.html

 "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?  I'm halfway through my
fishburger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner."

--Lynda Montgomery



From Les at   Tue Apr  7 09:13:53 1998
From: Les at  (Les at )
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998  9:13:53 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8995.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>To: Alec McClay <alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA>
>From: lesw at albanyis.com.au (Les Watson)
>Subject: Re: Biogeographic term
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>reference to plant distribution?

You will find a comprehensive account of `The floristic regions of the
world', with maps, in Appendix II of:


    Takhtajan, A.L. (1969). `Flowering Plants, Origin and Dispersal'.
    (Translation from the Russian by C. Jeffrey). Oliver and Boyd,
Edinburgh.

Dr. Les Watson
78 Vancouver Street                     Email: lesw at albanyis.com.au
Albany, WA 6330, Australia              Phone: +61 98 41 6181



From GUIDO at BR.FGOV.BE  Tue Apr  7 10:25:05 1998
From: GUIDO at BR.FGOV.BE (GUIDO RAPPE)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 10:25:05 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8996.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

> Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" =
in
> reference to plant distribution?
>=20
> Thanks.
>=20
> Alec McClay
> Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds
>=20
> alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
> Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
> Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada

Interesting related literature be the contributions of J. L=E9onard on th=
e
Flora and vegetation of the deserts of Iran, published as a series of
separate volumes "Contribution =E0 l'=E9tude de la flore et de la v=E9g=E9=
tation
des d=E9serts d'Iran". Available at the National Botanic Garden of
Belgium. Most recent and last volume: Fascicule 10(2), 1992.
--=20
Guido Rapp=E9

National Botanic Garden of Belgium
Domein van Bouchout=20
B-1860 Meise
Belgium

tel +32 2 269 39 05
fax +32 2 270 15 67

Email: guido.rappe at br.fgov.be

!!Visit the website=20
BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES IN BELGIUM
http://www.br.fgov.be/BIODIV/



From dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE  Tue Apr  7 12:24:05 1998
From: dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE (Paul DESSART)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 12:24:05 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
Message-ID: <mailman.8997.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,

   This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which rests
in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
    For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
    Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
Paul.
Paul Dessart,
Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
29, rue Vautier,
B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique



From leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV  Tue Apr  7 09:54:01 1998
From: leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV (Detlef Leipe)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998  9:54:01 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
In-Reply-To: Paul DESSART <dessart@KBINIRSNB.BE> "sciurus/Eichhorn" (Apr  7,
              12:24pm)
Message-ID: <mailman.8998.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I haven't brought my etymological dictionary to the states but
I have looked it up a couple of years ago and if I remember
correctly than this is derived from an old German adjective
'eik' which describes the quickness or suppleness of
movement and a noun 'horni' which has been a collective for
small mammals in old german (mostly carnivors like marder,
iltist and the like, I think).

So, Eichhorn/Eichhoernchen, translates to something like
the 'quick small mammal'. After 'eik' and  'horni' have been
lost from the German language, folk ethymology has shifted
the spelling of the word to make it similar to words that
still exist in German but it is neither named for the
oak tree nor for having a horn.

As I said, this is from memory. I would await corraboration
from somebody who acutally has a dictonary.


   Detlef






On Apr 7, 12:24pm, Paul DESSART wrote:
> Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
> Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,
>
>    This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
> it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
> useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
> German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
> dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
> Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
> skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
> all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which rests
> in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
>     For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
> sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
>     Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
> Paul.
> Paul Dessart,
> Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
> a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
> 29, rue Vautier,
> B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
>-- End of excerpt from Paul DESSART



From fschroe1 at GWDG.DE  Tue Apr  7 16:42:06 1998
From: fschroe1 at GWDG.DE (Florian Schroeder)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 16:42:06 
Subject: sciurus/ Eichhoernchen
Message-ID: <mailman.8999.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Paul Dessart,
I try to help in the problem of revealing the origin of the german name
for squirrel " Eich horn/ Eichhoernchen":
Synonymes are the german words " Eichkaetzchen or Eichkatze" ( from
Katze= Felis catus).
The word "Eichhoernchen" derived from the old german word "eihhurno" and

this comes from an older word "aikwernan" which is composed of "aik"=
Eiche=Quercus and an very old root stem with the meaning of "
Frettchen"= ferret ( e.g. in latin viverra).
I got this informations from the famous german dictionary "Wahrig
Deutsches Woerterbuch, 6. edition, Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag" and I
hope it is helpful for your problem.
With regards

--
Florian Schroeder
Institut fuer Zoologie und Anthropologie
und Zoologisches Museum
Abtlg.Morphologie u. Systematik
Berliner Str. 28
D-37073 Goettingen
Germany
Phone +49+551 395456
e-mail fschroe1 at gwdg.de



From alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA  Tue Apr  7 22:52:47 1998
From: alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA (Alec McClay)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 22:52:47 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.9000.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Thanks to all those who provided information on the Irano-Turanian region.
Alec McClay
Research Scientist,Biological Control of Weeds

Alberta Research Council
PO Bag 4000, Vegreville, Alberta, CANADA T9C 1T4

Tel:    (403) 632-8207
Fax:    (403) 632-8612
Email:  alec at aec.arc.ab.ca



From jjarvie at JAYAPURA.WASANTARA.NET.ID  Wed Apr  8 10:42:22 1998
From: jjarvie at JAYAPURA.WASANTARA.NET.ID (James Jarvie)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998 10:42:22 
Subject: Indonesian biodiversity databases
Message-ID: <mailman.9001.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear Taxacomers,
=20
A project, started recently within the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, =
is commencing work to set up a National Biodiversity Information Network =
(NBIN) for Indonesia.
=20
We are seeking to hook up with data providers who have taxonomic =
databases relevant to Indonesia.  If any are interested, I would be =
grateful for information on:
=20
1.    What sort of taxonomic data are available?
2.    What metadata standards (if any) do you use?  Can an example be =
provided?=20
3.    Do you have active links between your data and a GIS facility?=20
=20
All answers to this address! =20
=20
All best,
=20
Jim


Jim Jarvie
Ecologist/Biodiversity Specialist
National Biodiversity Information Network
Research and Development Center for Biology
Indonesian Institute of Sciences
Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 18
Bogor 16002
Indonesia

T: +62 (0251) 321039=20

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 =
HTML//EN">
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#c8e0d8>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dear Taxacomers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>A project, started recently within the Indonesian =
Institute of=20
Sciences, is commencing work to set up a National Biodiversity =
Information=20
Network (NBIN) for Indonesia.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>We are seeking to hook up with data providers who =
have=20
taxonomic databases relevant to Indonesia.&nbsp; If any are interested, =
I would=20
be grateful for information on:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What sort of taxonomic data are =

available?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What metadata standards (if =
any) do you=20
use?&nbsp; Can an example be provided?</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you have active links =
between your=20
data and a GIS facility?</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>All answers to this address!&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>All best,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Jim</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Jim Jarvie<BR>Ecologist/Biodiversity =

Specialist<BR>National Biodiversity Information Network<BR>Research and=20
Development Center for Biology<BR>Indonesian Institute of =
Sciences<BR>Jl. Ir. H.=20
Juanda 18<BR>Bogor 16002<BR>Indonesia<BR><BR>T: +62 (0251)=20
321039</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140--



From mj00kg at LION.RBGKEW.ORG.UK  Wed Apr  8 11:04:17 1998
From: mj00kg at LION.RBGKEW.ORG.UK (Mark Jackson)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998 11:04:17 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
Message-ID: <mailman.9002.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

We intend to seek funding to mark-up the Richard Spruce archives
held here at Kew, using the recently announced XML standard. The
content of the archive is quite diverse - it contains plant
collecting lists, journals, correspondence, etc.

Our aim is to create a digital text archive which can be processed
into various output media, but we are also interested in the
potential of using marked-up text as a searchable resource alongside
traditional databases.

Before we do, has anyone got any experience of marking up botanical
text using XML (or more likely SGML)? Are there any other projects
out there, perhaps to formulate a botanical DTD?

Mark Jackson
Applications Development Manager
Hanover House,
Kew Green,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
0181-332-5716
M.Jackson at lion.rbgkew.org.uk



From una.smith at YALE.EDU  Wed Apr  8 09:23:36 1998
From: una.smith at YALE.EDU (Una Smith)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998  9:23:36 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
In-Reply-To: <199804081004.LAA03563@lion.rbgkew.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9003.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I was not aware of a new XML standard;  can you provide a reference?

I have used LaTeX (a popular mark-up language) for years, and before
that I used GML and GML derivatives, usually for botanical subjects.
As far as I know, botanical subjects present no special problems.
What issues are you concerned about?

For what it's worth, Allen Press marks up the journals it publishes
(including American Journal of Botany) in SGML and is now offering
some of these journals online in PDF and HTML formats converted from
the source SGML files.  See http://www.allenpress.com/ for more info.

        Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
                                Yale University
        una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106



From sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU  Wed Apr  8 08:46:00 1998
From: sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU (Stuart G. Poss)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998  8:46:00 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
Message-ID: <mailman.9004.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

see

http://www.w3.org/XML/


Una Smith wrote:
>
> I was not aware of a new XML standard;  can you provide a reference?
>
> I have used LaTeX (a popular mark-up language) for years, and before
> that I used GML and GML derivatives, usually for botanical subjects.
> As far as I know, botanical subjects present no special problems.
> What issues are you concerned about?
>
> For what it's worth, Allen Press marks up the journals it publishes
> (including American Journal of Botany) in SGML and is now offering
> some of these journals online in PDF and HTML formats converted from
> the source SGML files.  See http://www.allenpress.com/ for more info.
>
>         Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
>                                 Yale University
>         una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000                        703 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000



From dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE  Fri Apr 10 12:22:07 1998
From: dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE (Paul DESSART)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 12:22:07 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9005.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear all,

A few days ago I discovered that my Eudora-software signed automatically my
messages; as I added the signature myself with copy-paste, many of my
messages had two signatures: this short message just to inform everybody
that this was due to ignorance, not to vanity...
Paul.
Paul Dessart,
Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
29, rue Vautier,
B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique



From stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU  Fri Apr 10 08:33:00 1998
From: stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU (Stuart Fullerton)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998  8:33:00 
Subject: extinction distinction
Message-ID: <mailman.9006.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dr. John Hitt
President
University of Central Florida

Dear Dr. Hitt:


You and the University of Central Florida are to be congratulated.

Yesterday I went over to the South West corner of the campus to check a
research site just North of Lake Lee. Much to my surprise I find a new
road under construction, and vast areas under de/con-struction for
parking.

Unfortunately this area includes a trap site that I have used for a number
of years. Even more unfortunately this site is the "type trap site and
locality" for a new species of parasitic wasp recently described and
published by Dr. Howard E. Evans:  _Bakeriella mira Evans_.

This particular creature of God is known only from 6 specimens collected
from this specific trap site in 5 years. Nothing is known about its life
habits, prey, or general ecology. After 7 years of continuous campus
survey, as well as in other areas surrounding the campus, this species of
living creature has not been found elsewhere. Now its only known living
area is gone, For all intents and purposes it has become extinct until it
can be "rediscovered" elsewhere.

A second species, also a creation of God, has also gone this way. This is
also a parasitic wasp, recently described and published by Dr. Massimo Olmi
-Dryinus fullertoni Olmi_.  This particular species also has its "type
trap site and locality" listed as the UCF campus. Unfortunately it also
has suffered the same fate. This particular area of campus has recently
been converted into a parking lot and a parking garage is abuilding. It
too, for all intents and purposes has become extinct until it can be
"rediscovered" elsewhere. Likewise absolutely nothing is known about its
life habits, prey, and general ecology.

So much for consideration of the "biodiversity" of the University of
Central Florida campus. We have what is no doubt the unique distinction of
being the only university that has had two new species of living creatures
discovered, named, described, and published with the campus being the
"type" locality, within three years, --- AND had its habitat destroyed.

The distinction of extinction is that of the University of Central Florida
- of which you are our titular head.

I will continue to do what I do best - bug stuff. I understand that the
university is growing, that we will continue to grow, and that this is
considered by many to be progress. However, some days it is very very had
for me and I find it difficult to try and inspire young folks to become
interested in, concerned about, and mindful of being good stewards of
this world.  There is so very very much that we do not know, even about
our own back yard.

Sincerely yours,




Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Sat Apr 11 11:02:10 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 11:02:10 
Subject: NAS Publ. on Teaching Evolution
Message-ID: <mailman.9007.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Excerpts from a new publication of the National Academy of Sciences,
of probably interest to many Taxacomers. Go to the URL's indicated
for more details. And then, of course, post your comments to Taxacom
on whether you think NAS did a good job, etc.!

(Will NAS ship copies in plain brown wrappers to teachers in select
school board districts across the U.S.?  :>)

Peter

   Linkname: Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science
        URL: http://www2.nas.edu/whatsnew/2882.html
       size: 259 lines

   Date: April 9, 1998
      ...cut, cut...
   Learning About Evolution Critical for Understanding Science

   WASHINGTON -- Many public school students receive little or no
   exposure to the theory of evolution, the most important concept in
   understanding biology, says a new guidebook from the National Academy
   of Sciences (NAS). Teachers are reluctant to teach evolution because
   of pressures from special-interest groups to downplay or eliminate it
   as part of the science curriculum. Moreover, some are advocating that
   creationism be taught in public schools -- even though the Supreme
   Court ruled in 1987 that creationism is a religious idea that cannot
   be mandated in public education.
     ...cut, cut...
   Science teachers can use the new publication in conjunction with the
   National Science Education Standards -- voluntary guidelines
   introduced three years ago by the National Research Council to ensure
   that all students achieve scientific literacy through improving what
   is taught, how it is taught, and how students are assessed. The
   science standards stress the importance of evolution because
   understanding the theory is essential to mastering basic biology and
   learning how science works. Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of
   Science also provides criteria for evaluating school science programs
   and the content and design of instructional materials.
      ...cut, cut...
   ______________________________________________________________________
   *Copies of Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science are
      ...cut, cut... The complete
   guidebook is also available on the World Wide Web at
   <www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98>.
      ...cut, cut...
   Copyright S 1997 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights
   reserved.



From egrchryso at TAMU.EDU  Mon Apr 13 13:10:22 1998
From: egrchryso at TAMU.EDU (Edward G. Riley)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 13:10:22 
Subject: info on compactors
Message-ID: <mailman.9008.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Taxacomers:

As part of long-range planning effort, we are investigating the feasibility
of using compactors to house our present entomological collections and
anticipated growth.  I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has recent
experience in designing and installing compactor systems for their
collections.  I welcome comments on experiences with various companies that
supply compactor systems in North America, and your views on the pros and
cons, various pit-falls to be avoided, etc. You may respond directly to me.
Thanks ...

Edward G. Riley
Assistant Curator (Collections Manager)
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX  77843
Phone (409) 845-9711
FAX (409) 845-6305



From fewlessg at GBMS01.UWGB.EDU  Tue Apr 14 09:41:46 1998
From: fewlessg at GBMS01.UWGB.EDU (Gary Fewless)
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998  9:41:46 
Subject: info on compactors
In-Reply-To: <b158114c00021004d186@[165.91.184.24]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9009.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I'd be interested in any response to this question also.

On Mon, 13 Apr
1998, Edward G. Riley wrote:

> Taxacomers:
>
> As part of long-range planning effort, we are investigating the feasibility
> of using compactors to house our present entomological collections and
> anticipated growth.  I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has recent
> experience in designing and installing compactor systems for their
> collections.  I welcome comments on experiences with various companies that
> supply compactor systems in North America, and your views on the pros and
> cons, various pit-falls to be avoided, etc. You may respond directly to me.
> Thanks ...
>
> Edward G. Riley
> Assistant Curator (Collections Manager)
> Department of Entomology
> Texas A&M University
> College Station, TX  77843
> Phone (409) 845-9711
> FAX (409) 845-6305
>



From nawaz at KACST.EDU.SA  Thu Apr 16 12:53:05 1998
From: nawaz at KACST.EDU.SA (Abdul Ghafoor Ali Nawaz)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:53:05 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9010.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxacomers,

I would like to know the view point of members of the list on consequences
of hybridization and hybrid speciation. Could one speculate origin of a
species on the basis of morphological differences and resemblances or
characters shared by a suspected (or to be described )new species with its
possible  parents.
How could an evidence to such a speculation be provided? Could this evidence
be provided from the geographic distribution (allopatry or sympatry) of the
suspected parents of the new hybridogenous species.


Abdul Ghafoor
Scientific Research Specialist,
Herbarium,
Research Institute of Natural Resources & Environment,
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology,
P.O.Box 6086, Riyadh-11442, Saudi Arabia

Fax: 00-966-1-4813611
E-mail: nawaz at kacst.edu.sa



From S.Helfer at RBGE.ORG.UK  Thu Apr 16 11:29:53 1998
From: S.Helfer at RBGE.ORG.UK (Stephan Helfer)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:29:53 
Subject: Edinburgh Herbarium (E) new FAX number
Message-ID: <mailman.9011.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxonomists

With the installation of a new telephone system the fax number for
the Edinburgh Herbarium (E) has changed. Please take a note of our
new numbers:

Fax: +44 (0)131 248 2901
Herbarium Office direct 'Phone number: +44 (0)131 248 2855

the General Enquiries number [+44 (0)131 552 7171] and email address
[herbarium at rbge.org.uk] are unchanged.

Sincerely
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO
|Senior Mycologist - MSc Course Director
|
|Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR,
|Scotland UK
|
|http://www.rbge.org.uk
|
|phone: +44 (0)131 248 2865 (direct digital line)
|fax:   +44 (0)131 248 2901
|
+------------------------------------------------------------------



From melot at ITN.IS  Thu Apr 16 13:58:09 1998
From: melot at ITN.IS (Jacques Melot)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 13:58:09 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
In-Reply-To: <3.0.2.32.19980407122405.0068a804@d5100.kbinirsnb.be>
Message-ID: <mailman.9012.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

=A0Le 7/04/98, =E0 10:24 +0000, nous recevions de Paul DESSART :

>Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,
>
>   This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
>it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
>useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
>German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
>dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
>Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
>skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
>all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which res=
ts
>in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
>    For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
>sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
>    Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
>Paul.
>Paul Dessart,
>Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
>a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
>29, rue Vautier,
>B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique


[Une version accentuee est donnee a la suite.]

Le mot allemand actuel << Eichhorn >> (fr. ecureuil), vient du norrois <<
ikorni >> (ce qui est encore le nom actuel en islandais moderne) qui a
donne l'anglo-saxon << acweorna >>, << acwern >>, le moyen neerlandais <<
eencoren >>, le moyen saxon << ekeren >>, << ekhorn >>, le vieux haut
allemand << eihhurno >>, << eihhorno >>. Le mot << ikorni >> devrait
provenir du germanique commun << *aikwerna >> ou << *ikwerna >>.
La premiere partie du mot, aik- ou ik-, est le plus souvent consideree
comme derivee du norrois << eikinn >>, dont le sens est << se mouvoir ave=
c
velocite >>, << industrieux >>, << qui ne connait pas de repos >>, cf. gr=
ec
<< aigis >> (tempete), vieil indien << ejati >> (se remuer), slavon <<
igrati >> (sautiller), indo-europeen << *aig >> (remuer, agiter).
La seconde partie du mot, -werna, correspondrait au vieux celte *vever, a=
u
lituanien (une langue qui a garde de remarquables archaismes) vovere, au
vieux prussion vevare, au slavon veverica, au grec berberitza, au perse
varvarah et au latin viverra (furet) et, qui sait, peut-etre meme le mot
francais << vouivre >> (cf. Marcel Ayme).
La deuxieme partie du compose allemand (<< -horn >>), une forme
d'etymologie populaire, n'est pas anterieure au XIe siecle. Elle a servi
d'exemple a la formation d'autres noms d'animaux : Backenhorn, Flatterhor=
n,
etc., C'est la famille des Sciuridae (Hornchen).
Les dictionnaires etymologiques francais admettent generalement que <<
ecureuil >> vient du grec par le latin << skioyros >> (qui se fait de
l'ombre avec sa queue) > lat. << sciurus >>, qui, par une metathese qui
s'explique par la difficulte de prononciation, a donne << scurius >>, d'o=
u
le diminutif << scuriolus >> > vieux francais << escuriuel >> (Chretien d=
e
Troyes, 1175).

[Version riche]

Le mot allemand actuel =AB Eichhorn =BB (fr. =E9cureuil), vient du norroi=
s =AB
=EDkorni =BB (ce qui est encore le nom actuel en islandais moderne) qui a=
 donn=E9
l=B9anglo-saxon =AB acweorna =BB, =AB acwern =BB, le moyen n=E9erlandais =
=AB eencoren =BB,
le moyen saxon =AB ekeren =BB, =AB ekhorn =BB, le vieux haut allemand =AB=
 eihhurno =BB,
=AB eihhorno =BB. Le mot =AB =EDkorni =BB devrait provenir du germanique =
commun =AB
*aikwerna =BB ou =AB *ikwerna =BB.
La premi=E8re partie du mot, aik- ou ik-, est le plus souvent consid=E9r=E9=
e
comme d=E9riv=E9e du norrois =AB eikinn =BB, dont le sens est =AB se mouv=
oir avec
v=E9locit=E9 =BB, =AB industrieux =BB, =AB qui ne conna=EEt pas de repos =
=BB, cf. grec =AB
aigis =BB (temp=EAte), vieil indien =AB ejati =BB (se remuer), slavon =AB=
 igrati =BB
(sautiller), indo-europ=E9en =AB *aig =BB (remuer, agiter).
La seconde partie du mot, -werna, correspondrait au vieux celte *vever, a=
u
lituanien (une langue qui a gard=E9 de remarquables archa=EFsmes) vovere,=
 au
vieux prussion vevare, au slavon veverica, au grec berberitza, au perse
varvarah et au latin viverra (furet) et, qui sait, peut-=EAtre m=EAme le =
mot
fran=E7ais =AB vouivre =BB (cf. Marcel Aym=E9).
La deuxi=E8me partie du compos=E9 allemand (=AB -horn =BB), une forme d=B9=
=E9tymologie
populaire, n=B9est pas ant=E9rieure au XIe si=E8cle. Elle a servi d=B9exe=
mple =E0 la
formation d=B9autres noms d=B9animaux : Backenhorn, Flatterhorn, etc., C=B9=
est la
famille des Sciuridae (H=F6rnchen).
Les dictionnaires =E9tymologiques fran=E7ais admettent g=E9n=E9ralement q=
ue =AB
=E9cureuil =BB vient du grec par le latin =AB skioyros =BB (qui se fait d=
e l=B9ombre
avec sa queue) > lat. =AB sciurus =BB, qui, par une m=E9tath=E8se qui s=B9=
explique
par la difficult=E9 de prononciation, a donn=E9 =AB scurius =BB, d=B9o=F9=
 le diminutif
=AB scuriolus =BB > vieux fran=E7ais =AB escuriuel =BB (Chr=E9tien de Tro=
yes, 1175).

   Salutations amicales,

Jacques Melot, Reykjavik
melot at itn.is



From Athanasios at   Fri Apr 17 02:54:29 1998
From: Athanasios at  (Athanasios at )
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998  2:54:29 
Subject: Miniacina miniacea
Message-ID: <mailman.9013.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear taxacomers,

This beauty is a common epiphyte on Posidonia rhizomes and other substrata
in the Aegean. Sometimes it is found in great numbers on the beach
colouring the sand.
Can anybody tell me the distribution of the species ? is the genus monotypic ?

I have recently observed it on a collection from the Bahamas. Is it the
same species ?

Many thanks in advance.

Athanasios



From R.Hyam at RBGE.ORG.UK  Fri Apr 17 11:53:02 1998
From: R.Hyam at RBGE.ORG.UK (ROGER HYAM)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 11:53:02 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9014.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Abdul Ghafoor and others,

I have done some thinking about this problem with regard to the genus
Rhododendron where hybridisation is rife.

I believe one first has to ask the question 'What is a hybrid?'

The mundane definition of this is that it is a cross between two
species but as species boundaries are often a matter of opinion and
may certainly be debated this is not much use. I therefore define a
hybrid in a cladistic sense - as a cross between two non-sister taxa
(i.e. taxa that would form a paraphyletic group).

If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.

If the patents of a hybrid are non-sisters (i.e. can be demonstrated
to have different evolutionary histories) then the hybrid can truely
be said to be a hybrid.

All this becomes clear if you draw out the trees. Something I won't
attempt to do on e-mail.

The problem with all this theory is that it relies on an analysis
having been carried out on a data set that excludes all the hybrids.
This is tricky!! The only suggestion I have here is to use intuition
and leave out obviously phenetically intermediate taxa. This is not
a solution to the problem just a means of getting on with something.

Whether a species is of hybrid origin can not be detected
retrospectively using phenetic or cladistic analyses alone, really
one needs to employ the techniques of population/molecular biology
and cytology to answer this kind of question.

At the alpha-taxonomic level one could say that it doesn't really
matter. Describe every distinct entity as a taxon and, unless there
is very good circumstantial evidence (e.g. sympatric distributions
and deformed pollen) keep speculation on the origins of the group in
a comments or notes section of the publication. Some one can always
put an X infront of the name at a later date.

Hope this helps out. I am sure that there are taxacomers who will
strongly disagree with part or all of what I have said and voice
different opinions.

Roger.



**************************************
Dr Roger Hyam
Royal Botanic Garden,
Inverleith Row,
Edinburgh, EH3 5LR
Scotland, U.K.
Tel. 0131 248 2893 (direct)
Tel. 0131 552 7171 (switchboard)
Fax. 0131 248 2901
http://www.rbge.org.uk
*************************************
Please Note New Phone & Fax Numbers !
*************************************



From dgeiger at SCF-FS.USC.EDU  Fri Apr 17 08:57:11 1998
From: dgeiger at SCF-FS.USC.EDU (Daniel L. Geiger)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998  8:57:11 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <4BE4D53677@rbg-3.rbge.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9015.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>I believe one first has to ask the question 'What is a hybrid?'

Good point to start with.

>I therefore define a
>hybrid in a cladistic sense - as a cross between two non-sister taxa
>(i.e. taxa that would form a paraphyletic group).
>
>If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
>taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
>these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
>taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.

Here I disagree. I work in the marine snail family Haliotidae (= abalone,
ormers). On the West American coast pretty much all 7 "species" hybridize,
at least most of them have been documented in laboratory cross
fertilization studies and a good number of them have been observed in the
field, though in low frequencies. So then if all species hybridize and the
fact that they form a monophyletic group, that then means that at least
some are sister species; hence we have one west coast species according to
the above definition. This is clearly nonsense in the abalone, where
postive Darwinian selection has been demonstrated for some sperm acrosomal
protein (Vacquier and co-workers at SCIRPPS, UCSD). The animals as well as
the shells are distinct with rather little variation.

So I think the non-sister species argument is certainly powerfull, but it
shall not exclude hybrids of "good" sister species. A frequency argument
may be helpful to understand a particular case. Where we have some
estimates on the frequency in abalone it is on the order of 0.5%, i.e.,
rather low.

I second the point that cladistic or phenetic methodologies cannot identify
reticulate speciation, so some other approach needs to be taken.

Daniel Geiger

*****************************************************************************
Daniel L. Geiger
Department of Biological Sciences
Allan Hancock Foundation Building 233
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
USA

phone  (213) 740 5783
fax    (213) 740 8123
e-mail dgeiger at usc.edu
www    http://nhm.org/~dgeiger



From jcclark at CSUPOMONA.EDU  Fri Apr 17 20:54:25 1998
From: jcclark at CSUPOMONA.EDU (Curtis Clark)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 20:54:25 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <4BE4D53677@rbg-3.rbge.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9016.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 11:53 AM 4/17/98 +0000, ROGER HYAM wrote:
>If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
>taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
>these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
>taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.


Even if the hybrids are sterile?

And consider the following case:


A--+
   +--+
B--+  +----
      |
C-----+

By your measure, a hybrid between A and B would demonstrate that they are
conspecific, but a hybrid between A and C, since they are not sister taxa,
would be a hybrid. But if A and B are conspecific, then C is the sister to
the species A+B, so A x C is not a hybrid. Following this method, one could
reduce much of the Orchidaceae to synonymy.


----------------------------------------------------------------
Curtis Clark         http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
Biological Sciences Department             Voice: (909) 869-4062
California State Polytechnic University      FAX: (909) 869-4078
Pomona CA 91768-4032  USA                  jcclark at csupomona.edu



From mcall at SUPERAJE.COM  Sat Apr 18 07:49:15 1998
From: mcall at SUPERAJE.COM (Don McAllister)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  7:49:15 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9017.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hybridisation per se does not indicate that the two entities are conspecific.
Hybrids can be sterile.  Hybridisation with fertile offspring can be so rare
that there is no significant genetic interchange between the two species which
are thus able to maintain their distinctions.  Hybridisation may occur when the
environment is severely disturbed by humans or where the numbers of one species
are so depleted by humans that there is little opportunity to find a mate of
the same species, but be absent in undisturbed areas.  About 1% of the sucker
family, Catostomidae (a fish family) are saide to be hybrids in the U.S., but
the species remain distinct.

don

Curtis Clark wrote:

> At 11:53 AM 4/17/98 +0000, ROGER HYAM wrote:
> >If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
> >taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
> >these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
> >taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.
>
> Even if the hybrids are sterile?
>
> And consider the following case:
>
> A--+
>    +--+
> B--+  +----
>       |
> C-----+
>
> By your measure, a hybrid between A and B would demonstrate that they are
> conspecific, but a hybrid between A and C, since they are not sister taxa,
> would be a hybrid. But if A and B are conspecific, then C is the sister to
> the species A+B, so A x C is not a hybrid. Following this method, one could
> reduce much of the Orchidaceae to synonymy.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Curtis Clark         http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
> Biological Sciences Department             Voice: (909) 869-4062
> California State Polytechnic University      FAX: (909) 869-4078
> Pomona CA 91768-4032  USA                  jcclark at csupomona.edu



--
Don E. McAllister             /& Canadian Centre for Biodiversity
Ocean Voice International          /Canadian Museum of Nature
Box 37026, 3332 McCarthy Rd. /Box 3443, Station D
Ottawa, ON K1V 0W0, Canada    /Ottawa, ON K1P 6P4
URL: http://www.ovi.ca  E-mail: mcall at superaje.com
 (or: ah194 at freenet.carleton.ca) Tel: (613) 264-8986, Fax: (613) 264-9204



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Sat Apr 18 09:36:43 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  9:36:43 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980417205425.0075db68@mail.intranet.csupomona.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9018.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
else out there been thinking about this?

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
lesk at bio.bu.edu
617-353-5560 office
617-353-6965 lab
617-353-6340 fax



From ret at PLUTO.NJCC.COM  Sat Apr 18 09:54:51 1998
From: ret at PLUTO.NJCC.COM (Rodham E. Tulloss)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  9:54:51 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9019.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

It would be very nice if Ron Petersen (Univ. Tenn.) would add to this
discussion regarding fungi.  He has several interesting examples of taxa
that are treated as species and have been separated from each other geo-
graphically for ...well...very long periods of time, but have some
"reproductive memory" and can mate with probabilities that he has
established.  The mating produces viable, fertile offspring.  Some of his
percentages are very low...like 4% if I remember (between an Australian
and a North American species in Omphalotus).

Rod Tulloss



From atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX  Sun Apr 19 14:03:56 1998
From: atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX (A. Contreras-Ramos)
Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 14:03:56 
Subject: Rio Longo, Bolivia.
Message-ID: <mailman.9020.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Members of Taxacom,

Several dobsonfly specimens (Megaloptera) were collected from Bolivia
(probably in the early 1900's) by a collector named H. Fassl. and are
part of the N. Banks collections at the MCZ.  One of the localities is
"Rio Longo", a river I have not been able to locate in any of the atlases
that I have checked.  I would appreciate receiving any information on
where in Bolivia (province, if possible) is that river located.  Since
this is of no general interest please reply directly to me.  Thanks very
much in advance.

-----------------------------------------------------
Atilano Contreras-Ramos, Ph.D.
Instituto de Biologia, U.N.A.M.; Depto. Zoologia;
Apdo. Postal 70-153; 04510 Mexico, D.F.; MEXICO.
tel. oficina (525) 622-5705, -5706; exs. 286, 287
fax (525) 550-0164; tel. casa (525) 528-2636
atilano at mail.ibiologia.unam.mx
species at servidor.unam.mx
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/eukaryotes/animals/
arthropoda/hexapoda/megaloptera/megaloptera.html
-----------------------------------------------------



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Mon Apr 20 07:25:24 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  7:25:24 
Subject: Genera Strongylium 1819 and 1809 PROTOZOA
Message-ID: <mailman.9021.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear colleagues,

I am looking for reference on genus Strongylium Ditmar 1809 Protozoa,
[there is common used name Strongylium 1819 Kirby for Tenebrionidae
(Coleoptera) is in this case preoccupied and therefore probably and has to
be replaced.]

I will be please for any comment about this Protozoa genus, too.

Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

(home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.



From Athanasios at   Mon Apr 20 04:22:06 1998
From: Athanasios at  (Athanasios at )
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  4:22:06 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9022.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
>Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
>of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
>way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
>shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
>may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
>and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've
>been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
>else out there been thinking about this?
>
>Les Kaufman
>Boston University Marine Program
>lesk at bio.bu.edu

What seems important to me, is the group you deal with. In marine algae,
particularly corallines and other calcified groups, there are many species
postulated to be living fossils. Many of these organisms have a sexual life
history and have apparently coexisted with 'related' species for million of
years. The fact that they are distinct today suggest that after all the way
that Hennig (& Croizat ?) had in mind may be true (for these groups at
least).



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 09:43:38 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  9:43:38 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9023.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Some comments regarding notes by Les Kaufman on Croizat and Hennig and hybrids.
I have not read everything of Croizat's, and have not concentrated on his
considerations of species, but I am not aware that anything Les stated
about the complexity of landscape fragmentation and speciation would
conflict with Croizat's position. I do recall that Croizat was very
critical of cladistic splitting being representative of actual speciation
in many cases where he considered a polycotomous division to be more true
to the event even though the character relationships of the descendants
could be resolved to a dichotomous level.

The concept of "webbing at the node" would also appear to be in close
agreement with Croizat's concept of differentiated ancestor. Heads (Syst
Zoo 1985 pp 205-215) identified distinguished between the concepts of
differentiated and uniform ancestor. To the former he identified Croizat,
Simpson and Rosa, and the latter Darwin, Hennig, Brundin, Mayr, Nelson, and
Platnick.

On page 188 of Space, Time, Form, Croizat illustrates a model of
form-making ("speciation" in which the rearrangements of the landscape is
distinctly uneven. When considering the process of differentiation
(form-making) Croizat emphasizes character recombination of an acestor that
is already partially differentiated, both biologically and
geogeographically. The idea that vicariants may achieve the level of
semispecies, then anastomose back and forth would seem to be compatible
with Croizat. On page 184 Crioizat refers to hybridization of populations
within a species complex as part of the normal process of differentiation.

Heads (1990, New Zealand Journal of Zoology 16(4) p. 578), provides an
illustration of complex ancestral differentiation which he refers to as
hybrid swarms which may form and deform, with the possiblity that the
"crystallisation" of such swarms may result in descendant taxa with a very
high potential to hybrize. The concept of "hybrid swarm" and "webbing at
the node" would appear to have much in common, particularly in the
reference to node, since nodes are biogeographically and phylogenetically
complex points of differentiation in space and time.

John Grehan


>>A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
>>Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
>>of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
>>way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
>>shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
>>may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
>>and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've
>>been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
>>else out there been thinking about this?
>>
>>Les Kaufman
>>Boston University Marine Program
>>lesk at bio.bu.edu
>
>What seems important to me, is the group you deal with. In marine algae,
>particularly corallines and other calcified groups, there are many species
>postulated to be living fossils. Many of these organisms have a sexual life
>history and have apparently coexisted with 'related' species for million of
>years. The fact that they are distinct today suggest that after all the way
>that Hennig (& Croizat ?) had in mind may be true (for these groups at
>least).



From "=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu  Mon Apr 20 16:19:19 1998
From: "=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu ("=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 16:19:19 
Subject: VACANT POSITION
Message-ID: <mailman.9024.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

<bold>Associate Professor in Molecular Systematics (Zoology)

</bold>

The Zoological Museum at the University of Oslo is seeking qualified

applicants for the above position.  The Museum will strengthen its
research

activities in systematic zoology, and is seeking a person that can
build a

strong research group in molecular systematics. The position is placed
in

the Section for Marine Invertebrates and has the curatorial
responsibility

for scientific collections of several invertebrate taxa, among which
the

collection of crustaceans is of particular international importance.


The successful applicant must have a strong scientific record in
molecular

systematics, and preferably in the systematics of invertebrates.
Practical

experience with various molecular methods will be required.  He or she

should also have curatorial experience. Documented qualifications in

teaching, administration and museum-related activities will also be

considered.


=46urther information about the museum and the available position can be

obtained at http://www.toyen.uio.no/zoomus/, or by contacting professor
Jan

T. Lifjeld (e-mail: j.t.lifjeld at toyen.uio.no). The application should

contain a full CV and copies of until ten scientific papers for
specific

evaluation. The application should be sent in three copies to the

Zoological Museum, University of Oslo, Sars gate 1, N-0562 Oslo.
Closing

date: 7 May 1998.

=20



From kinman at HOTMAIL.COM  Mon Apr 20 07:59:02 1998
From: kinman at HOTMAIL.COM (Ken Kinman)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  7:59:02 
Subject: IMPORTANT PAPER: SYNOPSIS & TEXT
Message-ID: <mailman.9025.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

**TITLE: Another Woesian Myth Exposed As Simplistic and Homoplasious,
      Woese's "Stanier Memorial" Self-Serving Authoritarian Sophistry,
      And Finally Regrouping For "A True Renaissance In Bacteriology"
                         by Kenneth E. Kinman
      Citation: Journal of MetaBioSystematics, No. 9 (April 1998)
**SYNOPSIS: (1) Bacterial Diversity and Classification;(2) Mis-
conceptions on the distribution of ester and ether-linked lipids;
(3) Its Implication for the new "HYDROGEN HYPOTHESIS" of eukaryotic
origins; (4) the core of Lake's "Eocyte" theory; (5) Woese's totally
inappropriate choice of occasion ("Stanier Memorial" Lecture) to
criticize Stanier and self-servingly declare a Woesian "Renaissance";
(6) the derived nature of thermophilic life; (7) Whole Genome Sequencing
(what organisms should have higher priority?); and
(8) Trees of Life (Three Domains are simplistic and harmful).
        * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
***FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE:
     Before delving into parallel evolution and the homoplasious nature
of the ether lipid "character" (they actually do occur in Eubacteria,
even the branched-chain type, despite common belief), I would first like
to thank the NCBI taxonomy staff for quickly acting after my paper of
last October (text on my Internet homepage at:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074  ; the text of other relevant
papers are also found there).  Synergistes was not only removed from
Family Clostridiaceae, but from Firmicutes (my Posibacteracea)
altogether, and placed in a "group" of its own.  I was also encouraged
by the January 1998 paper of Hugenholtz et al. (Journal of Bacteriology,
180:366-376) which shows Synergistes branching next to the
Proteobacteria, and thus supports the view of my 1996 and 1997 papers.
These may seem like trivial matters at this point in time, but this
group may prove to be very important in fleshing out a true eubacterial
phylogeny.  Neither "Proteobacteria" (which is probably not holophyletic
anyway), nor Synergistaceae, are nearly as peripheral and unimportant to
bacterial evolution as present gene trees would indicate.  Just more
Woesian distortions that must be addressed.
     More importantly at the present time, however, both NCBI's taxonomy
and the Hugenholtz paper demonstrate a widespread reluctance to adopt a
stable Linnaean classification for bacteria, like the one I presented in
my 1994 book (The Kinman System: Toward A Stable Cladisto-Eclectic
Classification of Organisms; see footnote).  Instead we have a very
uncoordinated conglomeration of "groups", common names, formal names
(some poorly conceived), and "Odyssean" genera (wandering about without
a home).  Do we have to wait for years in a confusing limbo until
another edition of Bergey's Manual finally restores some order?  I think
this would be a mistake (especially since the last edition apparently
made little impact upon molecular biologists anyway), and my formal
classification of 1994 needs relatively little modification (although I
would like to expand it down to family, or even generic level).
     In any case, the genus Synergistes does have a home, namely Family
Synergistaceae Kinman, 1996.  And now that its distinctiveness is being
acknowledged, I here propose that it constitutes a new higher taxon,
Order Synergistales ord. nov.  I would also note that other distinctive
orders were proposed in the 1994 book, including Fibrobacterales,
Thermodesulfobacteriales (which have branched-chain ether-linked lipids,
as will be discussed below), and Verrucomicrobiales.   The latter name
has also been independently proposed by others and is gaining gradual
acceptance, and it is distinctive enough that I placed it in its own
Class Verrucomicrobea (in The Kinman System, 1994).
     WARNING:  I am definitely not advocating a mindless or rapid,
wholesale increase in higher taxa of bacteria.  On the contrary, I
believe it is Woese's "Three Domain Theory" which poses the added risk
of massive and unwarranted taxonomic inflation (on top of all the other
problems it is causing).  Hugenholtz et al.'s many "candidate divisions"
provide an unsettling omen that overreaction to newly discovered
bacterial diversity could initiate an excessive taxonomic pendulum
swing, particularly in the most distorted part of Woese's misrooted
phylogenies, namely in my Class Togobacteracea (where most of these
"candidate divisions" are popping up).  These extremes of homeless
genera on the one hand, and numerous candidate divisions on the other,
can only cause a confusing smoke screen that will prevent a stable
taxonomy and delay the inevitable realization of just how distorted and
damaging Woesian bacterial phylogenies actually are.
  >>>The Lipid Misconception---Another Woesian "Simplistication"<<<
     It is clearly not in the interests of Woese et al. to elaborate on
matters than run counter to their paradigm, thus allowing a continuation
of the resulting widespread notion that membrane lipids support a
"monophyletic" (holophyletic) Metabacteria ("Archaebacteria").  I
believe the scientific community at large must take a closer look.
Ether-linked lipids (sometimes even the branched-chain diether types)
actually do occur in Eubacteria (in Aquificales, Thermotogales,
Thermodesulfobacteriales, and no doubt other groups).  Furthermore,
halophilic Metabacteria contain some "ester-linked" lipids and
functional fatty acid synthetases (see Kamekura and Kates, 1988; in the
book Halophilic Bacteria, Rodriques-Valera, ed.).
     This distribution of lipids (along with the homoplasious tendency
of thermophiles to "prefer" ether-linked lipids to the less thermostable
ester-linked types) leads me to believe that many primitive Metabacteria
must have possessed various lipid combinations utilizing two linkage
types and two stereochemistries.  Furthermore, most of the
recently-discovered, non-thermophilic extant members of this group (in
both mesophilic and psychrophilic habitats) are only known from their
rRNA.  Once cultured, some of them could be shown to contain a weak
"ester-linked" composition (like the halophiles) or possibly even
stronger such compositions (especially if some of them lack strong
thermophiles in their ancestry--a possibility worth noting once one
ignores the Woesian myth of a thermophilic origin of life).  I will not
discuss murein here, but I would surmise that there was probably also a
fairly smooth transition between forms containing murein and
pseudomurein (probably no need to invoke convergence for this
character).
     For those who are caught up in 20 years of Woesian circular
reasoning, please do not be tempted to view ether-linked lipids as
"primitive" based upon their distribution in Woese's Three Domain trees.
As a former organic chemist myself, I can assure you that living systems
(and their organic constituents) have a great deal of difficulty
surviving thermophilic conditions.  It took a tremendous amount of
biochemical "pre-adaptation" (including ether lipids in most cases) for
thermophilic life to evolve (the hyperthermophiles in particular).
Years from now scientists will not only chuckle when they look at
Woesian "Trees of Life" (especially the eubacterial parts), but
philosophers of science will wonder why the primitiveness of thermophily
was ever taken seriously at all, much less for decades.
     Although I have not fully evaluated the recent and fascinating
"Hydrogen Hypothesis" for the origin of the eukaryotic cell (Martin and
Muller, 1998; Nature, 392:37-41), I would suggest to others (as I have
already suggested to them) a possible alternative to their solution of
the lipid problem addressed in their Figure 2(d).  In view of what is
related above, I think a more parsimonious solution would be that the
Metabacterial ("Archaebacterial") host of the first eukaryote (assuming
it was the host) may well have had a composite lipid membrane profile
all along.  It is even conceivable it had a predominantly ester-linked
lipid membrane.  The point is that we don't have to invoke reversals and
other unparsimonious explanations every time there are incongruencies
with Woese's ideas.  Once we begin really challenging the underpinnings
of Woesian ideas and phylogenies, many of the incongruencies and
puzzling paradoxes will simply disappear.
     In any case, once we have begun culturing the many "environmental"
members of Euryarchaea and Crenarchaea, we will be in a better position
to deal with the Metabacterial incongruencies more effectively.  This is
especially true for the latter, because Crenarchaea are just another
(but formal) name for Dr. Lake's "eocytes".  Although I disapproved of
his eocyte trees in the 1980's (which made Eubacteria too derived and
metabacterial groups too deep and archaic), his more recent eocyte trees
are much improved.  I still strongly object to viewing Eubacteria as a
"monophyletic" (holophyletic) group, but this is a widespread Woesian
misconception that is rarely challenged (but I continue my research in
trying to set that all straight).  However, I certainly wasn't about to
throw the baby out with the bathwater and have always embraced that part
of Lake's eocyte theory that views Crenarchaea (eocytes) as the
metabacterial (archaebacterial) component of the eukaryotic cell.  I
showed Eukaryota evolving from Crenarchaea in my recent book (The Kinman
System; see footnote) since they were the major component of the
chimaeric eukaryotic cell.  My own continuing studies of Woese's 16S
rRNA data further strengthens my belief in this central tenet of the
"eocyte" theory.
     >>>>Woese's Self-Serving Sermon At Stanier's Expense<<<<
     The Roger Y. Stanier Memorial Lecture of 11 March 1993, given by
Carl Woese, must have been rather uncomfortable (if not shocking) for
many microbiologists.  What a terrible choice of occasion to be branding
the Stanier years as "The Dark Age" and self-servingly declaring a
Woesian "Renaissance".  If I had then been aware of this and other
examples of such poor judgment (both socially and scientifically), I
would have never even begun my attempts to correspond with him in 1994.
This is doubly true in retrospect since I have not received a single
word of correspondence in return, and not even the courtesy of any
reprints.  Perhaps it is fitting that a bully in the pulpit is finally
beginning to get a taste of his own medicine.
     I firmly believe that (1) the lipid misconception discussed above,
(2) the reluctance to embrace the core of Lake's eocyte theory, and (3)
the clumsy, disinformational nature of present bacterial
classifications, are all further cases of prokaryotic evolution being
obscured by an intransigent refusal to let go of a much greater
misconception (namely a thermophilic origin of life and/or a
thermophilic cenancestor of all extant life), and we all know where that
misconception originated!  The discovery in 1977 that we had been
overlooking two important and closely related groups of Metabacteria
(Euryarchaea and Crenarchaea) was unfortunately ladened with a heavy
burden of erroneous notions, including: (1) a fundamental primitiveness
of thermophily, (2) "archaic" primitiveness of Eukaryota and
Metabacteria, and (3) "monophyly" (holophyly) of three simplistic
Urkingdoms.  I have finally concluded that Woese may never let go of his
Three Urkingdoms (a.k.a. Three Domains), in spite of contrary evidence
and criticism.  However, although rRNA sequences are extremely important
(and I rely on them heavily myself), it is foolhardy to view the Woesian
"Tree of RIBOSOMES" as a true "Tree of LIFE".  There are clearly Three
Domains of Ribosomes, but to simplistically declare Three Domains of
Life is not only illogical (as eminent scientists have repeatedly
noted), but also far more damaging than any of them ever imagined.
Eventually the Tree of Ribosomes and the Tree of Life will be one and
the same (but not with Three Domains).
     The reclassification of prokaryotes is progressing in spite of all
this, but we would undoubtedly be much further along without 20 years of
unresolved and unchallenged baggage. Perhaps microbiology would have
experienced a much easier transition if Metabacteria had been discovered
a year or two later by someone else.  I was truly convinced that my 1994
classification (of prokaryotes in particular) would facilitate, perhaps
even invigorate, the process of reevaluation.  Instead I have been very
disappointed by the lack of response to, understanding of, or even
willingness to consider, my contributions thus far.  Whether the
situation in bacteriology is remedied sooner or later, efficiently or
not, we may be shaking our heads 10 years hence in disbelief how clouded
our thinking has been.  The Three Urkingdoms were like boils (in need of
lancing) back in 1990.  Regretfully they were instead bandaged over,
spin-doctored into Three Domains, and allowed to fester ever since.
     And the claims in 1996 that the Methanococcus jannaschii genome
supports the Three Domain Theory seem to be little more than wishful
thinking in the form of nonsensical and unscientific sensationalism,
once again reflective of Woesian authoritarian sophistry.  Complete
genome sequencing is still too expensive to be making such unwise
choices as to which organisms should receive higher priorities.  For
those who think my tone has been too irreverent of late, it was at this
point (August 1996) that my frustration and concern became more like
indignation, especially when my letter to Science was not printed (even
though I expressed my reactions quite diplomatically).  Although never
published, that letter appears on my Internet homepage at:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074    Judge for yourself whether it
was worth printing.
     Ironically it was Woese himself who complained in 1993-94 that this
"is the way of paradigms"---that challenges to them are ignored and/or
scoffed at.  It seems to me this is a flagrant case of the pot calling
the kettle black, ignoring Mayr, Lake, myself, and others.  Microbiology
had every right (even a duty) to question Woese's paradigm, for he
appears to have used his good fortune (to be the first to discover
Metabacteria) to promote a lot of damaging nonsense and stubbornly
refuse to accept evidence to the contrary.  And it is not just Stanier
who has been unjustly criticized in this process, but also C.B. van
Niel, Ernst Mayr, and others.  Unfortunately when a significant portion
of his house of cards finally begins to crumble, it will be others who
will have to pick up the pieces.  The circular reasoning alone may have
done so much damage that it will probably take decades to assess its
scope.
     Recognition for my own work (much less funding for it) may never
come (especially for the bacteriological aspects).  In which case, I may
well continue to live impoverished and struggling to continue my
research.  But I will never regret having stood up for what I believe
and practice real scientific thinking.  It has been suggested to me that
I should give up this stressful and financially draining crusade and
redirect my talents elsewhere.  It may eventually come to that, but I
wouldn't feel right if I abandoned the effort when there seems to be at
least some progress being made.  If funding should eventually be found,
the spark would remain, but the ability to publish in peer-reviewed
("real") journals could temper my polemic, reduce the frustration, and I
might even become positively diplomatic once again.  Those who know me
realize that this is my natural inclination.  But if for some reason
this is that last of my papers on bacteriology, I wish you all luck in
the difficult period ahead.  Someone has to clean up the mess, and if
you kill or starve the messenger, he can't be around to help set things
right.
     Finally, although none of us knows for certain what tomorrow will
bring, the nature of my own work leaves me even more uncertain than most
what the future holds.  With that in mind, I would like to note that one
of the most often quoted papers in bacteriology is Woese, 1987, but I
wonder how many biologists have read it carefully.  As time goes on,
many of the assumptions and conclusions in that paper, look more and
more erroneously circular (if not outright fanciful).  If I don't get a
chance to expose the many other fallacies in that paper, I hope others
will do so, and that there will be less tendency in the future to quote
that paper as being so authoritative.  Viewing it as a firm foundation
on which to build seems ill-advised.  The real evolutionary story of
life has often taken twists and turns that fool those whose notions are
too simplistic, and whose minds are not open enough to accept credible
challenges.  Intransigence is unacceptable and is eventually exposed,
but unfortunately it is too often neither a timely nor efficient
process.  Biology, and bacteriology in particular, needs to take a hard
look at what has actually happened in the last 20 years, and make some
changes that will improve its future prospects.
                                           Kenneth E. Kinman
                                           P.O. Box 1377
                                           Hays, Kansas  67601
*****FOOTNOTE:  Kinman, K.E. 1994.  The Kinman System: Toward A Stable
Cladisto-Eclectic Classification of Organisms (Living and Extinct; 48
Phyla, 269 Classes, 1,719 Orders).  Published September 1994.
     Many libraries do not yet have this book.  However, it is available
(to libraries and individuals) from the author for $38.00 U.S. postpaid
(outside the U.S. add $5.00).  Libraries can access bibliographic
information about the book through OCLC/WorldCat.  An 8-page extract is
also available, describing and illustrating the new system, including
the cladisto-eclectic classification of the 48 phyla of organisms (cost
of book extract is $5.00 U.S. postpaid; $6.00 elsewhere).  The proceeds
help to fund further research.
Kenneth E. Kinman, P.O. Box 1377, Hays, Kansas  67601-8377
e-mail:   kinman at hotmail.com
      or  kinman at scientist.com
      or  kinman at usa.net
homepage:  www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074
     Feedback (positive or negative) on the above paper is encouraged
and welcome.  Thanks.  [Please forward this paper to any of your
colleagues who you think might find it of interest.]


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



From jsolomon at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG  Mon Apr 20 12:04:24 1998
From: jsolomon at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG (Dr. Jim Solomon)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 12:04:24 
Subject: Missouri Botanical Garden Bibliographic Database Now Available
Message-ID: <mailman.9026.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The Missouri Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the development of a
web interface to allow queries of the Vascular Plant Bibliography used by
all TROPICOS databases to link literature-based project information.
There are presently nearly 54,000 bibliographic items available.

Bibliographic citations are added to this database based on the needs of
individual Garden projects.  Thus, the literature for certain geographic
regions or taxonomic groups may be extensive, while other areas or groups
may be limited.  Queries of the database are made in real time, and
reflect the instantaneous content of the database.  Each html document
returned is custom built for that request.

To make a query of the bibliographic database type the senior authors
last name (Smith) or a keyword (Poa).  The number of 'hits' may be
restricted by adding the year of publication (1989), decade (198), or
century (19) after the author's name (e.g. Smith 1987 or Poa 198).

The keywords used in the database are not extensive, but represent major
categories of research (ecology, morphology), important research topics
(heavy metal, bog), scientific names (genera or families), and geography
(country or state).  Keywords are singular (chromosome, leaf).

In this release (rev. 1.5) the following information is provided when
present: 1) Author(s) of the publication, 2) Date, 3) Title of the
article, 4) Journal or book title, 5) Volume and pagination, and 6)
Keywords.

Data may be accessed through the Garden's home page under W3TROPICOS at:

http://www.mobot.org

or directly at:

http://mobot.mobot.org/Pick/Search/vbib.html
***************************************************************
* James C. Solomon            e-mail: solomon at mobot.mobot.org *
* Curator of the Herbarium    tel: (314) 577-9507             *
* Missouri Botanical Garden   fax: (314) 577-9596             *
* P.O. Box 299                                                *
* St. Louis, Missouri  63166                                  *
***************************************************************



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 13:27:11 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 13:27:11 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b160b04e5ece@[146.186.19.180]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9027.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I want to thank John Grehan for his note.  Some things fade faster than
others as years go by since reading something.  It is probably useful to
clarify when one is thinking more from the perspective of landscape
effects and more from the perspective of the resulting phylogenies.  In my
case it was the former, and Vrba's (1995) recent paper in the book on
African palaeoclimatology well captures the situation as it appears in
East African aquatic systems, with slight caveats attendent to the
translation from a terrestrial to an aquatic bias.  Now we might
wonder how taxa vary in the duration of "hybrid swarm" or "webbed"
phases.  Vrba obviously recognized that they would vary, reflecting
landscape effects to different degree, and running on different clocks.
Indeed, variation in the architecture of adaptive radiation (given
common circumstances) could be one
of the most distinctive features of higher taxa.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
lesk at bio.bu.edu
617-353-5560 office
617-353-6965 lab
617-353-6340 fax



From lbg at INFINET.COM  Mon Apr 20 14:46:03 1998
From: lbg at INFINET.COM (Linda Gottfried)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 14:46:03 
Subject: invitation
Message-ID: <mailman.9028.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Attn: AAM Attendees:

Roundtable Discussion On Storage

Viking Metal Cabinet Company Inc., is having a luncheon on the future of =
museum collection storage. We have several seats available for those of =
you who might be interested in sharing your thoughts and comments.

DATE: Wednesday , May 13,1998
TIME: From 12:15-1:30
LOCATION: To be announced


We only have a few spaces left- Email me as soon as possible for a space =
reservation.
( linda at vikingmetal.com)


Note: Museum Cabinets previously produced by The Interior Steel =
Equipment Co., Inc.



From cukmf4 at PANTHER2.PEN.EIU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 17:50:36 1998
From: cukmf4 at PANTHER2.PEN.EIU.EDU (Kevin Mathe Franken)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:50:36 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9029.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I forwarded this to myself from my hotmail account so I wouldn't have to
type it all over again.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 14:33:14 PDT
From: kevin franken <kfranken at hotmail.com>
To: cukmf4 at panther2.pen.eiu.edu
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments

Will someone on this listserv let me know if the listserv received this
message. I have never used this listserv before. Please send this to AS
MANY people and listservs that can help.  Thanks.

Hi. My name is Kevin Franken.  I'm a senior Environmental Biology major
here at Eastern Illinois University.  Currently, there is a proposal to
merge the Botany and Zoology Dept's into the Dept of Biological
Sciences.  The vast majority of the Botany faculty here OPPOSE it
because they fear the high-quality Botany program here will suffer (and
for many other reasons).  In past mergers at other universities, it has
been said that Botany faculty and course offerings DECLINE after such
mergers.

What I'm looking for is DATA/EVIDENCE to support that idea.  Do you or
anyone you know have access to such data or can get a hold of such data
showing a decline of Botany faculty and course offerings AFTER a merger
with a Zoology Dept?  If you have such info, please show the Botany
faculty #'s and course offerings BEFORE the merger and AFTER.  If yes,
could you send that information to me via email or regular mail?  My
fellow students and I are trying to bring evidence to our Student
Senate, Faculty Senate, and administration.  Such info. would be very
useful.

Do you have any advice for our movement here?  Do you know any
names/emails of faculty at other universities who I could contact
regarding this?

Also, EIU currently offers a BS degree in Botany and Zoology and
Environmental Biology, if the merger goes through, only a BS in
Biological Sciences will be offered, with an option in Environmental
Biology, and a concentration in Botany (and other areas).  I don't think
a degree in Botany is the same thing as a concentration in Botany, do
you?

Thank you for your time.


Kevin Franken
103 Taylor Hall
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-2003

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



From atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX  Mon Apr 20 19:40:40 1998
From: atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX (A. Contreras-Ramos)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 19:40:40 
Subject: Rio Longo--Thanks.
Message-ID: <mailman.9030.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

THANKS VERY MUCH (y muchas gracias tambien!) to all that kindly responded
with suggestions about where Rio Longo might be in Bolivia.  The most
plausible explanation (and according to Dr. Newton from the Field Museum
of Chicago) seems to be that the name is a misspelling of  "Rio Zongo in
La Paz province, 15* 43' S, 67* 41' W...  A handwritten German "L" and
"Z" can beeasily confused...".

Sincerely,

-----------------------------------------------------
Atilano Contreras-Ramos, Ph.D.
Instituto de Biologia, U.N.A.M.; Depto. Zoologia;
Apdo. Postal 70-153; 04510 Mexico, D.F.; MEXICO.
tel. oficina (525) 622-5705, -5706; ex 286;
fax (525) 550-0164.
atilano at mail.ibiologia.unam.mx
species at servidor.unam.mx
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/eukaryotes/animals/
arthropoda/hexapoda/megaloptera/megaloptera.html
-----------------------------------------------------



From rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU  Tue Apr 21 08:24:18 1998
From: rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU (Richard Jensen)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998  8:24:18 
Subject: Dalla Torre and Harms
Message-ID: <mailman.9031.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Does anyone know if the genus/family numbers in Dalla Torre and Harms are
available in electronic form?  We are having to reconfigure an herbarium
database and we need access to these numbers.  We would rather not have
to input all of them by hand, if we can avoid it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |



From bryo at COMMTECH.NET  Tue Apr 21 09:19:28 1998
From: bryo at COMMTECH.NET (Richard Zander)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998  9:19:28 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9032.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Long ago, botanists at Duke University split their Biol. Sci. dept into
Zoology and Botany Depts. This has been a considerable success, and I
think you might write to them for additional info and background. The
problem nowadays with integrating Zoology and Botany is not that Botany
is squelched (so much) but that both become test tube oriented.
Botanists start calling themselves "Plant Scientists" and collections
are orphaned. It's happened locally at SUNY/Buffalo, though there are
some notable exceptions (e.g. UC/Berkeley). You might write Dept.
Integrative Biology at Berkeley and find out how they preserve a
systematic/organismal approach.


Kevin Mathe Franken wrote:
> Currently, there is a proposal to
> merge the Botany and Zoology Dept's into the Dept of Biological
> Sciences.  The vast majority of the Botany faculty here OPPOSE it
> because they fear the high-quality Botany program here will suffer (and
> for many other reasons).  In past mergers at other universities, it has
> been said that Botany faculty and course offerings DECLINE after such
> mergers.
>
> What I'm looking for is DATA/EVIDENCE to support that idea.  Do you or
> anyone you know have access to such data or can get a hold of such data
> showing a decline of Botany faculty and course offerings AFTER a merger
> with a Zoology Dept?  If you have such info, please show the Botany
> faculty #'s and course offerings BEFORE the merger and AFTER.  If yes,
> could you send that information to me via email or regular mail?  My
> fellow students and I are trying to bring evidence to our Student
> Senate, Faculty Senate, and administration.  Such info. would be very
> useful.


************************************************
Richard H. Zander
Curator of Botany, Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14211 USA
bryo at commtech.net   voice: 716-896-5200 ext. 351
************************************************



From una.smith at YALE.EDU  Wed Apr 22 10:41:16 1998
From: una.smith at YALE.EDU (Una Smith)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:41:16 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <353CC710.7FE2@commtech.net>
Message-ID: <mailman.9033.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On Tue, 21 Apr 1998, Richard Zander wrote:

>Long ago, botanists at Duke University split their Biol. Sci. dept into
>Zoology and Botany Depts.

I wasn't aware that they were ever a joint department.  How long ago did
the split happen?  Both Duke departments are strong, but I'm not sure
they are strong because they are separate.

>The problem nowadays with integrating Zoology and Botany is not that
>Botany is squelched (so much) but that both become test tube oriented.

Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
increasing focus on levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms,
communities) rather than taxonomic groups (plants, animals) in American
universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
are the result, not the other way around.

Apparently, Yale was among the first universities to merge botany and
zoology into an integrated biology department.  For at least a decade
after that, organismal biology was strong at Yale.  But gradually the
focus shifted, to the point where the organismal biologists had little
in common with the rest of the department.  The other faculty, though
working on a broad variety of problems and systems, share a lot of the
same technology and methodology, and have similar types of laboratory
groups, with many people all working on small parts of a very specific
large problem.  They are utterly dependent on the continued receipt of
big research grants or collaborations with industry.  In contrast, the
organismal biologists tend to have far smaller research groups, little
coordinated research within groups, and can function with little or no
money.  Another difference:  perhaps 10% of the graduate students had
sufficient training in organismal biology to be teaching assistants in
organismal courses, but these courses represented 50% of the demand for
graduate TAs.  All of these factors, and others, caused enough stress
within the department in the past decade or so that the department has
(this year!) split into Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology;
and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

By the way, Berkeley has departments of Integrative Biology and Plant
Biology.  They are in separate colleges.

As far as undergraduate degrees are concerned, I think what you learn is
far more important than the name of your major.

                                NEW ADDRESS as of February 1998:
        Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
                                Yale University
        una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106



From pkoleff at XOLO.CONABIO.GOB.MX  Wed Apr 22 11:30:22 1998
From: pkoleff at XOLO.CONABIO.GOB.MX (Patricia Koleff)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 11:30:22 
Subject: World Wide Specimens
Message-ID: <mailman.9034.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Colleges,

        We received very interesting information on the total number
of specimens holded on herbaria of the world, and also information
on some particulars herbaria and museums. Thank you very much  for
your enthusiastic answer!

        The total number of specimens is available in the Index
Herbariorum. Probably these numbers, even though now out-of-date
(1990) are still the most accurate.  Tables 3 and 4 (pp. 481-485)
list the total number of herbarium specimens as 272,800,926, held
worldwide in 2639 herbaria.

The reference for IH is:

Holmgren, P.K., N.H. Holmgren and L.C. Barnett (eds.).  1990.
Index Herbariorum Part I: The Herbaria of the World.  8th edition.
The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, New York.

Another reference recommended is:

Cooley, G.P., Harrington, M.B. and Lawrence,, 1993. Analysis and
Recommendations for Scientific Computing and Collections
Information Management of Free-Standing Museums of Natural History
and Botanical Gardens. Vol. 1 Paper. Mitre Corporation publication
93W0000109V1.


Thanks
Gracias

Pilar Rodriguez & Patricia Koleff



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 12:30:19 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:30:19 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9035.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
publication
on teaching evolution.

My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
and inferences. It would
do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
heavy emphasis on
indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
natural selection),
and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
emphasis on method
in chemistry or physics).

As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
which focuses on the
assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
the Creationists who apply
the same strategy.

I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
nonetheless. With the way
evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
I wouldn't blame
them in the slightest.

John Grehan



From jhbeach at IBM.NET  Wed Apr 22 12:46:52 1998
From: jhbeach at IBM.NET (James H. Beach)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:46:52 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b16384085fcf@[146.186.16.100]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9036.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi All:

I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
for this.  Thank you.


Jim Beach
Listowner of Taxacom





At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
>publication
>on teaching evolution.
>
>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
>and inferences. It would
>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
>heavy emphasis on
>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
>natural selection),
>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
>emphasis on method
>in chemistry or physics).
>
>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
>which focuses on the
>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>the Creationists who apply
>the same strategy.
>
>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
>nonetheless. With the way
>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
>I wouldn't blame
>them in the slightest.
>
>John Grehan
>
>

_________________________________________

James H. Beach
National Biological Information Infrastructure
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 11:58:04 1998
From: wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU (Hugh Wilson)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 11:58:04 
Subject: NAS/Evolution
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b16384085fcf@[146.186.16.100]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9037.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I think its *about time* organized science 1) recognized the
potential danger of organized anti-evolution activity in education
and 2) actually did something about it.  Good for NAS.  Their rep.
(Kennedy?) on the PBS news yesterday (with excellent support from a
HS biology teacher) did a good job - at least from my perspective -
of presenting the case.  Too bad other professional groups, esp.
those associated with systematics, have provided such lame leadership
and support in this area.

On 22 Apr 98 at 12:30, John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU> wrote:

Date:          Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:30:19 -0400
Reply-to:      John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU>
From:          John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU>
To:            Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM <TAXACOM at CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>

Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
publication on teaching evolution............................

My comment is that.................................

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~hugh/homepage.html



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Wed Apr 22 10:58:06 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:58:06 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19980422124652.00a78710@eagle.cc.ukans.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9038.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report on
evolution.  The fact that the previous poster mentioned the word
"creationism", comparing his concern about how he perceived the NAS
treatment of evolution (as non-science) to creationism's non-science is
hardly a discussion devolved into an evolution vs creationism debate.
His comments could have stood on their own legs even without his
sidetrack comparison (which I reproduce far below) with creationism.

So, please, if you wish to review the NAS publication on teaching
evolution, and to comment here, I certainly would like to know what you
think of their publication.

As the NAS publication asserts, it is not about the
creationism/evolution debate. It's about providing a coherent teaching
plan for various levels of K-12. Systematists surely can relate to that
and discuss it, leaving out the creationism issue unless it is
specifically brought up in the NAS publication itself, and the reviewer
feels it should be commented upon in that context.

Later, when the NAS publishes on creationism, maybe that should be
reviewed here as well?
Peter

On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, James H. Beach wrote:

> I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
> ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
> for this.  Thank you.
> Jim Beach
> Listowner of Taxacom

> At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
     ...cut, cut...
> >As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
> >which focuses on the
> >assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
> >the Creationists who apply
> >the same strategy.
     ...cut, cut...
> >John Grehan



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 15:17:48 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:17:48 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
Message-ID: <mailman.9039.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Personally I have no problem avoiding the evolution versus creationism
debate, but I was
not aware that certain subjects were banned.

The listserver states that the facility  is for " all manner of discussion
about biological systematics, including the science, educational, policy
and political issues that are of concern to systematists".

I don't understand the concern expressed by Jim Bach, but I hope that
further disucssion of how evolution is presentated, conceptualized, taught
etc is not precluded if such disucssion is of interest to participating
systematists. If it is not, then the subject will fail to take up much of
the traffic.

John Grehan


>Hi All:
>
>I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
>ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
>for this.  Thank you.
>
>
>Jim Beach
>Listowner of Taxacom
>
>
>
>
>
>At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
>>publication
>>on teaching evolution.
>>
>>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
>>and inferences. It would
>>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
>>heavy emphasis on
>>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
>>natural selection),
>>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
>>emphasis on method
>>in chemistry or physics).
>>
>>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
>>which focuses on the
>>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>>the Creationists who apply
>>the same strategy.
>>
>>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
>>nonetheless. With the way
>>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
>>I wouldn't blame
>>them in the slightest.
>>
>>John Grehan
>>
>>
>
>_________________________________________
>
>James H. Beach
>National Biological Information Infrastructure
>U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
>Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
>E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:19:07 1998
From: sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU (Stuart G. Poss)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:19:07 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9040.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I too saw the PBS coverage of the NAS report and would in general agree
with Hugh's and Peter's comments concerning the appropriateness of
discussion of the report.  However, I would also agree with Jim that we
need not retry the Scopes trial in TAXACOM.

I personally do not believe that we can expect to make much progress
toward the solution of the biodiversity crisis, if the bulk of students
graduating from US high schools do not have at least a modicum of
understanding of the concepts, mechanisms, and implications of modern
evolutionary theory.  Clearly, as taxonomists and systematists, and
perhaps citizens of a still liveable planet, this should concern us.

Given Hugh Wilson's criticism of the systematics community, which I
would regard as not entirely accurate, I would be interested to learn
what under his #2 he might propose that we do to "address our limp" on
this issue, beyond what most of us do every day, namely attempting to
ellucidate the taxa and linneages that have historically resulted from
evolution and to communicate our findings to others.  Perhaps the report
itself provides some suggestions.

Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

Peter Rauch wrote:
>
> With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
> invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report ...

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000                        703 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000



From dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR  Wed Apr 22 16:31:06 1998
From: dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR (Doug Yanega)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 16:31:06 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9041.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Stuart Poss wrote:

>Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

Apparently this contains the full text.

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-449-2579, fax: 031-441-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 15:30:15 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:30:15 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9042.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

To: Peter Rauch <anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: jrg13 at psu.edu (John Grehan)
Subject: Re: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:

Response to Peter Rauch on NAS evolution report.

As perceived by Peter Rauch, it was not my intention to set up an evolution
versus creation debate. I did not, however, intend to represent the NAS
treatment of evolution as non-science. My emphasis, perhaps obscured by
the creation reference, was that the science of evolution was stronger on a
doctrine of beliefs rather than analytical methodology. In my opinion, for what
it is worth, that it is this emphasis that makes the teaching of evolution so
problematic, and such an easy target for creationists (oops mentioned that
word again).

I agree that there is a need for a coherent teaching of evolution, but the
document did not achieve that for me (others feeling different notwithstanding).
 If I have more time I will try to make some specific comments rather than
these generalities.

I appreciate Peter Rauch bringing this to general attention as I find it
difficult
to keep track of everything that is going on in this field.

John Grehan



From wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:32:46 1998
From: wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU (Hugh Wilson)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:32:46 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
In-Reply-To: <353E42AB.477696FF@whale.st.usm.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9043.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Its at:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

with an overview at:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/evol4.html

and - with regard to my beef - check out:

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/Wilson/tfp/tfpintro.htm

and the comment on evolution vs. creation (3, 3rd paragraph) - prior to the NAS
effort, the only other 'debunking  ref. I could find for this was:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/2437/index.htm

and I think that the systematic community, at least an organized
rep (professional society)., could put together this sort of material
- hardcopy or web - that would help those of us involved with biology
teaching

On 22 Apr 98 at 14:19, Stuart G. Poss <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
wrote:

Date:          Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:19:07 -0500
Reply-to:      "Stuart G. Poss" <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
From:          "Stuart G. Poss" <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
Organization:  Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Subject:       Re: Discussion of NAS Report
To:            Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM <TAXACOM at CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>


....Given Hugh Wilson's criticism of the systematics community, which
I would regard as not entirely accurate, I would be interested to
learn what under his #2 he might propose that we do to "address our
limp" on this issue, beyond what most of us do every day, namely
attempting to ellucidate the taxa and linneages that have
historically resulted from evolution and to communicate our findings
to others.  Perhaps the report itself provides some suggestions.

Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~hugh/homepage.html



From jhbeach at IBM.NET  Wed Apr 22 15:34:26 1998
From: jhbeach at IBM.NET (James H. Beach)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:34:26 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SUN.3.96.980422104601.7724B-100000@grinnell.berkeley. edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9044.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Ok! Mea Culpa. I pulled the trigger too soon on this thread, so debate away!

-- Jim Beach




At 10:58 AM 4/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
>invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report on
>evolution.  The fact that the previous poster mentioned the word
>"creationism", comparing his concern about how he perceived the NAS
>treatment of evolution (as non-science) to creationism's non-science is
>hardly a discussion devolved into an evolution vs creationism debate.
>His comments could have stood on their own legs even without his
>sidetrack comparison (which I reproduce far below) with creationism.
>
>So, please, if you wish to review the NAS publication on teaching
>evolution, and to comment here, I certainly would like to know what you
>think of their publication.
>
>As the NAS publication asserts, it is not about the
>creationism/evolution debate. It's about providing a coherent teaching
>plan for various levels of K-12. Systematists surely can relate to that
>and discuss it, leaving out the creationism issue unless it is
>specifically brought up in the NAS publication itself, and the reviewer
>feels it should be commented upon in that context.
>
>Later, when the NAS publishes on creationism, maybe that should be
>reviewed here as well?
>Peter
>
>On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, James H. Beach wrote:
>
>> I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
>> ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
>> for this.  Thank you.
>> Jim Beach
>> Listowner of Taxacom
>
>> At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>     ...cut, cut...
>> >As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a
doctrine
>> >which focuses on the
>> >assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>> >the Creationists who apply
>> >the same strategy.
>     ...cut, cut...
>> >John Grehan
>
>

_________________________________________

James H. Beach
National Biological Information Infrastructure
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR  Wed Apr 22 17:12:45 1998
From: dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR (Doug Yanega)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:12:45 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9045.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

John Grehan wrote:

>I agree that there is a need for a coherent teaching of evolution, but the
>document did not achieve that for me (others feeling different
>notwithstanding).

Just my two cents, having looked the document over briefly myself - while I
may certainly have missed something, I do think that not enough emphasis
was placed on the demonstrable and quantifiable aspects of evolution, and
too much was simply a matter of saying "So-and-so demonstrated this back in
XXXX". When many folks define evolution as "a change in gene frequencies in
a population over time", it should be rather easy to directly demonstrate
that evolution not only occurs, but is an inevitable feature of life
itself, and yet much of the paper still just reads like a history lesson.
For example, I didn't catch any references, in my reading, to things like
genetic drift or gene flow being modes of evolution, and that sort of
omission is a serious oversight - distinguishing macro- and micro-evolution
(and how one can gather evidence for each) would seem to be essential, no?

Peace,

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-449-2579, fax: 031-441-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82



From sierwald at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG  Wed Apr 22 15:20:58 1998
From: sierwald at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG (Petra Sierwald)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:20:58 
Subject: Time to unsubscribe?
Message-ID: <mailman.9046.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Please let me know if you intend to drown everybody in a flood of
creationism discussions.  If yes, I want to unsubscribe from the list.



***************************************************************
Petra Sierwald, Adjunct Curator - Zoology, Insects
Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Rd @ Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605, USA. E-maiL: psierwald at fmnh.org
Phone: (312)922-9410, ext. 841; Fax: (312)663-5397

http://www.fmnh.org
***************************************************************



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:05:44 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:05:44 
Subject: Time to unsubscribe?
In-Reply-To: <9804222020.AA06911@fmppr.fmnh.org>
Message-ID: <mailman.9047.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, Petra Sierwald wrote:
> Please let me know if you intend to drown everybody in a flood of
> creationism discussions.  If yes, I want to unsubscribe from the list.

Maybe if I remind everyone that the origin of this thread was not
"creationism" nor even "evolution", but rather it was a request (by me)
for comments on the National Academy of Sciences report (sort of a
primer/guide) on how to teach _evolution_ (by natural selection) in the
kindergarten through 12th grades (K-12).

Any systematist who is concerned with biodiversity, with the health of
the systematics (scientific) enterprise, and with the role of evolution
in understanding how our bioworld works --any such subscriber to
Taxacom, was invited to read the report (available online, easy access)
and comment on the adequacy of the work done by NAS.

If you consider that an invitation to be drowned in a flood
of creationism discussions, you would be wrong. If others believe it was
an invitation to drown the list in such a flood, they'd be wrong too.

I have faith that most systematists are interested enough in evolution
and in the adequate representation of their work (that portion of it
that deals with evolution, for example) to our children, that they will
stick around and maybe even contribute their own comments on the NAS
report.
Peter



From jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU  Thu Apr 23 12:04:15 1998
From: jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU (Jeremy J. Bruhl)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 12:04:15 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9048.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear all

Both Richard and Una's comments ring true. Kevin, you might like to =
search back a year or two on the list-server archives for my request for =
comments and posting of comments on this very topic. Funny thing is that =
we did not merge with Zoology and thought (how na=EFve) that the issue =
had gone away, till the Dean wanted/needed to be seen to be =
restructuring our Faculty. So, here we are, a Division in the School of =
Rural Sciences and Natural Resources with Ecosystem Management, Agronomy =
and Soil Sc. and Animal Science and some of Physiology. Zoology has =
split off Molecular and Cellular Biology. Zoo and MCB are in a School of =
Biological Sciences and we are not...!@# I am waiting for the music to =
stop next time to see where we will be. The past and present groupings =
cut across joint programs in study and those who collaborated still do.

Cheers
Jeremy

Dr Jeremy J. Bruhl
Senior Lecturer in Botany
Director, N.C.W. Beadle Herbarium (NE)
Division of Botany
University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351
Australia
jbruhl at metz.une.edu.au
http://www.une.edu.au/botany/jjbres.htm
Phone:  +61 2 6773 2429
Fax:    +61 2 6773 3283



From Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU  Wed Apr 22 14:46:16 1998
From: Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU (Yuri E. Mikhailov)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:46:16 
Subject: Goliathus
Message-ID: <mailman.9049.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

-- [ From: Yuri E. Mikhailov * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Dear collegues,
One friend of mine is very much interested to get for his collection
specimens of Goliathus spp. (Scarabaeidae) and African Cetoniinae. May be
anyone would like to exchange them for Russian Carabidae, Cerambycidae,
Scarabaeidae or other families of Coleoptera.
Sincerely yours,
Yuri Mikhailov



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Thu Apr 23 09:54:25 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998  9:54:25 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9050.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi, everybody.  The Vrba reference that John Grehan asked for the other day is:

Vrba, E. S.  1995.  On the connections between paleoclimate and evolution.
Pp. 24-45 In: Paleoclimate and Evolution, with Emphasis on Human Origins.
Yale University Press, New Haven.  547pp.

There are two domains of "common knowledge" that are not really common and
sometimes confounded in discussions of macroevolutionary pattern.  The
first is that there is no a priori relationship between speciation and
functional differentiation.  The other, dealt with articulately in this
article, is the importance of the interaction between landscape (exogenous)
and genetic (endogenous) influences in adaptive radiations.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
Department of Biology
Boston University
5 Cummington Street
Boston, MA 02215

e-mail: lesk at bio.bu.edu
phone: 617-353-5560
fax:   617-353-6340


"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very
wasteful. How true that is." -- Vice President Dan Quayle



From jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU  Fri Apr 24 09:20:43 1998
From: jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU (Jeremy J. Bruhl)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  9:20:43 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9051.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi

Who has an idea on this one. Ah the joys of common names...Almost reads like sweet potato, but that common name is not in my books!

Cheers
Jeremy

==================================

>Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:10:34 -0700
>From:  Tina McCoy <tmccoy at iea.com>
>Reply-To: tmccoy at iea.com
>Organization: City of Post Falls
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>To:    botany at metz.une.edu.au
>Subject:       (no subject)
>Status:
>
>I am hoping someone within your organization might have an answer to a
>"plant" question I have.
>I was gifted with a bulb I was told was a Voodoo Plant. According to the
>instructions you do not plant or water the bulb. Simply place the bulb
>in a sunny location and watch it grow.  The bulb is about the size of a
>tennis ball and has a skin texture and color similar to a white potato.
>It has one shoot coming from the center that is purple.
>I would really like to know what this is and where it came from.
>Can you assist me?
>Thank you for any help or direction you might give.
>
>Tina McCoy
>7400 E Hauser Lake Road
>Post Falls  ID  83854
>tmccoy at iea.com
>



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Thu Apr 23 16:44:48 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 16:44:48 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
In-Reply-To: <01BD6F62.43E80840@botany-38.une.edu.au>
Message-ID: <mailman.9052.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

How about Sauromatum venosum (aka S. guttatum, Arum cornutum), Araceae
Voodoo Lily... Sunset Western Garden Book says "Bloom has extremely
strong, unpleasant odor for a brief time after opening."

Now, what is Tina up to anyway...?     :>)
Peter

On Fri, 24 Apr 1998, Jeremy J. Bruhl wrote:

> Who has an idea on this one. Ah the joys of common names...Almost
> reads like sweet potato, but that common name is not in my books!

> ==================================
>
> >Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:10:34 -0700
> >From:  Tina McCoy <tmccoy at iea.com>
> >Reply-To: tmccoy at iea.com
> >Organization: City of Post Falls
> >To:    botany at metz.une.edu.au
> >
> >I am hoping someone within your organization might have an answer to a
> >"plant" question I have.
> >I was gifted with a bulb I was told was a Voodoo Plant. According to the
> >instructions you do not plant or water the bulb. Simply place the bulb
> >in a sunny location and watch it grow.  The bulb is about the size of a
> >tennis ball and has a skin texture and color similar to a white potato.
> >It has one shoot coming from the center that is purple.
> >I would really like to know what this is and where it came from.
> >Can you assist me?
> >Thank you for any help or direction you might give.



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Thu Apr 23 19:17:40 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 19:17:40 
Subject: Uloma
Message-ID: <mailman.9053.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear colleagues,

Uloma (Tenebrionidae) was described:

Latreille in Cuvier, Regne anim. ed. 2,5,1829 p. 129 [Gebien 1943]
or
Laporte 1829, p.? [Lawrence 1989]
or
Laporte, 1840 Hist. Nat.II, p.219 [Gebien 1911]


Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

 (home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.



From lammers at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG  Fri Apr 24 06:01:52 1998
From: lammers at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG (Thomas G. Lammers)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  6:01:52 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9054.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 04:44 PM 04-23-98 -0700, Peter Rauch wrote:

>How about Sauromatum venosum (aka S. guttatum, Arum cornutum), Araceae
>Voodoo Lily... Sunset Western Garden Book says "Bloom has extremely
>strong, unpleasant odor for a brief time after opening."

Could also be Amorphophallus rivieri, another aroid, which is grown in a
similar fashion.


Thomas G. Lammers

Classification, Nomenclature, Phylogeny and Biogeography
of the Campanulaceae, s. lat.

Department of Botany
Field Museum of Natural History
Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496 USA

e-mail:    tlammers at fmnh.org
office:          312-922-9410 ext. 317 (voice-mail)
home:     630-759-4280
fax:                312-427-2530
http:    www.fmnh.org/candr/academic_affairs/collection_report/cv_lammers.htm

-----------------------------------------------------
Malapropism of the Day:

"Oh!  What kind of plant is it?"
"It's an 'Audrey Junior'!"
"Well, is that all?  I mean, doesn't it have a scientific name?"
"Yes, of course, but who could denounce it?"

              -- "Little Shop of Horrors" (1960)



From anita at MOZART.CBS.UMN.EDU  Fri Apr 24 08:18:58 1998
From: anita at MOZART.CBS.UMN.EDU (Anita Cholewa)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  8:18:58 
Subject: voodoo plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9055.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Gardeners will probably know the answer to this one.
The voodoo lily is the Amorphophallus rivieri as
Tom mentioned.  It can be found as a "oddball"
in garden cataloges.

ANITA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
                                            / \     /_ _  /                   |
                          _ _             /     \ /     /                     |
                         | \  \         / \     /_ _  /                       |
                         | _\/ \      /     \ /     /                         |
                          \  \/ \     \     /_ _  /                           |
Anita F. Cholewa, Ph.D.    \ _\/ \     \  /     /                             |
Curator / UM Herbarium      \ _\  \     //- - -                               |
Bell Museum of Nat. His.      \__\/    // _  _          Please Visit          |
1445 Gortner Ave.                 \\ //__( )( )              Our              |
University of Minnesota            \//    (_)             Web Site:           |
St Paul,  MN  55108                ||                                         |
  612-625-0215                     ||    http://biosci.cbs.umn.edu/herbarium  |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|



From FLang at SOU.EDU  Fri Apr 24 08:34:22 1998
From: FLang at SOU.EDU (Frank Lang)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  8:34:22 
Subject: voodoo plant -Reply
Message-ID: <mailman.9056.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

When in doubt try Mabberley's " The Plant-book."  I have always known the =
voodoo lily to be Sauromatum venosum [S. guttatum] in the Araceae. =
Mabberley says that it is sold as dry tubers that will produce an =
inflorescence without water. It is Bas Meeuse's favorite plant.  He =
studied it for years.  The appendix of the inflorescence heats up about =
the time the flowers open. The better to spread around the fetid odor of =
the plant, perhaps.  It is mentioned in his book "The Sex Life of =
Flowers."



From Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG  Sun Apr 26 11:20:04 1998
From: Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG (Mammals)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 11:20:04 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9057.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Richard Zander wrote:

 You might write Dept.
Integrative Biology at Berkeley and find out how they preserve a
systematic/organismal approach.

Partly through an active seminar series for the whole
          department ranging widely in topics (2 per week.  - Sylvia
          Hope



From Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG  Sun Apr 26 11:20:03 1998
From: Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG (Mammals)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 11:20:03 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9058.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On 22 April Una Smith wrote:
Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
increasing focus on levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms,
communities) rather than taxonomic groups (plants, animals) in American
universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
are the result, not the other way around.

          and:

By the way, Berkeley has departments of Integrative Biology and Plant
Biology.  They are in separate colleges.

          Integrative Biology at Berkeley even includes Paleotology. I
          think that the merging of biological disciplines has much to
          do with advanced development of evolutionary theory and
          increased perception of common interests among organismal
          biologists.  This is a good thing, but the integration of
          disciplines may go to far if it erodes opportunities for
          students to do basic field work and and careful
          functional/morphological studies, emphasizing metanalysis at
          the expense of original observation.

          On the other hand Integrative Biology at Berkeley manages
          pretty well to integrate molecular and organismal studies.


        ***************************************
        Sylvia Hope                           *
        Dept. of Ornithology and Mammalogy    *
        California Academy of Sciences        *
        Golden Gate Park                      *
        San Francisco, CA, USA 94118          *
                                              *
        email:  sylvia.hope at calacademy.org    *
        phone:  (415) 750-7176                *
        fax:    (415) 750-7137                *
        ***************************************



From sang at PILOT.MSU.EDU  Sun Apr 26 15:52:50 1998
From: sang at PILOT.MSU.EDU (tao sang)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 15:52:50 
Subject: Postdoc in plant molecular systematics at MSU
Message-ID: <mailman.9059.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

<fontfamily><param>Times</param><bigger><bigger>

       A NSF founded two-year postdoctoral position is available to
study plant molecular systematics and evolution, with a focus on
phylogenetic reconstruction of hybrid speciation using sequences of
single-copy nuclear genes.  Please e-mail or send curriculum vitae and
names of two references to:



          Tao Sang

          Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology

          Michigan State University

          East Lansing, MI 48824


          E-mail: sang at pilot.msu.edu

          Web site:
http://www.msu.edu/user/sang/</bigger></bigger></fontfamily>



From aguiar.2 at POSTBOX.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU  Mon Apr 27 09:13:35 1998
From: aguiar.2 at POSTBOX.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Alexandre Pires Aguiar)
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998  9:13:35 
Subject: Stephanidae Homepage
Message-ID: <mailman.9060.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxacomers,

I am glad to announce that my STEPHANIDAE HOMEPAGE (Hymenoptera) is now
available to public access at
http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/stephanids

The page was optimized for NETSCAPE v. 2.02, and you will find some things
out of format if using earlier versions. Please be also aware that many
parts are still unfinished.

While there, please make sure you will not miss the following:

1. A new way of presenting morphometric data.
Path: [Ongoing Projects]->[Revision of the Genus Hemistephanus]->[Material
and Methods]

2. A method specific for collecting stephanids, under [Collecting Stephanids]

I would greatly appreciate receiving your suggestions and commentaries about
the site--from eventual misspellings to other subjects you would like (or
expect) to see in a site like that. Please send messages directly to
aguiar.2 at osu.edu

I hope you like it!

Alexandre Pires Aguiar
The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1157
USA

Phone (614) 292-2750
FAX   (614) 292-7774

Alexandre Pires Aguiar
The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1192
USA

Phone (613) 292-2750
FAX   (613) 292-7774



From bckcdb at ISTAR.CA  Mon Apr 27 10:33:15 1998
From: bckcdb at ISTAR.CA (karstad - schueler)
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:33:15 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9061.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Sylvia Hope wrote:

> Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
> increasing focus on levels of organization
> rather than taxonomic groups in American
> universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
> are the result, not the other way around.
>
>           and:
>
> I think that the merging of biological disciplines has much to do with
> advanced development of evolutionary theory and increased perception
> of common interests among organismal biologists.  This is a good
> thing, but the integration of disciplines may go to far if it erodes
> opportunities for students to do basic field work and and careful
> functional/morphological studies, emphasizing metanalysis at the
> expense of original observation.

* and it may over-ride teaching about the immense range of taxa that
students must know about if they are to think plausibly about
evolutionary theory and diversity.

fred schueler.
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler, Aleta Karstad, Jennifer Helene Schueler.
Bishops Mills, Grenville Co, Ontario, on the Smiths Falls Limestone
Plain: 18TVE 446 687, 44* 52'N 75* 42'W   bckcdb at istar.ca
Natural History Exploration, Interpretation, Illustration, & Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------



From dovpor at NETVISION.NET.IL  Tue Apr 28 11:55:40 1998
From: dovpor at NETVISION.NET.IL (Francis Dov Por)
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 11:55:40 
Subject: Dissatisfied with Gouldian  Aleatory Catastrophism ?
Message-ID: <mailman.9062.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

If you are  a zoologist dissatisifed with  Gouldian dice-play =
catastrophism and looking for a  non-theological alternative, try my  =
unconventional book
"Animal Achievement - a Unifying Theory of Zoology"  on  www.amazon.com

Francis Dov Por   - dovpor at netvision.net.il



From nfj at IRIS.BIOSCI.OHIO-STATE.EDU  Tue Apr 28 16:48:06 1998
From: nfj at IRIS.BIOSCI.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Norman F. Johnson)
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 16:48:06 
Subject: Hymenoptera On-Line Database
Message-ID: <mailman.9063.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

(cross-posted to ENTOMO-L, TAXACOM, PARAHYM)

Dear all,

We'd like to invite you to drop in and take a look at our new "Hymenoptera
On-Line Database" (http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/hymenoptera). This
is the web access page to our "Mopsus Database", a relational database
system that stores information on specimens, classification, taxonomy,
biological associations, and images. The database is an outgrowth
of our "Pelecinus Project", the goal of which was to build the database
and software tools to manage and present all the data related to one taxon.

Hymenoptera On-Line offers information on:

  1. Classification
  2. Taxonomic literature
  3. Images
  4. On -the -fly distribution mapping
  5. Biological associations
  6. Access to external databases

For a quick look at the section of the database that has received most
of our attention for the past year, try beginning with the family Pelecinidae.
Other sections that are fairly well-populated with data on names and literature
are the Proctotrupoidea, Platygastroidea, and Ceraphronoidea.  To see how
the biological associations and external database functions work, try looking
at the genus Sparasion (Scelionidae) and follow it through. We have locality
data for a number of taxa, particularly in the Stephanidae, Monomachidae, and
the genus Acanthoscelio (again, a scelionid).

Obviously, the magnitude of this project exceeds the capabilities of
our group alone. We invite and earnestly desire your contributions and
assistance in building this community resource. Our own priorities at this
time are to:

  1. continue to gather and input names of valid taxa: at the moment
the database contains the names of 31,606 valid species; 4,142 valid genera;
and a total of 46,881 names at all levels.

  2. enter data from specimens as vouchers of distribution
and biological associations (host, prey, pollen, etc.):  we now have
19,739 specimens with data stored.

  3. gather systematic and biological data from the literature
(the database is designed to be able to handle both specimens and unvouchered
records such as observations, label data and literature records): there are
only 1,905 publications in so far.

  4. images: the web is a visual creature and images, sounds,
even movies can be included. This is a black hole begging for the input
of matter!

So, please, check out the site and send us feedback.  We welcome any
assistance in data gathering and all contributors are credited.

--
Norman F. Johnson           Johnson.2 at osu.edu
Associate Professor         Phone: 614-292-6595
Director, Ohio State Univ.  Fax: 614-292-7774
   Insect Collection



From r.g.wilson at READING.AC.UK  Wed Apr 29 10:12:19 1998
From: r.g.wilson at READING.AC.UK (Rupert Wilson)
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:12:19 
Subject: Lectureship in Plant Diversity & Biodiversity Informatics
Message-ID: <mailman.9064.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The University of Reading, UK.
School of Plant Sciences - Department of Botany
Lectureship in Plant Diversity & Biodiversity Informaties

Applications are invited for a new lectureship in botanical aspects of
biodiversity.  Candidates with research interests in biodiversity
information systems and informatics will be welcomed.  Informal
enquiries may be made to f.a.bisby at reading.ac.uk. The department is one
of the centres for the NERC Taxonomy Initiative and part of the RAE 5*
rated School of Plant Sciences.  Candidates should have a PhD.

Salary in the range of 16,045 to 21,016 (Pounds Sterling) pa (Grade "A")
with USS benefits.  The appointment is intended to be "permanent"
subject to satisfactory completion of a three year probationary period.

Apply for further particulars and Application Forms (2 copies) to the
Personnel Office, The University of Reading.  Whiteknights, PO Box 217
READING RG6 6AH.  Telephone (01 18) 931 6771 (answerphone).  E-mail:
Persorineloreading.ac.uk giving name and full address.  See the School
Web Site: http://www.reading.ac.uk/Acadepts/sb/home.html for general
department information.  Closing date 27 May 1998.  Please quote
reference number AC9811.

These details can be found at;
http://www.rdg.ac.uk/Jobs/html/job_vacancies_-_teaching_3.html

--

_____________________________________________________________________________
|     ____            ____    ____
____                                     |
|    /\__/\  /\  /\  /\__/\  /\___\ /\___\                      Rupert
Wilson |
|   /_/_/ / / / / / /_/_/ / /_/_   /_/_
mailto:R.G.Wilson at reading.ac.uk |
|  /\ __\/ / / / / /\___\/ /\___\
\__/\                                      |
| / /\\   /_/_/ / / /     /_/__  ____/ /  Herbarium, School of Plant
Sciences |
| \/  \\  \___\/  \/      \____\ \___\/            University of
Reading, UK. |
| http://www.reading.ac.uk/~sbswilsn/ or
http://www.herbarium.reading.ac.uk/  |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|
--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE
Content-Description: Card for Rupert Wilson
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset="us-ascii"; name="vcard.vcf"

begin:          vcard
fn:             Rupert Wilson
n:              Wilson;Rupert
org:            The University of Reading
email;internet: r.g.wilson at reading.ac.uk
title:          Herbarium Database Manager http://www.herbarium.reading.ac.uk/
x-mozilla-cpt:  ;0
x-mozilla-html: TRUE
version:        2.1
end:            vcard


--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE--



From rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG  Wed Apr 29 16:32:27 1998
From: rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG (Gary Rosenberg)
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 16:32:27 
Subject: Publication dates of Sagra on Cuba
Message-ID: <mailman.9065.1157126725.2564.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The dates of publication of Ramon de la Sagra, Histoire physique, politique
et naturelle de l'Ile de Cuba (1838-1857), in which hundreds of new species
were described, have never been adequately established to my knowledge. The
catalogue of the Library of the British Museum (Natural History) gives a
collation. Stafleu & Cowan (Taxonomic Literature 2) give additional details
for botany.

I have just found that the handwritten ledger of acquisitions of the library
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has entries for the
period 1838 to 1841. Thereafter, library acquisitions were published in the
Proceedings of the Academy. Unfortunately, the information I have found is
presented in terms of livraisons, and I have not found anyway to tell what
subjects, pages or plates were covered in particular livraisons.

The ledger has the following entries:

August 13, 1839, Livraisons 1-7, folio plates, 8vo text.
Undated loose note, Livraisons "8, 9 & 12 & 16 Sheets of text".
September 22, 1840, Livraisons 14-16.
January 13, 1841. Someone tries to determine what parts have arrived, listing
        Mamif. texte & planches complete
        Oiseaux texte complete --- pl. wants 28
        Reptiles texte 15-206 p.  planch wants 29 & 29 bis
        Geographic text 1-144 p. plates 1-8 inclusive
        Mollusques texte 1-15 p. Planches ---
        Foraminiferes texte, I-16. 1-80 p. Planches ---
        Botaniques texte I-X. 1-32 p. Planches ---

The Proceedings list the following:

October 5, 1841, Liv. 21-25
February 1, 1842, Nos. 19-20, 26-29 [The handwritten acquisition book shows
that this is actually February 8, but it was listed with the meeting of
February 1 instead of the next meeting on February 15.]
August 9, 1842, Liv. 32-37
November 1, 1842, Liv. 38-39
February 4, 1845, Liv. 40-51

Please contact me if you additional information on this work, or know of set
that has any original wrappers. Anyone at University of Maryland or Missouri
Botanical Garden, please check your library's copy. The description on OCLC
gives different dates than usual for some parts (e.g. Mollusques starting in
1840 instead of 1841), suggesting that your copy may have internal
information. Several dozen other libraries in the United States hold this
work, and I would appreciate negative information from anyone who checks
their institution's copy or accession records.

Thanks,
Gary
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Rosenberg, Ph.D.                     rosenberg at acnatsci.org
Malacology & Invertebrate Paleontology    gopher://erato.acnatsci.org
Academy of Natural Sciences               http://www.acnatsci.org
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway            Phone 215-299-1033
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195 USA           Fax   215-299-1170



From MZFLJS at MAIL1.MCC.AC.UK  Wed Apr  1 11:46:29 1998
From: MZFLJS at MAIL1.MCC.AC.UK (lindsey stables)
Date: Wed,  1 Apr 1998 11:46:29 
Subject: MANCH loans and visitors
Message-ID: <mailman.8984.1298331038.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Manchester Museum Herbarium - temporary suspension of some loans.

Beginning in August 1998 all specimens (except bryophytes and
lichens) in the Manchester Museum Herbarium, Manchester, England,
will be packed for temporary storage.  Work to be carried out in the
Herbarium will include new shelving, Solander boxes for storage of
all specimens and installation of ventilation ducts for a new
exhibition on the floor below.

During that time, which is anticipated to be twelve months, only
mosses, liverworts and lichens will be accessible; other collections
will be inaccessible to visitors and for loans.  We regret the
inconvenience this may cause, but look forward to the increased
efficiency and improved storage conditions that the changes will
provide.

We are particularly grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the
Wellcome Institute for support in this project.

Lindsey Stables
Curatorial Assistant (Botany)
The Manchester Museum,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. UK
Tel: 0161 275 2672/1
Fax: 0161 275 2676
http://www.mcc.ac.uk/museum/



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Wed Apr  1 07:54:47 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Wed,  1 Apr 1998  7:54:47 
Subject: woody Horning address
Message-ID: <mailman.8985.1298331038.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Toto je zprava ve formatu MIME obsahujmcm nlkolik hastm.

------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-2"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear colleagues,

I am looking for address of Woody Horning (Australia) or his e-mail

Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

 (home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.


------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-2"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-2 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.11"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#82b733>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dear colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I am looking for address of Woody Horning =
(Australia) or his=20
e-mail</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Keep care and be of good=20
cheer<BR>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John=20
Baptiste<BR>of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Coleoptera - Australia, =
Tenebrionidae of=20
World</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Temporaly address =
1998:<BR>EDB.<BR>Husitska=20
15<BR>130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov<BR>CZECH Rep.<BR>ph.: (420+2) =
185</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;(home)<BR>32 Girrawheen =
Ave.<BR>Kiama NSW=20
2533<BR>Australia<BR>e-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:vratislav at bigfoot.com">vratislav at bigfoot.com</A><BR>&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
<A=20
href=3D"mailto:ricardo at login.cz">ricardo at login.cz</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
(before <A=20
href=3D"mailto:Ricardo at compuserve.com">Ricardo at compuserve.com</A>)</FONT>=
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Only after the last tree has been =
cut=20
down,<BR>only after the last river has been poisoned,<BR>only after the =
last=20
fish has been caught,<BR>only then will you find that money can not be=20
eaten.'<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CREE INDIAN=20
PROPHECY.<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00--



From stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU  Thu Apr  2 09:13:13 1998
From: stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU (Stuart Fullerton)
Date: Thu,  2 Apr 1998  9:13:13 
Subject: Dragonfly rearing (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.8986.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The message below is passed on from Zack Prusak, our local ant man, who
has been asked a dragonfly question by the folks out at WDworld. Anyone
who can help him with the rearing and releasing of dragonflies please
respone to him direct, or to me, and I will forward.  thanks.

cheers!! rof

Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Prusak <zjprusak at magicnet.net>
Subject: Dragonfly rearing

Stuart, congrats on the new UCF record for Discothyrea.  They are most
commonly encountered in Berlese samples.  Below is my simple question for
the bugnet...thanks!

Does anyone have any information or experience in the rearing and releasing
(like butterflies) of dragonflies?

Zach



From Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU  Fri Apr  3 17:13:22 1998
From: Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU (Yuri E. Mikhailov)
Date: Fri,  3 Apr 1998 17:13:22 
Subject: message from Yuri Mikhailov
Message-ID: <mailman.8987.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

-- [ From: Yuri E. Mikhailov * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Dear collegues,
Who would like to exchange information about and collection material from
regional faunas of Chrysomelidae. I am now working with large project on
variability regulations and polymorhism of Chrysomelidae (Cryptocephalus,
Chrysolina) of Palaearctics. So information of fauna of this geni is needed.
Also I am collecting a collection for this project and for my systematic
studies. All this not limited with Palaearctic.
My proposal - Russian Chrysomelidae (Urals, Altai, Tuva, ets.), including
mountain and endemic species. (Exept only Alticinae). Any available
information on Russian Chrysomelidae can be send to you as well. Including
my recently published paper on the Chrysomelidae of the Urals - the only
such rewiev and new unexpected findings.
What are your proposals?
Sincerely,
Yuri Mikhailov
e-mail:Yuri.Mikhailov at usu.ru



From alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA  Mon Apr  6 08:58:26 1998
From: alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA (Alec McClay)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998  8:58:26 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8988.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
reference to plant distribution?

Thanks.


Alec McClay
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds

alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada



From johnm at ROM.ON.CA  Mon Apr  6 11:13:54 1998
From: johnm at ROM.ON.CA (John McNeill)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 11:13:54 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8989.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Alec McClay asked about the term "Irano-Turanian".

The Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region has a fairly long history,
but the best accounts are perhaps those by M. Zohary in _Plant Life of
Palestine_, New York (1962) and in a paper "On the geobotanical
structure of Iran" _Bull. Res. Counc. Israel_ 11D: supplement. (1963).

Peter H. Davis in the Introduction to his _Flora of Turkey_ (vol 1 p.
21-24. 1965) says of the region: "In the broad sense the Irano-Turanian
region extends from Inner Anatolia southwards to Palestine and eastwards
to Mongolia ..."

There may be other, more recent and perhaps better, accounts of which I am
unaware.  There may even be an electronic one, though I doubt it.

John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Biogeographic term
Author:  Alec McClay <alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA> at Internet
Date:    06-04-98 09:55


Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
reference to plant distribution?

Thanks.


Alec McClay
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds

alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada



From colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU  Mon Apr  6 17:34:43 1998
From: colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU (Carmine Colacino)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 17:34:43 
Subject: Biogeographic term
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980406085826.007c5d20@mail.aec.arc.ab.ca>
Message-ID: <mailman.8990.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>reference to plant distribution?



Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")

Generally it refers here (in Italy) to plants in arid stations (Ephedra
distachya, Tribulus terrestris, etc.) or in coastal salty areas (Crypsis
aculeata, Salsola kali, Artemisia maritima, etc.) or (the major group) to
plants introduced with the cultivation of wheat (Avena fatua, Ranunculus
arvensis, Melilotus officinale, Matricaria chamomilla, etc.).

[cf. e.g., "Botanica" by C. Cappelletti, 1976]

--------------------------------------------------------------
Dott. Carmine Colacino
Herbarium Lucanum Universitatis Studiorum Basilicatae (HLUC) &
Dipartimento di biologia, difesa e biotecnologie agroforestali
Universita` della Basilicata - Via N. Sauro, 85
I-85100 Potenza, southern Italy
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tel.: ++39 971 474172; Fax: ++39 971 474256
--------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail & URL personale: colacino at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/utenti/colacino/mediterraneo.html
e-mail & URL Herbarium: hluc at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/dipartimenti/herbarium/hluc.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
'a vita e` n'affacciata 'e fenesta



From johnm at ROM.ON.CA  Mon Apr  6 11:46:00 1998
From: johnm at ROM.ON.CA (John McNeill)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 11:46:00 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8991.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Carmine Colacino replied to Alec McClay as follows:

>At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>reference to plant distribution?

>Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
>Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")

While this is true, it should be noted that the
"Irano-Turanian" phytogeographic region is but one that is
represented in the area Carmine Colacino describes.  For
example within the geographical entity of Palestine, Zohary
identifies the "Mediterranean" region near the coast, the
"Irano-Turanian" further inland, and the "Saharo-Sindian"
further east.  John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



From colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU  Mon Apr  6 18:59:41 1998
From: colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU (Carmine Colacino)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 18:59:41 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8992.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>Carmine Colacino replied to Alec McClay as follows:
>
>>At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>>reference to plant distribution?
>
>>Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
>>Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")
>
>While this is true, it should be noted that the
>"Irano-Turanian" phytogeographic region is but one that is
>represented in the area Carmine Colacino describes.  For
>example within the geographical entity of Palestine, Zohary
>identifies the "Mediterranean" region near the coast, the
>"Irano-Turanian" further inland, and the "Saharo-Sindian"
>further east.  John McNeill

Thanks for pointing it out. Actually, my previous definition was
incomplete, as on further search, the Irano-Turanian region extends further
east than previously indicated (by myself, and more exactly, by the work I
referred to).
Regarding Palestine, actually Zohary refers to 4 different regions for
Palestine (cf. eg Zohary: Plants of the Bible): Mediterranean,
Irano-Turanian (Oriental Steppe), Saharan - all temperate - and Sudanian
(tropical Sudanian-Zambesian, e.g. Aravah Valley).

A more precise definition of the Irano-Turanian region can be found in vol.
1 of "Centers of Plant Diversity", in the chapter on South West Asia and
the Middle East:

"The Irano-Turanian covers 2,400,000 km2, extending eastwards from Anatolia
(Asiatic Turkey) to include most of Syria, Iran and noth-east Afghanistan,
northern Iraq and parts of Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. Outside south-west
Asia it extends northwards into Central Asia (including most of Kazakhstan)
and eastward to the Tien Shan and Altai Mountain chains. ... It is
topographically very diverse, including deserts, low plains, high plateaux
and high mountains."

This time we should all agree, I believe :-)

Greetings.


--------------------------------------------------------------
Dott. Carmine Colacino
Herbarium Lucanum Universitatis Studiorum Basilicatae (HLUC) &
Dipartimento di biologia, difesa e biotecnologie agroforestali
Universita` della Basilicata - Via N. Sauro, 85
I-85100 Potenza, southern Italy
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tel.: ++39 971 474172; Fax: ++39 971 474256
--------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail & URL personale: colacino at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/utenti/colacino/mediterraneo.html
e-mail & URL Herbarium: hluc at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/dipartimenti/herbarium/hluc.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
'a vita e` n'affacciata 'e fenesta



From leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV  Mon Apr  6 14:17:26 1998
From: leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV (Detlef Leipe)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 14:17:26 
Subject: job offer at NCBI/GenBank
In-Reply-To: John McNeill <johnm@ROM.ON.CA> "Re: Biogeographic term" (Apr  6,
              11:13am)
Message-ID: <mailman.8993.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear All,

I have appended a job offer to the end of this message. The
position would be most beneficial for somebody who has a
background in traditional systematics but also an interest in
sequence databases, molecular and computational biology. For
more information on the position you can call or email me but
formal applications should go to Dr. Landsman's address
below.

Sincerely,

        Detlef Leipe


Detlef Leipe, Ph.D.
NCBI (GenBank)
National Library of Medicine
NIH, Bldg 38A, Rm 8N-805     email:leipe at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike          phone: 301-435-5999
Bethesda, MD 20894, USA      Facs:  301-480-9241

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Taxonomist Position at NCBI/GenBank

The Taxonomy Project at the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI) in the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
is looking for a postdoctoral scientist with a minimum of 3
years of experience in metazoan systematics. The NCBI/GenBank
taxonomy group attempts to follow phylogenetic principles
wherever possible and it would be preferable if the candidate
were familiar with this approach. The successful candidate
will be required to devote 50% of her/his time to the work
associated with maintaining the taxonomy database. This
includes look-ups in the literature for taxonomic schemes,
keeping contact with our outside taxonomy advisors, checking
for the validity of names, and adding new organisms to the
existing taxonomy database. The other 50% of the time will be
available for independent research.

The initial salary will be between US$ 35,000-50,000 and will
depend on the successful applicants experience. The initial
appointment will be a commitment for two years and could be
extended. Starting dates are negotiable but appointments will
be made as soon as possible.

Applications can be sent via mail, e-mail or faxed to the
address below.

David Landsman, Ph.D.

Chair, Search Committee
NCBI (GenBank)
National Library of Medicine
NIH, Building 38A, Room 8N807      E-mail :  landsman at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike                Phone  :  301-496-2477 x223
Bethesda, MD 20984, USA            Fax    :  301-480-9241

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



From lcjbrick at ANTELOPE.WCC.EDU  Mon Apr  6 14:45:50 1998
From: lcjbrick at ANTELOPE.WCC.EDU (Jerry Bricker)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 14:45:50 
Subject: Weight of Human Head
Message-ID: <mailman.8994.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

A student sent this request to me.  Anyone out there know the answer?


JB

>> What is the proportion of the weight of the human
>head to that of the human
>> body? This is a serious question.

-------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Bricker
Department of Biology
Laramie County Community College
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007-3299
Phone: (307) 778-1139
Fax: (307) 778-1395
e-mail: lcjbrick at antelope.wcc.edu
Homepage: http://www.science.lcc.whecn.edu/biology/mainpage/biology.html

 "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?  I'm halfway through my
fishburger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner."

--Lynda Montgomery



From Les at   Tue Apr  7 09:13:53 1998
From: Les at  (Les at )
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998  9:13:53 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8995.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>To: Alec McClay <alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA>
>From: lesw at albanyis.com.au (Les Watson)
>Subject: Re: Biogeographic term
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>reference to plant distribution?

You will find a comprehensive account of `The floristic regions of the
world', with maps, in Appendix II of:


    Takhtajan, A.L. (1969). `Flowering Plants, Origin and Dispersal'.
    (Translation from the Russian by C. Jeffrey). Oliver and Boyd,
Edinburgh.

Dr. Les Watson
78 Vancouver Street                     Email: lesw at albanyis.com.au
Albany, WA 6330, Australia              Phone: +61 98 41 6181



From GUIDO at BR.FGOV.BE  Tue Apr  7 10:25:05 1998
From: GUIDO at BR.FGOV.BE (GUIDO RAPPE)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 10:25:05 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8996.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

> Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" =
in
> reference to plant distribution?
>=20
> Thanks.
>=20
> Alec McClay
> Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds
>=20
> alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
> Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
> Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada

Interesting related literature be the contributions of J. L=E9onard on th=
e
Flora and vegetation of the deserts of Iran, published as a series of
separate volumes "Contribution =E0 l'=E9tude de la flore et de la v=E9g=E9=
tation
des d=E9serts d'Iran". Available at the National Botanic Garden of
Belgium. Most recent and last volume: Fascicule 10(2), 1992.
--=20
Guido Rapp=E9

National Botanic Garden of Belgium
Domein van Bouchout=20
B-1860 Meise
Belgium

tel +32 2 269 39 05
fax +32 2 270 15 67

Email: guido.rappe at br.fgov.be

!!Visit the website=20
BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES IN BELGIUM
http://www.br.fgov.be/BIODIV/



From dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE  Tue Apr  7 12:24:05 1998
From: dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE (Paul DESSART)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 12:24:05 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
Message-ID: <mailman.8997.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,

   This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which rests
in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
    For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
    Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
Paul.
Paul Dessart,
Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
29, rue Vautier,
B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique



From leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV  Tue Apr  7 09:54:01 1998
From: leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV (Detlef Leipe)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998  9:54:01 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
In-Reply-To: Paul DESSART <dessart@KBINIRSNB.BE> "sciurus/Eichhorn" (Apr  7,
              12:24pm)
Message-ID: <mailman.8998.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I haven't brought my etymological dictionary to the states but
I have looked it up a couple of years ago and if I remember
correctly than this is derived from an old German adjective
'eik' which describes the quickness or suppleness of
movement and a noun 'horni' which has been a collective for
small mammals in old german (mostly carnivors like marder,
iltist and the like, I think).

So, Eichhorn/Eichhoernchen, translates to something like
the 'quick small mammal'. After 'eik' and  'horni' have been
lost from the German language, folk ethymology has shifted
the spelling of the word to make it similar to words that
still exist in German but it is neither named for the
oak tree nor for having a horn.

As I said, this is from memory. I would await corraboration
from somebody who acutally has a dictonary.


   Detlef






On Apr 7, 12:24pm, Paul DESSART wrote:
> Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
> Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,
>
>    This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
> it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
> useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
> German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
> dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
> Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
> skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
> all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which rests
> in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
>     For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
> sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
>     Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
> Paul.
> Paul Dessart,
> Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
> a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
> 29, rue Vautier,
> B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
>-- End of excerpt from Paul DESSART



From fschroe1 at GWDG.DE  Tue Apr  7 16:42:06 1998
From: fschroe1 at GWDG.DE (Florian Schroeder)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 16:42:06 
Subject: sciurus/ Eichhoernchen
Message-ID: <mailman.8999.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Paul Dessart,
I try to help in the problem of revealing the origin of the german name
for squirrel " Eich horn/ Eichhoernchen":
Synonymes are the german words " Eichkaetzchen or Eichkatze" ( from
Katze= Felis catus).
The word "Eichhoernchen" derived from the old german word "eihhurno" and

this comes from an older word "aikwernan" which is composed of "aik"=
Eiche=Quercus and an very old root stem with the meaning of "
Frettchen"= ferret ( e.g. in latin viverra).
I got this informations from the famous german dictionary "Wahrig
Deutsches Woerterbuch, 6. edition, Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag" and I
hope it is helpful for your problem.
With regards

--
Florian Schroeder
Institut fuer Zoologie und Anthropologie
und Zoologisches Museum
Abtlg.Morphologie u. Systematik
Berliner Str. 28
D-37073 Goettingen
Germany
Phone +49+551 395456
e-mail fschroe1 at gwdg.de



From alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA  Tue Apr  7 22:52:47 1998
From: alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA (Alec McClay)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 22:52:47 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.9000.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Thanks to all those who provided information on the Irano-Turanian region.
Alec McClay
Research Scientist,Biological Control of Weeds

Alberta Research Council
PO Bag 4000, Vegreville, Alberta, CANADA T9C 1T4

Tel:    (403) 632-8207
Fax:    (403) 632-8612
Email:  alec at aec.arc.ab.ca



From jjarvie at JAYAPURA.WASANTARA.NET.ID  Wed Apr  8 10:42:22 1998
From: jjarvie at JAYAPURA.WASANTARA.NET.ID (James Jarvie)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998 10:42:22 
Subject: Indonesian biodiversity databases
Message-ID: <mailman.9001.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear Taxacomers,
=20
A project, started recently within the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, =
is commencing work to set up a National Biodiversity Information Network =
(NBIN) for Indonesia.
=20
We are seeking to hook up with data providers who have taxonomic =
databases relevant to Indonesia.  If any are interested, I would be =
grateful for information on:
=20
1.    What sort of taxonomic data are available?
2.    What metadata standards (if any) do you use?  Can an example be =
provided?=20
3.    Do you have active links between your data and a GIS facility?=20
=20
All answers to this address! =20
=20
All best,
=20
Jim


Jim Jarvie
Ecologist/Biodiversity Specialist
National Biodiversity Information Network
Research and Development Center for Biology
Indonesian Institute of Sciences
Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 18
Bogor 16002
Indonesia

T: +62 (0251) 321039=20

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 =
HTML//EN">
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#c8e0d8>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dear Taxacomers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>A project, started recently within the Indonesian =
Institute of=20
Sciences, is commencing work to set up a National Biodiversity =
Information=20
Network (NBIN) for Indonesia.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>We are seeking to hook up with data providers who =
have=20
taxonomic databases relevant to Indonesia.&nbsp; If any are interested, =
I would=20
be grateful for information on:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What sort of taxonomic data are =

available?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What metadata standards (if =
any) do you=20
use?&nbsp; Can an example be provided?</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you have active links =
between your=20
data and a GIS facility?</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>All answers to this address!&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>All best,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Jim</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Jim Jarvie<BR>Ecologist/Biodiversity =

Specialist<BR>National Biodiversity Information Network<BR>Research and=20
Development Center for Biology<BR>Indonesian Institute of =
Sciences<BR>Jl. Ir. H.=20
Juanda 18<BR>Bogor 16002<BR>Indonesia<BR><BR>T: +62 (0251)=20
321039</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140--



From mj00kg at LION.RBGKEW.ORG.UK  Wed Apr  8 11:04:17 1998
From: mj00kg at LION.RBGKEW.ORG.UK (Mark Jackson)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998 11:04:17 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
Message-ID: <mailman.9002.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

We intend to seek funding to mark-up the Richard Spruce archives
held here at Kew, using the recently announced XML standard. The
content of the archive is quite diverse - it contains plant
collecting lists, journals, correspondence, etc.

Our aim is to create a digital text archive which can be processed
into various output media, but we are also interested in the
potential of using marked-up text as a searchable resource alongside
traditional databases.

Before we do, has anyone got any experience of marking up botanical
text using XML (or more likely SGML)? Are there any other projects
out there, perhaps to formulate a botanical DTD?

Mark Jackson
Applications Development Manager
Hanover House,
Kew Green,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
0181-332-5716
M.Jackson at lion.rbgkew.org.uk



From una.smith at YALE.EDU  Wed Apr  8 09:23:36 1998
From: una.smith at YALE.EDU (Una Smith)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998  9:23:36 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
In-Reply-To: <199804081004.LAA03563@lion.rbgkew.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9003.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I was not aware of a new XML standard;  can you provide a reference?

I have used LaTeX (a popular mark-up language) for years, and before
that I used GML and GML derivatives, usually for botanical subjects.
As far as I know, botanical subjects present no special problems.
What issues are you concerned about?

For what it's worth, Allen Press marks up the journals it publishes
(including American Journal of Botany) in SGML and is now offering
some of these journals online in PDF and HTML formats converted from
the source SGML files.  See http://www.allenpress.com/ for more info.

        Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
                                Yale University
        una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106



From sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU  Wed Apr  8 08:46:00 1998
From: sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU (Stuart G. Poss)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998  8:46:00 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
Message-ID: <mailman.9004.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

see

http://www.w3.org/XML/


Una Smith wrote:
>
> I was not aware of a new XML standard;  can you provide a reference?
>
> I have used LaTeX (a popular mark-up language) for years, and before
> that I used GML and GML derivatives, usually for botanical subjects.
> As far as I know, botanical subjects present no special problems.
> What issues are you concerned about?
>
> For what it's worth, Allen Press marks up the journals it publishes
> (including American Journal of Botany) in SGML and is now offering
> some of these journals online in PDF and HTML formats converted from
> the source SGML files.  See http://www.allenpress.com/ for more info.
>
>         Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
>                                 Yale University
>         una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000                        703 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000



From dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE  Fri Apr 10 12:22:07 1998
From: dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE (Paul DESSART)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 12:22:07 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9005.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear all,

A few days ago I discovered that my Eudora-software signed automatically my
messages; as I added the signature myself with copy-paste, many of my
messages had two signatures: this short message just to inform everybody
that this was due to ignorance, not to vanity...
Paul.
Paul Dessart,
Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
29, rue Vautier,
B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique



From stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU  Fri Apr 10 08:33:00 1998
From: stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU (Stuart Fullerton)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998  8:33:00 
Subject: extinction distinction
Message-ID: <mailman.9006.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dr. John Hitt
President
University of Central Florida

Dear Dr. Hitt:


You and the University of Central Florida are to be congratulated.

Yesterday I went over to the South West corner of the campus to check a
research site just North of Lake Lee. Much to my surprise I find a new
road under construction, and vast areas under de/con-struction for
parking.

Unfortunately this area includes a trap site that I have used for a number
of years. Even more unfortunately this site is the "type trap site and
locality" for a new species of parasitic wasp recently described and
published by Dr. Howard E. Evans:  _Bakeriella mira Evans_.

This particular creature of God is known only from 6 specimens collected
from this specific trap site in 5 years. Nothing is known about its life
habits, prey, or general ecology. After 7 years of continuous campus
survey, as well as in other areas surrounding the campus, this species of
living creature has not been found elsewhere. Now its only known living
area is gone, For all intents and purposes it has become extinct until it
can be "rediscovered" elsewhere.

A second species, also a creation of God, has also gone this way. This is
also a parasitic wasp, recently described and published by Dr. Massimo Olmi
-Dryinus fullertoni Olmi_.  This particular species also has its "type
trap site and locality" listed as the UCF campus. Unfortunately it also
has suffered the same fate. This particular area of campus has recently
been converted into a parking lot and a parking garage is abuilding. It
too, for all intents and purposes has become extinct until it can be
"rediscovered" elsewhere. Likewise absolutely nothing is known about its
life habits, prey, and general ecology.

So much for consideration of the "biodiversity" of the University of
Central Florida campus. We have what is no doubt the unique distinction of
being the only university that has had two new species of living creatures
discovered, named, described, and published with the campus being the
"type" locality, within three years, --- AND had its habitat destroyed.

The distinction of extinction is that of the University of Central Florida
- of which you are our titular head.

I will continue to do what I do best - bug stuff. I understand that the
university is growing, that we will continue to grow, and that this is
considered by many to be progress. However, some days it is very very had
for me and I find it difficult to try and inspire young folks to become
interested in, concerned about, and mindful of being good stewards of
this world.  There is so very very much that we do not know, even about
our own back yard.

Sincerely yours,




Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Sat Apr 11 11:02:10 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 11:02:10 
Subject: NAS Publ. on Teaching Evolution
Message-ID: <mailman.9007.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Excerpts from a new publication of the National Academy of Sciences,
of probably interest to many Taxacomers. Go to the URL's indicated
for more details. And then, of course, post your comments to Taxacom
on whether you think NAS did a good job, etc.!

(Will NAS ship copies in plain brown wrappers to teachers in select
school board districts across the U.S.?  :>)

Peter

   Linkname: Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science
        URL: http://www2.nas.edu/whatsnew/2882.html
       size: 259 lines

   Date: April 9, 1998
      ...cut, cut...
   Learning About Evolution Critical for Understanding Science

   WASHINGTON -- Many public school students receive little or no
   exposure to the theory of evolution, the most important concept in
   understanding biology, says a new guidebook from the National Academy
   of Sciences (NAS). Teachers are reluctant to teach evolution because
   of pressures from special-interest groups to downplay or eliminate it
   as part of the science curriculum. Moreover, some are advocating that
   creationism be taught in public schools -- even though the Supreme
   Court ruled in 1987 that creationism is a religious idea that cannot
   be mandated in public education.
     ...cut, cut...
   Science teachers can use the new publication in conjunction with the
   National Science Education Standards -- voluntary guidelines
   introduced three years ago by the National Research Council to ensure
   that all students achieve scientific literacy through improving what
   is taught, how it is taught, and how students are assessed. The
   science standards stress the importance of evolution because
   understanding the theory is essential to mastering basic biology and
   learning how science works. Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of
   Science also provides criteria for evaluating school science programs
   and the content and design of instructional materials.
      ...cut, cut...
   ______________________________________________________________________
   *Copies of Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science are
      ...cut, cut... The complete
   guidebook is also available on the World Wide Web at
   <www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98>.
      ...cut, cut...
   Copyright S 1997 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights
   reserved.



From egrchryso at TAMU.EDU  Mon Apr 13 13:10:22 1998
From: egrchryso at TAMU.EDU (Edward G. Riley)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 13:10:22 
Subject: info on compactors
Message-ID: <mailman.9008.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Taxacomers:

As part of long-range planning effort, we are investigating the feasibility
of using compactors to house our present entomological collections and
anticipated growth.  I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has recent
experience in designing and installing compactor systems for their
collections.  I welcome comments on experiences with various companies that
supply compactor systems in North America, and your views on the pros and
cons, various pit-falls to be avoided, etc. You may respond directly to me.
Thanks ...

Edward G. Riley
Assistant Curator (Collections Manager)
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX  77843
Phone (409) 845-9711
FAX (409) 845-6305



From fewlessg at GBMS01.UWGB.EDU  Tue Apr 14 09:41:46 1998
From: fewlessg at GBMS01.UWGB.EDU (Gary Fewless)
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998  9:41:46 
Subject: info on compactors
In-Reply-To: <b158114c00021004d186@[165.91.184.24]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9009.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I'd be interested in any response to this question also.

On Mon, 13 Apr
1998, Edward G. Riley wrote:

> Taxacomers:
>
> As part of long-range planning effort, we are investigating the feasibility
> of using compactors to house our present entomological collections and
> anticipated growth.  I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has recent
> experience in designing and installing compactor systems for their
> collections.  I welcome comments on experiences with various companies that
> supply compactor systems in North America, and your views on the pros and
> cons, various pit-falls to be avoided, etc. You may respond directly to me.
> Thanks ...
>
> Edward G. Riley
> Assistant Curator (Collections Manager)
> Department of Entomology
> Texas A&M University
> College Station, TX  77843
> Phone (409) 845-9711
> FAX (409) 845-6305
>



From nawaz at KACST.EDU.SA  Thu Apr 16 12:53:05 1998
From: nawaz at KACST.EDU.SA (Abdul Ghafoor Ali Nawaz)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:53:05 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9010.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxacomers,

I would like to know the view point of members of the list on consequences
of hybridization and hybrid speciation. Could one speculate origin of a
species on the basis of morphological differences and resemblances or
characters shared by a suspected (or to be described )new species with its
possible  parents.
How could an evidence to such a speculation be provided? Could this evidence
be provided from the geographic distribution (allopatry or sympatry) of the
suspected parents of the new hybridogenous species.


Abdul Ghafoor
Scientific Research Specialist,
Herbarium,
Research Institute of Natural Resources & Environment,
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology,
P.O.Box 6086, Riyadh-11442, Saudi Arabia

Fax: 00-966-1-4813611
E-mail: nawaz at kacst.edu.sa



From S.Helfer at RBGE.ORG.UK  Thu Apr 16 11:29:53 1998
From: S.Helfer at RBGE.ORG.UK (Stephan Helfer)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:29:53 
Subject: Edinburgh Herbarium (E) new FAX number
Message-ID: <mailman.9011.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxonomists

With the installation of a new telephone system the fax number for
the Edinburgh Herbarium (E) has changed. Please take a note of our
new numbers:

Fax: +44 (0)131 248 2901
Herbarium Office direct 'Phone number: +44 (0)131 248 2855

the General Enquiries number [+44 (0)131 552 7171] and email address
[herbarium at rbge.org.uk] are unchanged.

Sincerely
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO
|Senior Mycologist - MSc Course Director
|
|Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR,
|Scotland UK
|
|http://www.rbge.org.uk
|
|phone: +44 (0)131 248 2865 (direct digital line)
|fax:   +44 (0)131 248 2901
|
+------------------------------------------------------------------



From melot at ITN.IS  Thu Apr 16 13:58:09 1998
From: melot at ITN.IS (Jacques Melot)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 13:58:09 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
In-Reply-To: <3.0.2.32.19980407122405.0068a804@d5100.kbinirsnb.be>
Message-ID: <mailman.9012.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

=A0Le 7/04/98, =E0 10:24 +0000, nous recevions de Paul DESSART :

>Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,
>
>   This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
>it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
>useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
>German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
>dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
>Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
>skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
>all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which res=
ts
>in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
>    For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
>sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
>    Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
>Paul.
>Paul Dessart,
>Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
>a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
>29, rue Vautier,
>B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique


[Une version accentuee est donnee a la suite.]

Le mot allemand actuel << Eichhorn >> (fr. ecureuil), vient du norrois <<
ikorni >> (ce qui est encore le nom actuel en islandais moderne) qui a
donne l'anglo-saxon << acweorna >>, << acwern >>, le moyen neerlandais <<
eencoren >>, le moyen saxon << ekeren >>, << ekhorn >>, le vieux haut
allemand << eihhurno >>, << eihhorno >>. Le mot << ikorni >> devrait
provenir du germanique commun << *aikwerna >> ou << *ikwerna >>.
La premiere partie du mot, aik- ou ik-, est le plus souvent consideree
comme derivee du norrois << eikinn >>, dont le sens est << se mouvoir ave=
c
velocite >>, << industrieux >>, << qui ne connait pas de repos >>, cf. gr=
ec
<< aigis >> (tempete), vieil indien << ejati >> (se remuer), slavon <<
igrati >> (sautiller), indo-europeen << *aig >> (remuer, agiter).
La seconde partie du mot, -werna, correspondrait au vieux celte *vever, a=
u
lituanien (une langue qui a garde de remarquables archaismes) vovere, au
vieux prussion vevare, au slavon veverica, au grec berberitza, au perse
varvarah et au latin viverra (furet) et, qui sait, peut-etre meme le mot
francais << vouivre >> (cf. Marcel Ayme).
La deuxieme partie du compose allemand (<< -horn >>), une forme
d'etymologie populaire, n'est pas anterieure au XIe siecle. Elle a servi
d'exemple a la formation d'autres noms d'animaux : Backenhorn, Flatterhor=
n,
etc., C'est la famille des Sciuridae (Hornchen).
Les dictionnaires etymologiques francais admettent generalement que <<
ecureuil >> vient du grec par le latin << skioyros >> (qui se fait de
l'ombre avec sa queue) > lat. << sciurus >>, qui, par une metathese qui
s'explique par la difficulte de prononciation, a donne << scurius >>, d'o=
u
le diminutif << scuriolus >> > vieux francais << escuriuel >> (Chretien d=
e
Troyes, 1175).

[Version riche]

Le mot allemand actuel =AB Eichhorn =BB (fr. =E9cureuil), vient du norroi=
s =AB
=EDkorni =BB (ce qui est encore le nom actuel en islandais moderne) qui a=
 donn=E9
l=B9anglo-saxon =AB acweorna =BB, =AB acwern =BB, le moyen n=E9erlandais =
=AB eencoren =BB,
le moyen saxon =AB ekeren =BB, =AB ekhorn =BB, le vieux haut allemand =AB=
 eihhurno =BB,
=AB eihhorno =BB. Le mot =AB =EDkorni =BB devrait provenir du germanique =
commun =AB
*aikwerna =BB ou =AB *ikwerna =BB.
La premi=E8re partie du mot, aik- ou ik-, est le plus souvent consid=E9r=E9=
e
comme d=E9riv=E9e du norrois =AB eikinn =BB, dont le sens est =AB se mouv=
oir avec
v=E9locit=E9 =BB, =AB industrieux =BB, =AB qui ne conna=EEt pas de repos =
=BB, cf. grec =AB
aigis =BB (temp=EAte), vieil indien =AB ejati =BB (se remuer), slavon =AB=
 igrati =BB
(sautiller), indo-europ=E9en =AB *aig =BB (remuer, agiter).
La seconde partie du mot, -werna, correspondrait au vieux celte *vever, a=
u
lituanien (une langue qui a gard=E9 de remarquables archa=EFsmes) vovere,=
 au
vieux prussion vevare, au slavon veverica, au grec berberitza, au perse
varvarah et au latin viverra (furet) et, qui sait, peut-=EAtre m=EAme le =
mot
fran=E7ais =AB vouivre =BB (cf. Marcel Aym=E9).
La deuxi=E8me partie du compos=E9 allemand (=AB -horn =BB), une forme d=B9=
=E9tymologie
populaire, n=B9est pas ant=E9rieure au XIe si=E8cle. Elle a servi d=B9exe=
mple =E0 la
formation d=B9autres noms d=B9animaux : Backenhorn, Flatterhorn, etc., C=B9=
est la
famille des Sciuridae (H=F6rnchen).
Les dictionnaires =E9tymologiques fran=E7ais admettent g=E9n=E9ralement q=
ue =AB
=E9cureuil =BB vient du grec par le latin =AB skioyros =BB (qui se fait d=
e l=B9ombre
avec sa queue) > lat. =AB sciurus =BB, qui, par une m=E9tath=E8se qui s=B9=
explique
par la difficult=E9 de prononciation, a donn=E9 =AB scurius =BB, d=B9o=F9=
 le diminutif
=AB scuriolus =BB > vieux fran=E7ais =AB escuriuel =BB (Chr=E9tien de Tro=
yes, 1175).

   Salutations amicales,

Jacques Melot, Reykjavik
melot at itn.is



From Athanasios at   Fri Apr 17 02:54:29 1998
From: Athanasios at  (Athanasios at )
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998  2:54:29 
Subject: Miniacina miniacea
Message-ID: <mailman.9013.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear taxacomers,

This beauty is a common epiphyte on Posidonia rhizomes and other substrata
in the Aegean. Sometimes it is found in great numbers on the beach
colouring the sand.
Can anybody tell me the distribution of the species ? is the genus monotypic ?

I have recently observed it on a collection from the Bahamas. Is it the
same species ?

Many thanks in advance.

Athanasios



From R.Hyam at RBGE.ORG.UK  Fri Apr 17 11:53:02 1998
From: R.Hyam at RBGE.ORG.UK (ROGER HYAM)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 11:53:02 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9014.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Abdul Ghafoor and others,

I have done some thinking about this problem with regard to the genus
Rhododendron where hybridisation is rife.

I believe one first has to ask the question 'What is a hybrid?'

The mundane definition of this is that it is a cross between two
species but as species boundaries are often a matter of opinion and
may certainly be debated this is not much use. I therefore define a
hybrid in a cladistic sense - as a cross between two non-sister taxa
(i.e. taxa that would form a paraphyletic group).

If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.

If the patents of a hybrid are non-sisters (i.e. can be demonstrated
to have different evolutionary histories) then the hybrid can truely
be said to be a hybrid.

All this becomes clear if you draw out the trees. Something I won't
attempt to do on e-mail.

The problem with all this theory is that it relies on an analysis
having been carried out on a data set that excludes all the hybrids.
This is tricky!! The only suggestion I have here is to use intuition
and leave out obviously phenetically intermediate taxa. This is not
a solution to the problem just a means of getting on with something.

Whether a species is of hybrid origin can not be detected
retrospectively using phenetic or cladistic analyses alone, really
one needs to employ the techniques of population/molecular biology
and cytology to answer this kind of question.

At the alpha-taxonomic level one could say that it doesn't really
matter. Describe every distinct entity as a taxon and, unless there
is very good circumstantial evidence (e.g. sympatric distributions
and deformed pollen) keep speculation on the origins of the group in
a comments or notes section of the publication. Some one can always
put an X infront of the name at a later date.

Hope this helps out. I am sure that there are taxacomers who will
strongly disagree with part or all of what I have said and voice
different opinions.

Roger.



**************************************
Dr Roger Hyam
Royal Botanic Garden,
Inverleith Row,
Edinburgh, EH3 5LR
Scotland, U.K.
Tel. 0131 248 2893 (direct)
Tel. 0131 552 7171 (switchboard)
Fax. 0131 248 2901
http://www.rbge.org.uk
*************************************
Please Note New Phone & Fax Numbers !
*************************************



From dgeiger at SCF-FS.USC.EDU  Fri Apr 17 08:57:11 1998
From: dgeiger at SCF-FS.USC.EDU (Daniel L. Geiger)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998  8:57:11 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <4BE4D53677@rbg-3.rbge.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9015.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>I believe one first has to ask the question 'What is a hybrid?'

Good point to start with.

>I therefore define a
>hybrid in a cladistic sense - as a cross between two non-sister taxa
>(i.e. taxa that would form a paraphyletic group).
>
>If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
>taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
>these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
>taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.

Here I disagree. I work in the marine snail family Haliotidae (= abalone,
ormers). On the West American coast pretty much all 7 "species" hybridize,
at least most of them have been documented in laboratory cross
fertilization studies and a good number of them have been observed in the
field, though in low frequencies. So then if all species hybridize and the
fact that they form a monophyletic group, that then means that at least
some are sister species; hence we have one west coast species according to
the above definition. This is clearly nonsense in the abalone, where
postive Darwinian selection has been demonstrated for some sperm acrosomal
protein (Vacquier and co-workers at SCIRPPS, UCSD). The animals as well as
the shells are distinct with rather little variation.

So I think the non-sister species argument is certainly powerfull, but it
shall not exclude hybrids of "good" sister species. A frequency argument
may be helpful to understand a particular case. Where we have some
estimates on the frequency in abalone it is on the order of 0.5%, i.e.,
rather low.

I second the point that cladistic or phenetic methodologies cannot identify
reticulate speciation, so some other approach needs to be taken.

Daniel Geiger

*****************************************************************************
Daniel L. Geiger
Department of Biological Sciences
Allan Hancock Foundation Building 233
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
USA

phone  (213) 740 5783
fax    (213) 740 8123
e-mail dgeiger at usc.edu
www    http://nhm.org/~dgeiger



From jcclark at CSUPOMONA.EDU  Fri Apr 17 20:54:25 1998
From: jcclark at CSUPOMONA.EDU (Curtis Clark)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 20:54:25 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <4BE4D53677@rbg-3.rbge.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9016.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 11:53 AM 4/17/98 +0000, ROGER HYAM wrote:
>If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
>taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
>these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
>taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.


Even if the hybrids are sterile?

And consider the following case:


A--+
   +--+
B--+  +----
      |
C-----+

By your measure, a hybrid between A and B would demonstrate that they are
conspecific, but a hybrid between A and C, since they are not sister taxa,
would be a hybrid. But if A and B are conspecific, then C is the sister to
the species A+B, so A x C is not a hybrid. Following this method, one could
reduce much of the Orchidaceae to synonymy.


----------------------------------------------------------------
Curtis Clark         http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
Biological Sciences Department             Voice: (909) 869-4062
California State Polytechnic University      FAX: (909) 869-4078
Pomona CA 91768-4032  USA                  jcclark at csupomona.edu



From mcall at SUPERAJE.COM  Sat Apr 18 07:49:15 1998
From: mcall at SUPERAJE.COM (Don McAllister)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  7:49:15 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9017.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hybridisation per se does not indicate that the two entities are conspecific.
Hybrids can be sterile.  Hybridisation with fertile offspring can be so rare
that there is no significant genetic interchange between the two species which
are thus able to maintain their distinctions.  Hybridisation may occur when the
environment is severely disturbed by humans or where the numbers of one species
are so depleted by humans that there is little opportunity to find a mate of
the same species, but be absent in undisturbed areas.  About 1% of the sucker
family, Catostomidae (a fish family) are saide to be hybrids in the U.S., but
the species remain distinct.

don

Curtis Clark wrote:

> At 11:53 AM 4/17/98 +0000, ROGER HYAM wrote:
> >If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
> >taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
> >these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
> >taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.
>
> Even if the hybrids are sterile?
>
> And consider the following case:
>
> A--+
>    +--+
> B--+  +----
>       |
> C-----+
>
> By your measure, a hybrid between A and B would demonstrate that they are
> conspecific, but a hybrid between A and C, since they are not sister taxa,
> would be a hybrid. But if A and B are conspecific, then C is the sister to
> the species A+B, so A x C is not a hybrid. Following this method, one could
> reduce much of the Orchidaceae to synonymy.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Curtis Clark         http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
> Biological Sciences Department             Voice: (909) 869-4062
> California State Polytechnic University      FAX: (909) 869-4078
> Pomona CA 91768-4032  USA                  jcclark at csupomona.edu



--
Don E. McAllister             /& Canadian Centre for Biodiversity
Ocean Voice International          /Canadian Museum of Nature
Box 37026, 3332 McCarthy Rd. /Box 3443, Station D
Ottawa, ON K1V 0W0, Canada    /Ottawa, ON K1P 6P4
URL: http://www.ovi.ca  E-mail: mcall at superaje.com
 (or: ah194 at freenet.carleton.ca) Tel: (613) 264-8986, Fax: (613) 264-9204



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Sat Apr 18 09:36:43 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  9:36:43 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980417205425.0075db68@mail.intranet.csupomona.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9018.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
else out there been thinking about this?

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
lesk at bio.bu.edu
617-353-5560 office
617-353-6965 lab
617-353-6340 fax



From ret at PLUTO.NJCC.COM  Sat Apr 18 09:54:51 1998
From: ret at PLUTO.NJCC.COM (Rodham E. Tulloss)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  9:54:51 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9019.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

It would be very nice if Ron Petersen (Univ. Tenn.) would add to this
discussion regarding fungi.  He has several interesting examples of taxa
that are treated as species and have been separated from each other geo-
graphically for ...well...very long periods of time, but have some
"reproductive memory" and can mate with probabilities that he has
established.  The mating produces viable, fertile offspring.  Some of his
percentages are very low...like 4% if I remember (between an Australian
and a North American species in Omphalotus).

Rod Tulloss



From atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX  Sun Apr 19 14:03:56 1998
From: atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX (A. Contreras-Ramos)
Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 14:03:56 
Subject: Rio Longo, Bolivia.
Message-ID: <mailman.9020.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Members of Taxacom,

Several dobsonfly specimens (Megaloptera) were collected from Bolivia
(probably in the early 1900's) by a collector named H. Fassl. and are
part of the N. Banks collections at the MCZ.  One of the localities is
"Rio Longo", a river I have not been able to locate in any of the atlases
that I have checked.  I would appreciate receiving any information on
where in Bolivia (province, if possible) is that river located.  Since
this is of no general interest please reply directly to me.  Thanks very
much in advance.

-----------------------------------------------------
Atilano Contreras-Ramos, Ph.D.
Instituto de Biologia, U.N.A.M.; Depto. Zoologia;
Apdo. Postal 70-153; 04510 Mexico, D.F.; MEXICO.
tel. oficina (525) 622-5705, -5706; exs. 286, 287
fax (525) 550-0164; tel. casa (525) 528-2636
atilano at mail.ibiologia.unam.mx
species at servidor.unam.mx
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/eukaryotes/animals/
arthropoda/hexapoda/megaloptera/megaloptera.html
-----------------------------------------------------



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Mon Apr 20 07:25:24 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  7:25:24 
Subject: Genera Strongylium 1819 and 1809 PROTOZOA
Message-ID: <mailman.9021.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear colleagues,

I am looking for reference on genus Strongylium Ditmar 1809 Protozoa,
[there is common used name Strongylium 1819 Kirby for Tenebrionidae
(Coleoptera) is in this case preoccupied and therefore probably and has to
be replaced.]

I will be please for any comment about this Protozoa genus, too.

Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

(home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.



From Athanasios at   Mon Apr 20 04:22:06 1998
From: Athanasios at  (Athanasios at )
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  4:22:06 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9022.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
>Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
>of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
>way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
>shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
>may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
>and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've
>been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
>else out there been thinking about this?
>
>Les Kaufman
>Boston University Marine Program
>lesk at bio.bu.edu

What seems important to me, is the group you deal with. In marine algae,
particularly corallines and other calcified groups, there are many species
postulated to be living fossils. Many of these organisms have a sexual life
history and have apparently coexisted with 'related' species for million of
years. The fact that they are distinct today suggest that after all the way
that Hennig (& Croizat ?) had in mind may be true (for these groups at
least).



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 09:43:38 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  9:43:38 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9023.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Some comments regarding notes by Les Kaufman on Croizat and Hennig and hybrids.
I have not read everything of Croizat's, and have not concentrated on his
considerations of species, but I am not aware that anything Les stated
about the complexity of landscape fragmentation and speciation would
conflict with Croizat's position. I do recall that Croizat was very
critical of cladistic splitting being representative of actual speciation
in many cases where he considered a polycotomous division to be more true
to the event even though the character relationships of the descendants
could be resolved to a dichotomous level.

The concept of "webbing at the node" would also appear to be in close
agreement with Croizat's concept of differentiated ancestor. Heads (Syst
Zoo 1985 pp 205-215) identified distinguished between the concepts of
differentiated and uniform ancestor. To the former he identified Croizat,
Simpson and Rosa, and the latter Darwin, Hennig, Brundin, Mayr, Nelson, and
Platnick.

On page 188 of Space, Time, Form, Croizat illustrates a model of
form-making ("speciation" in which the rearrangements of the landscape is
distinctly uneven. When considering the process of differentiation
(form-making) Croizat emphasizes character recombination of an acestor that
is already partially differentiated, both biologically and
geogeographically. The idea that vicariants may achieve the level of
semispecies, then anastomose back and forth would seem to be compatible
with Croizat. On page 184 Crioizat refers to hybridization of populations
within a species complex as part of the normal process of differentiation.

Heads (1990, New Zealand Journal of Zoology 16(4) p. 578), provides an
illustration of complex ancestral differentiation which he refers to as
hybrid swarms which may form and deform, with the possiblity that the
"crystallisation" of such swarms may result in descendant taxa with a very
high potential to hybrize. The concept of "hybrid swarm" and "webbing at
the node" would appear to have much in common, particularly in the
reference to node, since nodes are biogeographically and phylogenetically
complex points of differentiation in space and time.

John Grehan


>>A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
>>Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
>>of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
>>way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
>>shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
>>may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
>>and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've
>>been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
>>else out there been thinking about this?
>>
>>Les Kaufman
>>Boston University Marine Program
>>lesk at bio.bu.edu
>
>What seems important to me, is the group you deal with. In marine algae,
>particularly corallines and other calcified groups, there are many species
>postulated to be living fossils. Many of these organisms have a sexual life
>history and have apparently coexisted with 'related' species for million of
>years. The fact that they are distinct today suggest that after all the way
>that Hennig (& Croizat ?) had in mind may be true (for these groups at
>least).



From "=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu  Mon Apr 20 16:19:19 1998
From: "=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu ("=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 16:19:19 
Subject: VACANT POSITION
Message-ID: <mailman.9024.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

<bold>Associate Professor in Molecular Systematics (Zoology)

</bold>

The Zoological Museum at the University of Oslo is seeking qualified

applicants for the above position.  The Museum will strengthen its
research

activities in systematic zoology, and is seeking a person that can
build a

strong research group in molecular systematics. The position is placed
in

the Section for Marine Invertebrates and has the curatorial
responsibility

for scientific collections of several invertebrate taxa, among which
the

collection of crustaceans is of particular international importance.


The successful applicant must have a strong scientific record in
molecular

systematics, and preferably in the systematics of invertebrates.
Practical

experience with various molecular methods will be required.  He or she

should also have curatorial experience. Documented qualifications in

teaching, administration and museum-related activities will also be

considered.


=46urther information about the museum and the available position can be

obtained at http://www.toyen.uio.no/zoomus/, or by contacting professor
Jan

T. Lifjeld (e-mail: j.t.lifjeld at toyen.uio.no). The application should

contain a full CV and copies of until ten scientific papers for
specific

evaluation. The application should be sent in three copies to the

Zoological Museum, University of Oslo, Sars gate 1, N-0562 Oslo.
Closing

date: 7 May 1998.

=20



From kinman at HOTMAIL.COM  Mon Apr 20 07:59:02 1998
From: kinman at HOTMAIL.COM (Ken Kinman)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  7:59:02 
Subject: IMPORTANT PAPER: SYNOPSIS & TEXT
Message-ID: <mailman.9025.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

**TITLE: Another Woesian Myth Exposed As Simplistic and Homoplasious,
      Woese's "Stanier Memorial" Self-Serving Authoritarian Sophistry,
      And Finally Regrouping For "A True Renaissance In Bacteriology"
                         by Kenneth E. Kinman
      Citation: Journal of MetaBioSystematics, No. 9 (April 1998)
**SYNOPSIS: (1) Bacterial Diversity and Classification;(2) Mis-
conceptions on the distribution of ester and ether-linked lipids;
(3) Its Implication for the new "HYDROGEN HYPOTHESIS" of eukaryotic
origins; (4) the core of Lake's "Eocyte" theory; (5) Woese's totally
inappropriate choice of occasion ("Stanier Memorial" Lecture) to
criticize Stanier and self-servingly declare a Woesian "Renaissance";
(6) the derived nature of thermophilic life; (7) Whole Genome Sequencing
(what organisms should have higher priority?); and
(8) Trees of Life (Three Domains are simplistic and harmful).
        * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
***FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE:
     Before delving into parallel evolution and the homoplasious nature
of the ether lipid "character" (they actually do occur in Eubacteria,
even the branched-chain type, despite common belief), I would first like
to thank the NCBI taxonomy staff for quickly acting after my paper of
last October (text on my Internet homepage at:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074  ; the text of other relevant
papers are also found there).  Synergistes was not only removed from
Family Clostridiaceae, but from Firmicutes (my Posibacteracea)
altogether, and placed in a "group" of its own.  I was also encouraged
by the January 1998 paper of Hugenholtz et al. (Journal of Bacteriology,
180:366-376) which shows Synergistes branching next to the
Proteobacteria, and thus supports the view of my 1996 and 1997 papers.
These may seem like trivial matters at this point in time, but this
group may prove to be very important in fleshing out a true eubacterial
phylogeny.  Neither "Proteobacteria" (which is probably not holophyletic
anyway), nor Synergistaceae, are nearly as peripheral and unimportant to
bacterial evolution as present gene trees would indicate.  Just more
Woesian distortions that must be addressed.
     More importantly at the present time, however, both NCBI's taxonomy
and the Hugenholtz paper demonstrate a widespread reluctance to adopt a
stable Linnaean classification for bacteria, like the one I presented in
my 1994 book (The Kinman System: Toward A Stable Cladisto-Eclectic
Classification of Organisms; see footnote).  Instead we have a very
uncoordinated conglomeration of "groups", common names, formal names
(some poorly conceived), and "Odyssean" genera (wandering about without
a home).  Do we have to wait for years in a confusing limbo until
another edition of Bergey's Manual finally restores some order?  I think
this would be a mistake (especially since the last edition apparently
made little impact upon molecular biologists anyway), and my formal
classification of 1994 needs relatively little modification (although I
would like to expand it down to family, or even generic level).
     In any case, the genus Synergistes does have a home, namely Family
Synergistaceae Kinman, 1996.  And now that its distinctiveness is being
acknowledged, I here propose that it constitutes a new higher taxon,
Order Synergistales ord. nov.  I would also note that other distinctive
orders were proposed in the 1994 book, including Fibrobacterales,
Thermodesulfobacteriales (which have branched-chain ether-linked lipids,
as will be discussed below), and Verrucomicrobiales.   The latter name
has also been independently proposed by others and is gaining gradual
acceptance, and it is distinctive enough that I placed it in its own
Class Verrucomicrobea (in The Kinman System, 1994).
     WARNING:  I am definitely not advocating a mindless or rapid,
wholesale increase in higher taxa of bacteria.  On the contrary, I
believe it is Woese's "Three Domain Theory" which poses the added risk
of massive and unwarranted taxonomic inflation (on top of all the other
problems it is causing).  Hugenholtz et al.'s many "candidate divisions"
provide an unsettling omen that overreaction to newly discovered
bacterial diversity could initiate an excessive taxonomic pendulum
swing, particularly in the most distorted part of Woese's misrooted
phylogenies, namely in my Class Togobacteracea (where most of these
"candidate divisions" are popping up).  These extremes of homeless
genera on the one hand, and numerous candidate divisions on the other,
can only cause a confusing smoke screen that will prevent a stable
taxonomy and delay the inevitable realization of just how distorted and
damaging Woesian bacterial phylogenies actually are.
  >>>The Lipid Misconception---Another Woesian "Simplistication"<<<
     It is clearly not in the interests of Woese et al. to elaborate on
matters than run counter to their paradigm, thus allowing a continuation
of the resulting widespread notion that membrane lipids support a
"monophyletic" (holophyletic) Metabacteria ("Archaebacteria").  I
believe the scientific community at large must take a closer look.
Ether-linked lipids (sometimes even the branched-chain diether types)
actually do occur in Eubacteria (in Aquificales, Thermotogales,
Thermodesulfobacteriales, and no doubt other groups).  Furthermore,
halophilic Metabacteria contain some "ester-linked" lipids and
functional fatty acid synthetases (see Kamekura and Kates, 1988; in the
book Halophilic Bacteria, Rodriques-Valera, ed.).
     This distribution of lipids (along with the homoplasious tendency
of thermophiles to "prefer" ether-linked lipids to the less thermostable
ester-linked types) leads me to believe that many primitive Metabacteria
must have possessed various lipid combinations utilizing two linkage
types and two stereochemistries.  Furthermore, most of the
recently-discovered, non-thermophilic extant members of this group (in
both mesophilic and psychrophilic habitats) are only known from their
rRNA.  Once cultured, some of them could be shown to contain a weak
"ester-linked" composition (like the halophiles) or possibly even
stronger such compositions (especially if some of them lack strong
thermophiles in their ancestry--a possibility worth noting once one
ignores the Woesian myth of a thermophilic origin of life).  I will not
discuss murein here, but I would surmise that there was probably also a
fairly smooth transition between forms containing murein and
pseudomurein (probably no need to invoke convergence for this
character).
     For those who are caught up in 20 years of Woesian circular
reasoning, please do not be tempted to view ether-linked lipids as
"primitive" based upon their distribution in Woese's Three Domain trees.
As a former organic chemist myself, I can assure you that living systems
(and their organic constituents) have a great deal of difficulty
surviving thermophilic conditions.  It took a tremendous amount of
biochemical "pre-adaptation" (including ether lipids in most cases) for
thermophilic life to evolve (the hyperthermophiles in particular).
Years from now scientists will not only chuckle when they look at
Woesian "Trees of Life" (especially the eubacterial parts), but
philosophers of science will wonder why the primitiveness of thermophily
was ever taken seriously at all, much less for decades.
     Although I have not fully evaluated the recent and fascinating
"Hydrogen Hypothesis" for the origin of the eukaryotic cell (Martin and
Muller, 1998; Nature, 392:37-41), I would suggest to others (as I have
already suggested to them) a possible alternative to their solution of
the lipid problem addressed in their Figure 2(d).  In view of what is
related above, I think a more parsimonious solution would be that the
Metabacterial ("Archaebacterial") host of the first eukaryote (assuming
it was the host) may well have had a composite lipid membrane profile
all along.  It is even conceivable it had a predominantly ester-linked
lipid membrane.  The point is that we don't have to invoke reversals and
other unparsimonious explanations every time there are incongruencies
with Woese's ideas.  Once we begin really challenging the underpinnings
of Woesian ideas and phylogenies, many of the incongruencies and
puzzling paradoxes will simply disappear.
     In any case, once we have begun culturing the many "environmental"
members of Euryarchaea and Crenarchaea, we will be in a better position
to deal with the Metabacterial incongruencies more effectively.  This is
especially true for the latter, because Crenarchaea are just another
(but formal) name for Dr. Lake's "eocytes".  Although I disapproved of
his eocyte trees in the 1980's (which made Eubacteria too derived and
metabacterial groups too deep and archaic), his more recent eocyte trees
are much improved.  I still strongly object to viewing Eubacteria as a
"monophyletic" (holophyletic) group, but this is a widespread Woesian
misconception that is rarely challenged (but I continue my research in
trying to set that all straight).  However, I certainly wasn't about to
throw the baby out with the bathwater and have always embraced that part
of Lake's eocyte theory that views Crenarchaea (eocytes) as the
metabacterial (archaebacterial) component of the eukaryotic cell.  I
showed Eukaryota evolving from Crenarchaea in my recent book (The Kinman
System; see footnote) since they were the major component of the
chimaeric eukaryotic cell.  My own continuing studies of Woese's 16S
rRNA data further strengthens my belief in this central tenet of the
"eocyte" theory.
     >>>>Woese's Self-Serving Sermon At Stanier's Expense<<<<
     The Roger Y. Stanier Memorial Lecture of 11 March 1993, given by
Carl Woese, must have been rather uncomfortable (if not shocking) for
many microbiologists.  What a terrible choice of occasion to be branding
the Stanier years as "The Dark Age" and self-servingly declaring a
Woesian "Renaissance".  If I had then been aware of this and other
examples of such poor judgment (both socially and scientifically), I
would have never even begun my attempts to correspond with him in 1994.
This is doubly true in retrospect since I have not received a single
word of correspondence in return, and not even the courtesy of any
reprints.  Perhaps it is fitting that a bully in the pulpit is finally
beginning to get a taste of his own medicine.
     I firmly believe that (1) the lipid misconception discussed above,
(2) the reluctance to embrace the core of Lake's eocyte theory, and (3)
the clumsy, disinformational nature of present bacterial
classifications, are all further cases of prokaryotic evolution being
obscured by an intransigent refusal to let go of a much greater
misconception (namely a thermophilic origin of life and/or a
thermophilic cenancestor of all extant life), and we all know where that
misconception originated!  The discovery in 1977 that we had been
overlooking two important and closely related groups of Metabacteria
(Euryarchaea and Crenarchaea) was unfortunately ladened with a heavy
burden of erroneous notions, including: (1) a fundamental primitiveness
of thermophily, (2) "archaic" primitiveness of Eukaryota and
Metabacteria, and (3) "monophyly" (holophyly) of three simplistic
Urkingdoms.  I have finally concluded that Woese may never let go of his
Three Urkingdoms (a.k.a. Three Domains), in spite of contrary evidence
and criticism.  However, although rRNA sequences are extremely important
(and I rely on them heavily myself), it is foolhardy to view the Woesian
"Tree of RIBOSOMES" as a true "Tree of LIFE".  There are clearly Three
Domains of Ribosomes, but to simplistically declare Three Domains of
Life is not only illogical (as eminent scientists have repeatedly
noted), but also far more damaging than any of them ever imagined.
Eventually the Tree of Ribosomes and the Tree of Life will be one and
the same (but not with Three Domains).
     The reclassification of prokaryotes is progressing in spite of all
this, but we would undoubtedly be much further along without 20 years of
unresolved and unchallenged baggage. Perhaps microbiology would have
experienced a much easier transition if Metabacteria had been discovered
a year or two later by someone else.  I was truly convinced that my 1994
classification (of prokaryotes in particular) would facilitate, perhaps
even invigorate, the process of reevaluation.  Instead I have been very
disappointed by the lack of response to, understanding of, or even
willingness to consider, my contributions thus far.  Whether the
situation in bacteriology is remedied sooner or later, efficiently or
not, we may be shaking our heads 10 years hence in disbelief how clouded
our thinking has been.  The Three Urkingdoms were like boils (in need of
lancing) back in 1990.  Regretfully they were instead bandaged over,
spin-doctored into Three Domains, and allowed to fester ever since.
     And the claims in 1996 that the Methanococcus jannaschii genome
supports the Three Domain Theory seem to be little more than wishful
thinking in the form of nonsensical and unscientific sensationalism,
once again reflective of Woesian authoritarian sophistry.  Complete
genome sequencing is still too expensive to be making such unwise
choices as to which organisms should receive higher priorities.  For
those who think my tone has been too irreverent of late, it was at this
point (August 1996) that my frustration and concern became more like
indignation, especially when my letter to Science was not printed (even
though I expressed my reactions quite diplomatically).  Although never
published, that letter appears on my Internet homepage at:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074    Judge for yourself whether it
was worth printing.
     Ironically it was Woese himself who complained in 1993-94 that this
"is the way of paradigms"---that challenges to them are ignored and/or
scoffed at.  It seems to me this is a flagrant case of the pot calling
the kettle black, ignoring Mayr, Lake, myself, and others.  Microbiology
had every right (even a duty) to question Woese's paradigm, for he
appears to have used his good fortune (to be the first to discover
Metabacteria) to promote a lot of damaging nonsense and stubbornly
refuse to accept evidence to the contrary.  And it is not just Stanier
who has been unjustly criticized in this process, but also C.B. van
Niel, Ernst Mayr, and others.  Unfortunately when a significant portion
of his house of cards finally begins to crumble, it will be others who
will have to pick up the pieces.  The circular reasoning alone may have
done so much damage that it will probably take decades to assess its
scope.
     Recognition for my own work (much less funding for it) may never
come (especially for the bacteriological aspects).  In which case, I may
well continue to live impoverished and struggling to continue my
research.  But I will never regret having stood up for what I believe
and practice real scientific thinking.  It has been suggested to me that
I should give up this stressful and financially draining crusade and
redirect my talents elsewhere.  It may eventually come to that, but I
wouldn't feel right if I abandoned the effort when there seems to be at
least some progress being made.  If funding should eventually be found,
the spark would remain, but the ability to publish in peer-reviewed
("real") journals could temper my polemic, reduce the frustration, and I
might even become positively diplomatic once again.  Those who know me
realize that this is my natural inclination.  But if for some reason
this is that last of my papers on bacteriology, I wish you all luck in
the difficult period ahead.  Someone has to clean up the mess, and if
you kill or starve the messenger, he can't be around to help set things
right.
     Finally, although none of us knows for certain what tomorrow will
bring, the nature of my own work leaves me even more uncertain than most
what the future holds.  With that in mind, I would like to note that one
of the most often quoted papers in bacteriology is Woese, 1987, but I
wonder how many biologists have read it carefully.  As time goes on,
many of the assumptions and conclusions in that paper, look more and
more erroneously circular (if not outright fanciful).  If I don't get a
chance to expose the many other fallacies in that paper, I hope others
will do so, and that there will be less tendency in the future to quote
that paper as being so authoritative.  Viewing it as a firm foundation
on which to build seems ill-advised.  The real evolutionary story of
life has often taken twists and turns that fool those whose notions are
too simplistic, and whose minds are not open enough to accept credible
challenges.  Intransigence is unacceptable and is eventually exposed,
but unfortunately it is too often neither a timely nor efficient
process.  Biology, and bacteriology in particular, needs to take a hard
look at what has actually happened in the last 20 years, and make some
changes that will improve its future prospects.
                                           Kenneth E. Kinman
                                           P.O. Box 1377
                                           Hays, Kansas  67601
*****FOOTNOTE:  Kinman, K.E. 1994.  The Kinman System: Toward A Stable
Cladisto-Eclectic Classification of Organisms (Living and Extinct; 48
Phyla, 269 Classes, 1,719 Orders).  Published September 1994.
     Many libraries do not yet have this book.  However, it is available
(to libraries and individuals) from the author for $38.00 U.S. postpaid
(outside the U.S. add $5.00).  Libraries can access bibliographic
information about the book through OCLC/WorldCat.  An 8-page extract is
also available, describing and illustrating the new system, including
the cladisto-eclectic classification of the 48 phyla of organisms (cost
of book extract is $5.00 U.S. postpaid; $6.00 elsewhere).  The proceeds
help to fund further research.
Kenneth E. Kinman, P.O. Box 1377, Hays, Kansas  67601-8377
e-mail:   kinman at hotmail.com
      or  kinman at scientist.com
      or  kinman at usa.net
homepage:  www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074
     Feedback (positive or negative) on the above paper is encouraged
and welcome.  Thanks.  [Please forward this paper to any of your
colleagues who you think might find it of interest.]


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



From jsolomon at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG  Mon Apr 20 12:04:24 1998
From: jsolomon at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG (Dr. Jim Solomon)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 12:04:24 
Subject: Missouri Botanical Garden Bibliographic Database Now Available
Message-ID: <mailman.9026.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The Missouri Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the development of a
web interface to allow queries of the Vascular Plant Bibliography used by
all TROPICOS databases to link literature-based project information.
There are presently nearly 54,000 bibliographic items available.

Bibliographic citations are added to this database based on the needs of
individual Garden projects.  Thus, the literature for certain geographic
regions or taxonomic groups may be extensive, while other areas or groups
may be limited.  Queries of the database are made in real time, and
reflect the instantaneous content of the database.  Each html document
returned is custom built for that request.

To make a query of the bibliographic database type the senior authors
last name (Smith) or a keyword (Poa).  The number of 'hits' may be
restricted by adding the year of publication (1989), decade (198), or
century (19) after the author's name (e.g. Smith 1987 or Poa 198).

The keywords used in the database are not extensive, but represent major
categories of research (ecology, morphology), important research topics
(heavy metal, bog), scientific names (genera or families), and geography
(country or state).  Keywords are singular (chromosome, leaf).

In this release (rev. 1.5) the following information is provided when
present: 1) Author(s) of the publication, 2) Date, 3) Title of the
article, 4) Journal or book title, 5) Volume and pagination, and 6)
Keywords.

Data may be accessed through the Garden's home page under W3TROPICOS at:

http://www.mobot.org

or directly at:

http://mobot.mobot.org/Pick/Search/vbib.html
***************************************************************
* James C. Solomon            e-mail: solomon at mobot.mobot.org *
* Curator of the Herbarium    tel: (314) 577-9507             *
* Missouri Botanical Garden   fax: (314) 577-9596             *
* P.O. Box 299                                                *
* St. Louis, Missouri  63166                                  *
***************************************************************



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 13:27:11 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 13:27:11 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b160b04e5ece@[146.186.19.180]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9027.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I want to thank John Grehan for his note.  Some things fade faster than
others as years go by since reading something.  It is probably useful to
clarify when one is thinking more from the perspective of landscape
effects and more from the perspective of the resulting phylogenies.  In my
case it was the former, and Vrba's (1995) recent paper in the book on
African palaeoclimatology well captures the situation as it appears in
East African aquatic systems, with slight caveats attendent to the
translation from a terrestrial to an aquatic bias.  Now we might
wonder how taxa vary in the duration of "hybrid swarm" or "webbed"
phases.  Vrba obviously recognized that they would vary, reflecting
landscape effects to different degree, and running on different clocks.
Indeed, variation in the architecture of adaptive radiation (given
common circumstances) could be one
of the most distinctive features of higher taxa.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
lesk at bio.bu.edu
617-353-5560 office
617-353-6965 lab
617-353-6340 fax



From lbg at INFINET.COM  Mon Apr 20 14:46:03 1998
From: lbg at INFINET.COM (Linda Gottfried)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 14:46:03 
Subject: invitation
Message-ID: <mailman.9028.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Attn: AAM Attendees:

Roundtable Discussion On Storage

Viking Metal Cabinet Company Inc., is having a luncheon on the future of =
museum collection storage. We have several seats available for those of =
you who might be interested in sharing your thoughts and comments.

DATE: Wednesday , May 13,1998
TIME: From 12:15-1:30
LOCATION: To be announced


We only have a few spaces left- Email me as soon as possible for a space =
reservation.
( linda at vikingmetal.com)


Note: Museum Cabinets previously produced by The Interior Steel =
Equipment Co., Inc.



From cukmf4 at PANTHER2.PEN.EIU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 17:50:36 1998
From: cukmf4 at PANTHER2.PEN.EIU.EDU (Kevin Mathe Franken)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:50:36 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9029.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I forwarded this to myself from my hotmail account so I wouldn't have to
type it all over again.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 14:33:14 PDT
From: kevin franken <kfranken at hotmail.com>
To: cukmf4 at panther2.pen.eiu.edu
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments

Will someone on this listserv let me know if the listserv received this
message. I have never used this listserv before. Please send this to AS
MANY people and listservs that can help.  Thanks.

Hi. My name is Kevin Franken.  I'm a senior Environmental Biology major
here at Eastern Illinois University.  Currently, there is a proposal to
merge the Botany and Zoology Dept's into the Dept of Biological
Sciences.  The vast majority of the Botany faculty here OPPOSE it
because they fear the high-quality Botany program here will suffer (and
for many other reasons).  In past mergers at other universities, it has
been said that Botany faculty and course offerings DECLINE after such
mergers.

What I'm looking for is DATA/EVIDENCE to support that idea.  Do you or
anyone you know have access to such data or can get a hold of such data
showing a decline of Botany faculty and course offerings AFTER a merger
with a Zoology Dept?  If you have such info, please show the Botany
faculty #'s and course offerings BEFORE the merger and AFTER.  If yes,
could you send that information to me via email or regular mail?  My
fellow students and I are trying to bring evidence to our Student
Senate, Faculty Senate, and administration.  Such info. would be very
useful.

Do you have any advice for our movement here?  Do you know any
names/emails of faculty at other universities who I could contact
regarding this?

Also, EIU currently offers a BS degree in Botany and Zoology and
Environmental Biology, if the merger goes through, only a BS in
Biological Sciences will be offered, with an option in Environmental
Biology, and a concentration in Botany (and other areas).  I don't think
a degree in Botany is the same thing as a concentration in Botany, do
you?

Thank you for your time.


Kevin Franken
103 Taylor Hall
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-2003

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



From atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX  Mon Apr 20 19:40:40 1998
From: atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX (A. Contreras-Ramos)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 19:40:40 
Subject: Rio Longo--Thanks.
Message-ID: <mailman.9030.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

THANKS VERY MUCH (y muchas gracias tambien!) to all that kindly responded
with suggestions about where Rio Longo might be in Bolivia.  The most
plausible explanation (and according to Dr. Newton from the Field Museum
of Chicago) seems to be that the name is a misspelling of  "Rio Zongo in
La Paz province, 15* 43' S, 67* 41' W...  A handwritten German "L" and
"Z" can beeasily confused...".

Sincerely,

-----------------------------------------------------
Atilano Contreras-Ramos, Ph.D.
Instituto de Biologia, U.N.A.M.; Depto. Zoologia;
Apdo. Postal 70-153; 04510 Mexico, D.F.; MEXICO.
tel. oficina (525) 622-5705, -5706; ex 286;
fax (525) 550-0164.
atilano at mail.ibiologia.unam.mx
species at servidor.unam.mx
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/eukaryotes/animals/
arthropoda/hexapoda/megaloptera/megaloptera.html
-----------------------------------------------------



From rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU  Tue Apr 21 08:24:18 1998
From: rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU (Richard Jensen)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998  8:24:18 
Subject: Dalla Torre and Harms
Message-ID: <mailman.9031.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Does anyone know if the genus/family numbers in Dalla Torre and Harms are
available in electronic form?  We are having to reconfigure an herbarium
database and we need access to these numbers.  We would rather not have
to input all of them by hand, if we can avoid it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |



From bryo at COMMTECH.NET  Tue Apr 21 09:19:28 1998
From: bryo at COMMTECH.NET (Richard Zander)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998  9:19:28 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9032.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Long ago, botanists at Duke University split their Biol. Sci. dept into
Zoology and Botany Depts. This has been a considerable success, and I
think you might write to them for additional info and background. The
problem nowadays with integrating Zoology and Botany is not that Botany
is squelched (so much) but that both become test tube oriented.
Botanists start calling themselves "Plant Scientists" and collections
are orphaned. It's happened locally at SUNY/Buffalo, though there are
some notable exceptions (e.g. UC/Berkeley). You might write Dept.
Integrative Biology at Berkeley and find out how they preserve a
systematic/organismal approach.


Kevin Mathe Franken wrote:
> Currently, there is a proposal to
> merge the Botany and Zoology Dept's into the Dept of Biological
> Sciences.  The vast majority of the Botany faculty here OPPOSE it
> because they fear the high-quality Botany program here will suffer (and
> for many other reasons).  In past mergers at other universities, it has
> been said that Botany faculty and course offerings DECLINE after such
> mergers.
>
> What I'm looking for is DATA/EVIDENCE to support that idea.  Do you or
> anyone you know have access to such data or can get a hold of such data
> showing a decline of Botany faculty and course offerings AFTER a merger
> with a Zoology Dept?  If you have such info, please show the Botany
> faculty #'s and course offerings BEFORE the merger and AFTER.  If yes,
> could you send that information to me via email or regular mail?  My
> fellow students and I are trying to bring evidence to our Student
> Senate, Faculty Senate, and administration.  Such info. would be very
> useful.


************************************************
Richard H. Zander
Curator of Botany, Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14211 USA
bryo at commtech.net   voice: 716-896-5200 ext. 351
************************************************



From una.smith at YALE.EDU  Wed Apr 22 10:41:16 1998
From: una.smith at YALE.EDU (Una Smith)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:41:16 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <353CC710.7FE2@commtech.net>
Message-ID: <mailman.9033.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On Tue, 21 Apr 1998, Richard Zander wrote:

>Long ago, botanists at Duke University split their Biol. Sci. dept into
>Zoology and Botany Depts.

I wasn't aware that they were ever a joint department.  How long ago did
the split happen?  Both Duke departments are strong, but I'm not sure
they are strong because they are separate.

>The problem nowadays with integrating Zoology and Botany is not that
>Botany is squelched (so much) but that both become test tube oriented.

Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
increasing focus on levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms,
communities) rather than taxonomic groups (plants, animals) in American
universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
are the result, not the other way around.

Apparently, Yale was among the first universities to merge botany and
zoology into an integrated biology department.  For at least a decade
after that, organismal biology was strong at Yale.  But gradually the
focus shifted, to the point where the organismal biologists had little
in common with the rest of the department.  The other faculty, though
working on a broad variety of problems and systems, share a lot of the
same technology and methodology, and have similar types of laboratory
groups, with many people all working on small parts of a very specific
large problem.  They are utterly dependent on the continued receipt of
big research grants or collaborations with industry.  In contrast, the
organismal biologists tend to have far smaller research groups, little
coordinated research within groups, and can function with little or no
money.  Another difference:  perhaps 10% of the graduate students had
sufficient training in organismal biology to be teaching assistants in
organismal courses, but these courses represented 50% of the demand for
graduate TAs.  All of these factors, and others, caused enough stress
within the department in the past decade or so that the department has
(this year!) split into Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology;
and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

By the way, Berkeley has departments of Integrative Biology and Plant
Biology.  They are in separate colleges.

As far as undergraduate degrees are concerned, I think what you learn is
far more important than the name of your major.

                                NEW ADDRESS as of February 1998:
        Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
                                Yale University
        una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106



From pkoleff at XOLO.CONABIO.GOB.MX  Wed Apr 22 11:30:22 1998
From: pkoleff at XOLO.CONABIO.GOB.MX (Patricia Koleff)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 11:30:22 
Subject: World Wide Specimens
Message-ID: <mailman.9034.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Colleges,

        We received very interesting information on the total number
of specimens holded on herbaria of the world, and also information
on some particulars herbaria and museums. Thank you very much  for
your enthusiastic answer!

        The total number of specimens is available in the Index
Herbariorum. Probably these numbers, even though now out-of-date
(1990) are still the most accurate.  Tables 3 and 4 (pp. 481-485)
list the total number of herbarium specimens as 272,800,926, held
worldwide in 2639 herbaria.

The reference for IH is:

Holmgren, P.K., N.H. Holmgren and L.C. Barnett (eds.).  1990.
Index Herbariorum Part I: The Herbaria of the World.  8th edition.
The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, New York.

Another reference recommended is:

Cooley, G.P., Harrington, M.B. and Lawrence,, 1993. Analysis and
Recommendations for Scientific Computing and Collections
Information Management of Free-Standing Museums of Natural History
and Botanical Gardens. Vol. 1 Paper. Mitre Corporation publication
93W0000109V1.


Thanks
Gracias

Pilar Rodriguez & Patricia Koleff



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 12:30:19 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:30:19 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9035.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
publication
on teaching evolution.

My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
and inferences. It would
do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
heavy emphasis on
indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
natural selection),
and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
emphasis on method
in chemistry or physics).

As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
which focuses on the
assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
the Creationists who apply
the same strategy.

I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
nonetheless. With the way
evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
I wouldn't blame
them in the slightest.

John Grehan



From jhbeach at IBM.NET  Wed Apr 22 12:46:52 1998
From: jhbeach at IBM.NET (James H. Beach)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:46:52 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b16384085fcf@[146.186.16.100]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9036.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi All:

I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
for this.  Thank you.


Jim Beach
Listowner of Taxacom





At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
>publication
>on teaching evolution.
>
>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
>and inferences. It would
>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
>heavy emphasis on
>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
>natural selection),
>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
>emphasis on method
>in chemistry or physics).
>
>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
>which focuses on the
>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>the Creationists who apply
>the same strategy.
>
>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
>nonetheless. With the way
>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
>I wouldn't blame
>them in the slightest.
>
>John Grehan
>
>

_________________________________________

James H. Beach
National Biological Information Infrastructure
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 11:58:04 1998
From: wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU (Hugh Wilson)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 11:58:04 
Subject: NAS/Evolution
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b16384085fcf@[146.186.16.100]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9037.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I think its *about time* organized science 1) recognized the
potential danger of organized anti-evolution activity in education
and 2) actually did something about it.  Good for NAS.  Their rep.
(Kennedy?) on the PBS news yesterday (with excellent support from a
HS biology teacher) did a good job - at least from my perspective -
of presenting the case.  Too bad other professional groups, esp.
those associated with systematics, have provided such lame leadership
and support in this area.

On 22 Apr 98 at 12:30, John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU> wrote:

Date:          Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:30:19 -0400
Reply-to:      John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU>
From:          John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU>
To:            Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM <TAXACOM at CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>

Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
publication on teaching evolution............................

My comment is that.................................

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~hugh/homepage.html



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Wed Apr 22 10:58:06 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:58:06 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19980422124652.00a78710@eagle.cc.ukans.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9038.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report on
evolution.  The fact that the previous poster mentioned the word
"creationism", comparing his concern about how he perceived the NAS
treatment of evolution (as non-science) to creationism's non-science is
hardly a discussion devolved into an evolution vs creationism debate.
His comments could have stood on their own legs even without his
sidetrack comparison (which I reproduce far below) with creationism.

So, please, if you wish to review the NAS publication on teaching
evolution, and to comment here, I certainly would like to know what you
think of their publication.

As the NAS publication asserts, it is not about the
creationism/evolution debate. It's about providing a coherent teaching
plan for various levels of K-12. Systematists surely can relate to that
and discuss it, leaving out the creationism issue unless it is
specifically brought up in the NAS publication itself, and the reviewer
feels it should be commented upon in that context.

Later, when the NAS publishes on creationism, maybe that should be
reviewed here as well?
Peter

On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, James H. Beach wrote:

> I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
> ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
> for this.  Thank you.
> Jim Beach
> Listowner of Taxacom

> At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
     ...cut, cut...
> >As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
> >which focuses on the
> >assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
> >the Creationists who apply
> >the same strategy.
     ...cut, cut...
> >John Grehan



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 15:17:48 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:17:48 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
Message-ID: <mailman.9039.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Personally I have no problem avoiding the evolution versus creationism
debate, but I was
not aware that certain subjects were banned.

The listserver states that the facility  is for " all manner of discussion
about biological systematics, including the science, educational, policy
and political issues that are of concern to systematists".

I don't understand the concern expressed by Jim Bach, but I hope that
further disucssion of how evolution is presentated, conceptualized, taught
etc is not precluded if such disucssion is of interest to participating
systematists. If it is not, then the subject will fail to take up much of
the traffic.

John Grehan


>Hi All:
>
>I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
>ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
>for this.  Thank you.
>
>
>Jim Beach
>Listowner of Taxacom
>
>
>
>
>
>At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
>>publication
>>on teaching evolution.
>>
>>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
>>and inferences. It would
>>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
>>heavy emphasis on
>>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
>>natural selection),
>>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
>>emphasis on method
>>in chemistry or physics).
>>
>>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
>>which focuses on the
>>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>>the Creationists who apply
>>the same strategy.
>>
>>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
>>nonetheless. With the way
>>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
>>I wouldn't blame
>>them in the slightest.
>>
>>John Grehan
>>
>>
>
>_________________________________________
>
>James H. Beach
>National Biological Information Infrastructure
>U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
>Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
>E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:19:07 1998
From: sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU (Stuart G. Poss)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:19:07 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9040.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I too saw the PBS coverage of the NAS report and would in general agree
with Hugh's and Peter's comments concerning the appropriateness of
discussion of the report.  However, I would also agree with Jim that we
need not retry the Scopes trial in TAXACOM.

I personally do not believe that we can expect to make much progress
toward the solution of the biodiversity crisis, if the bulk of students
graduating from US high schools do not have at least a modicum of
understanding of the concepts, mechanisms, and implications of modern
evolutionary theory.  Clearly, as taxonomists and systematists, and
perhaps citizens of a still liveable planet, this should concern us.

Given Hugh Wilson's criticism of the systematics community, which I
would regard as not entirely accurate, I would be interested to learn
what under his #2 he might propose that we do to "address our limp" on
this issue, beyond what most of us do every day, namely attempting to
ellucidate the taxa and linneages that have historically resulted from
evolution and to communicate our findings to others.  Perhaps the report
itself provides some suggestions.

Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

Peter Rauch wrote:
>
> With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
> invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report ...

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000                        703 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000



From dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR  Wed Apr 22 16:31:06 1998
From: dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR (Doug Yanega)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 16:31:06 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9041.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Stuart Poss wrote:

>Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

Apparently this contains the full text.

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-449-2579, fax: 031-441-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 15:30:15 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:30:15 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9042.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

To: Peter Rauch <anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: jrg13 at psu.edu (John Grehan)
Subject: Re: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:

Response to Peter Rauch on NAS evolution report.

As perceived by Peter Rauch, it was not my intention to set up an evolution
versus creation debate. I did not, however, intend to represent the NAS
treatment of evolution as non-science. My emphasis, perhaps obscured by
the creation reference, was that the science of evolution was stronger on a
doctrine of beliefs rather than analytical methodology. In my opinion, for what
it is worth, that it is this emphasis that makes the teaching of evolution so
problematic, and such an easy target for creationists (oops mentioned that
word again).

I agree that there is a need for a coherent teaching of evolution, but the
document did not achieve that for me (others feeling different notwithstanding).
 If I have more time I will try to make some specific comments rather than
these generalities.

I appreciate Peter Rauch bringing this to general attention as I find it
difficult
to keep track of everything that is going on in this field.

John Grehan



From wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:32:46 1998
From: wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU (Hugh Wilson)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:32:46 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
In-Reply-To: <353E42AB.477696FF@whale.st.usm.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9043.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Its at:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

with an overview at:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/evol4.html

and - with regard to my beef - check out:

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/Wilson/tfp/tfpintro.htm

and the comment on evolution vs. creation (3, 3rd paragraph) - prior to the NAS
effort, the only other 'debunking  ref. I could find for this was:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/2437/index.htm

and I think that the systematic community, at least an organized
rep (professional society)., could put together this sort of material
- hardcopy or web - that would help those of us involved with biology
teaching

On 22 Apr 98 at 14:19, Stuart G. Poss <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
wrote:

Date:          Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:19:07 -0500
Reply-to:      "Stuart G. Poss" <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
From:          "Stuart G. Poss" <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
Organization:  Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Subject:       Re: Discussion of NAS Report
To:            Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM <TAXACOM at CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>


....Given Hugh Wilson's criticism of the systematics community, which
I would regard as not entirely accurate, I would be interested to
learn what under his #2 he might propose that we do to "address our
limp" on this issue, beyond what most of us do every day, namely
attempting to ellucidate the taxa and linneages that have
historically resulted from evolution and to communicate our findings
to others.  Perhaps the report itself provides some suggestions.

Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~hugh/homepage.html



From jhbeach at IBM.NET  Wed Apr 22 15:34:26 1998
From: jhbeach at IBM.NET (James H. Beach)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:34:26 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SUN.3.96.980422104601.7724B-100000@grinnell.berkeley. edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9044.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Ok! Mea Culpa. I pulled the trigger too soon on this thread, so debate away!

-- Jim Beach




At 10:58 AM 4/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
>invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report on
>evolution.  The fact that the previous poster mentioned the word
>"creationism", comparing his concern about how he perceived the NAS
>treatment of evolution (as non-science) to creationism's non-science is
>hardly a discussion devolved into an evolution vs creationism debate.
>His comments could have stood on their own legs even without his
>sidetrack comparison (which I reproduce far below) with creationism.
>
>So, please, if you wish to review the NAS publication on teaching
>evolution, and to comment here, I certainly would like to know what you
>think of their publication.
>
>As the NAS publication asserts, it is not about the
>creationism/evolution debate. It's about providing a coherent teaching
>plan for various levels of K-12. Systematists surely can relate to that
>and discuss it, leaving out the creationism issue unless it is
>specifically brought up in the NAS publication itself, and the reviewer
>feels it should be commented upon in that context.
>
>Later, when the NAS publishes on creationism, maybe that should be
>reviewed here as well?
>Peter
>
>On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, James H. Beach wrote:
>
>> I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
>> ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
>> for this.  Thank you.
>> Jim Beach
>> Listowner of Taxacom
>
>> At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>     ...cut, cut...
>> >As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a
doctrine
>> >which focuses on the
>> >assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>> >the Creationists who apply
>> >the same strategy.
>     ...cut, cut...
>> >John Grehan
>
>

_________________________________________

James H. Beach
National Biological Information Infrastructure
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR  Wed Apr 22 17:12:45 1998
From: dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR (Doug Yanega)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:12:45 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9045.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

John Grehan wrote:

>I agree that there is a need for a coherent teaching of evolution, but the
>document did not achieve that for me (others feeling different
>notwithstanding).

Just my two cents, having looked the document over briefly myself - while I
may certainly have missed something, I do think that not enough emphasis
was placed on the demonstrable and quantifiable aspects of evolution, and
too much was simply a matter of saying "So-and-so demonstrated this back in
XXXX". When many folks define evolution as "a change in gene frequencies in
a population over time", it should be rather easy to directly demonstrate
that evolution not only occurs, but is an inevitable feature of life
itself, and yet much of the paper still just reads like a history lesson.
For example, I didn't catch any references, in my reading, to things like
genetic drift or gene flow being modes of evolution, and that sort of
omission is a serious oversight - distinguishing macro- and micro-evolution
(and how one can gather evidence for each) would seem to be essential, no?

Peace,

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-449-2579, fax: 031-441-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82



From sierwald at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG  Wed Apr 22 15:20:58 1998
From: sierwald at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG (Petra Sierwald)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:20:58 
Subject: Time to unsubscribe?
Message-ID: <mailman.9046.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Please let me know if you intend to drown everybody in a flood of
creationism discussions.  If yes, I want to unsubscribe from the list.



***************************************************************
Petra Sierwald, Adjunct Curator - Zoology, Insects
Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Rd @ Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605, USA. E-maiL: psierwald at fmnh.org
Phone: (312)922-9410, ext. 841; Fax: (312)663-5397

http://www.fmnh.org
***************************************************************



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:05:44 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:05:44 
Subject: Time to unsubscribe?
In-Reply-To: <9804222020.AA06911@fmppr.fmnh.org>
Message-ID: <mailman.9047.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, Petra Sierwald wrote:
> Please let me know if you intend to drown everybody in a flood of
> creationism discussions.  If yes, I want to unsubscribe from the list.

Maybe if I remind everyone that the origin of this thread was not
"creationism" nor even "evolution", but rather it was a request (by me)
for comments on the National Academy of Sciences report (sort of a
primer/guide) on how to teach _evolution_ (by natural selection) in the
kindergarten through 12th grades (K-12).

Any systematist who is concerned with biodiversity, with the health of
the systematics (scientific) enterprise, and with the role of evolution
in understanding how our bioworld works --any such subscriber to
Taxacom, was invited to read the report (available online, easy access)
and comment on the adequacy of the work done by NAS.

If you consider that an invitation to be drowned in a flood
of creationism discussions, you would be wrong. If others believe it was
an invitation to drown the list in such a flood, they'd be wrong too.

I have faith that most systematists are interested enough in evolution
and in the adequate representation of their work (that portion of it
that deals with evolution, for example) to our children, that they will
stick around and maybe even contribute their own comments on the NAS
report.
Peter



From jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU  Thu Apr 23 12:04:15 1998
From: jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU (Jeremy J. Bruhl)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 12:04:15 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9048.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear all

Both Richard and Una's comments ring true. Kevin, you might like to =
search back a year or two on the list-server archives for my request for =
comments and posting of comments on this very topic. Funny thing is that =
we did not merge with Zoology and thought (how na=EFve) that the issue =
had gone away, till the Dean wanted/needed to be seen to be =
restructuring our Faculty. So, here we are, a Division in the School of =
Rural Sciences and Natural Resources with Ecosystem Management, Agronomy =
and Soil Sc. and Animal Science and some of Physiology. Zoology has =
split off Molecular and Cellular Biology. Zoo and MCB are in a School of =
Biological Sciences and we are not...!@# I am waiting for the music to =
stop next time to see where we will be. The past and present groupings =
cut across joint programs in study and those who collaborated still do.

Cheers
Jeremy

Dr Jeremy J. Bruhl
Senior Lecturer in Botany
Director, N.C.W. Beadle Herbarium (NE)
Division of Botany
University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351
Australia
jbruhl at metz.une.edu.au
http://www.une.edu.au/botany/jjbres.htm
Phone:  +61 2 6773 2429
Fax:    +61 2 6773 3283



From Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU  Wed Apr 22 14:46:16 1998
From: Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU (Yuri E. Mikhailov)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:46:16 
Subject: Goliathus
Message-ID: <mailman.9049.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

-- [ From: Yuri E. Mikhailov * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Dear collegues,
One friend of mine is very much interested to get for his collection
specimens of Goliathus spp. (Scarabaeidae) and African Cetoniinae. May be
anyone would like to exchange them for Russian Carabidae, Cerambycidae,
Scarabaeidae or other families of Coleoptera.
Sincerely yours,
Yuri Mikhailov



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Thu Apr 23 09:54:25 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998  9:54:25 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9050.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi, everybody.  The Vrba reference that John Grehan asked for the other day is:

Vrba, E. S.  1995.  On the connections between paleoclimate and evolution.
Pp. 24-45 In: Paleoclimate and Evolution, with Emphasis on Human Origins.
Yale University Press, New Haven.  547pp.

There are two domains of "common knowledge" that are not really common and
sometimes confounded in discussions of macroevolutionary pattern.  The
first is that there is no a priori relationship between speciation and
functional differentiation.  The other, dealt with articulately in this
article, is the importance of the interaction between landscape (exogenous)
and genetic (endogenous) influences in adaptive radiations.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
Department of Biology
Boston University
5 Cummington Street
Boston, MA 02215

e-mail: lesk at bio.bu.edu
phone: 617-353-5560
fax:   617-353-6340


"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very
wasteful. How true that is." -- Vice President Dan Quayle



From jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU  Fri Apr 24 09:20:43 1998
From: jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU (Jeremy J. Bruhl)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  9:20:43 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9051.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi

Who has an idea on this one. Ah the joys of common names...Almost reads like sweet potato, but that common name is not in my books!

Cheers
Jeremy

==================================

>Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:10:34 -0700
>From:  Tina McCoy <tmccoy at iea.com>
>Reply-To: tmccoy at iea.com
>Organization: City of Post Falls
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>To:    botany at metz.une.edu.au
>Subject:       (no subject)
>Status:
>
>I am hoping someone within your organization might have an answer to a
>"plant" question I have.
>I was gifted with a bulb I was told was a Voodoo Plant. According to the
>instructions you do not plant or water the bulb. Simply place the bulb
>in a sunny location and watch it grow.  The bulb is about the size of a
>tennis ball and has a skin texture and color similar to a white potato.
>It has one shoot coming from the center that is purple.
>I would really like to know what this is and where it came from.
>Can you assist me?
>Thank you for any help or direction you might give.
>
>Tina McCoy
>7400 E Hauser Lake Road
>Post Falls  ID  83854
>tmccoy at iea.com
>



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Thu Apr 23 16:44:48 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 16:44:48 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
In-Reply-To: <01BD6F62.43E80840@botany-38.une.edu.au>
Message-ID: <mailman.9052.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

How about Sauromatum venosum (aka S. guttatum, Arum cornutum), Araceae
Voodoo Lily... Sunset Western Garden Book says "Bloom has extremely
strong, unpleasant odor for a brief time after opening."

Now, what is Tina up to anyway...?     :>)
Peter

On Fri, 24 Apr 1998, Jeremy J. Bruhl wrote:

> Who has an idea on this one. Ah the joys of common names...Almost
> reads like sweet potato, but that common name is not in my books!

> ==================================
>
> >Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:10:34 -0700
> >From:  Tina McCoy <tmccoy at iea.com>
> >Reply-To: tmccoy at iea.com
> >Organization: City of Post Falls
> >To:    botany at metz.une.edu.au
> >
> >I am hoping someone within your organization might have an answer to a
> >"plant" question I have.
> >I was gifted with a bulb I was told was a Voodoo Plant. According to the
> >instructions you do not plant or water the bulb. Simply place the bulb
> >in a sunny location and watch it grow.  The bulb is about the size of a
> >tennis ball and has a skin texture and color similar to a white potato.
> >It has one shoot coming from the center that is purple.
> >I would really like to know what this is and where it came from.
> >Can you assist me?
> >Thank you for any help or direction you might give.



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Thu Apr 23 19:17:40 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 19:17:40 
Subject: Uloma
Message-ID: <mailman.9053.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear colleagues,

Uloma (Tenebrionidae) was described:

Latreille in Cuvier, Regne anim. ed. 2,5,1829 p. 129 [Gebien 1943]
or
Laporte 1829, p.? [Lawrence 1989]
or
Laporte, 1840 Hist. Nat.II, p.219 [Gebien 1911]


Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

 (home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.



From lammers at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG  Fri Apr 24 06:01:52 1998
From: lammers at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG (Thomas G. Lammers)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  6:01:52 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9054.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 04:44 PM 04-23-98 -0700, Peter Rauch wrote:

>How about Sauromatum venosum (aka S. guttatum, Arum cornutum), Araceae
>Voodoo Lily... Sunset Western Garden Book says "Bloom has extremely
>strong, unpleasant odor for a brief time after opening."

Could also be Amorphophallus rivieri, another aroid, which is grown in a
similar fashion.


Thomas G. Lammers

Classification, Nomenclature, Phylogeny and Biogeography
of the Campanulaceae, s. lat.

Department of Botany
Field Museum of Natural History
Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496 USA

e-mail:    tlammers at fmnh.org
office:          312-922-9410 ext. 317 (voice-mail)
home:     630-759-4280
fax:                312-427-2530
http:    www.fmnh.org/candr/academic_affairs/collection_report/cv_lammers.htm

-----------------------------------------------------
Malapropism of the Day:

"Oh!  What kind of plant is it?"
"It's an 'Audrey Junior'!"
"Well, is that all?  I mean, doesn't it have a scientific name?"
"Yes, of course, but who could denounce it?"

              -- "Little Shop of Horrors" (1960)



From anita at MOZART.CBS.UMN.EDU  Fri Apr 24 08:18:58 1998
From: anita at MOZART.CBS.UMN.EDU (Anita Cholewa)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  8:18:58 
Subject: voodoo plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9055.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Gardeners will probably know the answer to this one.
The voodoo lily is the Amorphophallus rivieri as
Tom mentioned.  It can be found as a "oddball"
in garden cataloges.

ANITA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
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Bell Museum of Nat. His.      \__\/    // _  _          Please Visit          |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|



From FLang at SOU.EDU  Fri Apr 24 08:34:22 1998
From: FLang at SOU.EDU (Frank Lang)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  8:34:22 
Subject: voodoo plant -Reply
Message-ID: <mailman.9056.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

When in doubt try Mabberley's " The Plant-book."  I have always known the =
voodoo lily to be Sauromatum venosum [S. guttatum] in the Araceae. =
Mabberley says that it is sold as dry tubers that will produce an =
inflorescence without water. It is Bas Meeuse's favorite plant.  He =
studied it for years.  The appendix of the inflorescence heats up about =
the time the flowers open. The better to spread around the fetid odor of =
the plant, perhaps.  It is mentioned in his book "The Sex Life of =
Flowers."



From Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG  Sun Apr 26 11:20:04 1998
From: Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG (Mammals)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 11:20:04 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9057.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Richard Zander wrote:

 You might write Dept.
Integrative Biology at Berkeley and find out how they preserve a
systematic/organismal approach.

Partly through an active seminar series for the whole
          department ranging widely in topics (2 per week.  - Sylvia
          Hope



From Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG  Sun Apr 26 11:20:03 1998
From: Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG (Mammals)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 11:20:03 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9058.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On 22 April Una Smith wrote:
Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
increasing focus on levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms,
communities) rather than taxonomic groups (plants, animals) in American
universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
are the result, not the other way around.

          and:

By the way, Berkeley has departments of Integrative Biology and Plant
Biology.  They are in separate colleges.

          Integrative Biology at Berkeley even includes Paleotology. I
          think that the merging of biological disciplines has much to
          do with advanced development of evolutionary theory and
          increased perception of common interests among organismal
          biologists.  This is a good thing, but the integration of
          disciplines may go to far if it erodes opportunities for
          students to do basic field work and and careful
          functional/morphological studies, emphasizing metanalysis at
          the expense of original observation.

          On the other hand Integrative Biology at Berkeley manages
          pretty well to integrate molecular and organismal studies.


        ***************************************
        Sylvia Hope                           *
        Dept. of Ornithology and Mammalogy    *
        California Academy of Sciences        *
        Golden Gate Park                      *
        San Francisco, CA, USA 94118          *
                                              *
        email:  sylvia.hope at calacademy.org    *
        phone:  (415) 750-7176                *
        fax:    (415) 750-7137                *
        ***************************************



From sang at PILOT.MSU.EDU  Sun Apr 26 15:52:50 1998
From: sang at PILOT.MSU.EDU (tao sang)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 15:52:50 
Subject: Postdoc in plant molecular systematics at MSU
Message-ID: <mailman.9059.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

<fontfamily><param>Times</param><bigger><bigger>

       A NSF founded two-year postdoctoral position is available to
study plant molecular systematics and evolution, with a focus on
phylogenetic reconstruction of hybrid speciation using sequences of
single-copy nuclear genes.  Please e-mail or send curriculum vitae and
names of two references to:



          Tao Sang

          Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology

          Michigan State University

          East Lansing, MI 48824


          E-mail: sang at pilot.msu.edu

          Web site:
http://www.msu.edu/user/sang/</bigger></bigger></fontfamily>



From aguiar.2 at POSTBOX.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU  Mon Apr 27 09:13:35 1998
From: aguiar.2 at POSTBOX.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Alexandre Pires Aguiar)
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998  9:13:35 
Subject: Stephanidae Homepage
Message-ID: <mailman.9060.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxacomers,

I am glad to announce that my STEPHANIDAE HOMEPAGE (Hymenoptera) is now
available to public access at
http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/stephanids

The page was optimized for NETSCAPE v. 2.02, and you will find some things
out of format if using earlier versions. Please be also aware that many
parts are still unfinished.

While there, please make sure you will not miss the following:

1. A new way of presenting morphometric data.
Path: [Ongoing Projects]->[Revision of the Genus Hemistephanus]->[Material
and Methods]

2. A method specific for collecting stephanids, under [Collecting Stephanids]

I would greatly appreciate receiving your suggestions and commentaries about
the site--from eventual misspellings to other subjects you would like (or
expect) to see in a site like that. Please send messages directly to
aguiar.2 at osu.edu

I hope you like it!

Alexandre Pires Aguiar
The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1157
USA

Phone (614) 292-2750
FAX   (614) 292-7774

Alexandre Pires Aguiar
The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1192
USA

Phone (613) 292-2750
FAX   (613) 292-7774



From bckcdb at ISTAR.CA  Mon Apr 27 10:33:15 1998
From: bckcdb at ISTAR.CA (karstad - schueler)
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:33:15 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9061.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Sylvia Hope wrote:

> Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
> increasing focus on levels of organization
> rather than taxonomic groups in American
> universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
> are the result, not the other way around.
>
>           and:
>
> I think that the merging of biological disciplines has much to do with
> advanced development of evolutionary theory and increased perception
> of common interests among organismal biologists.  This is a good
> thing, but the integration of disciplines may go to far if it erodes
> opportunities for students to do basic field work and and careful
> functional/morphological studies, emphasizing metanalysis at the
> expense of original observation.

* and it may over-ride teaching about the immense range of taxa that
students must know about if they are to think plausibly about
evolutionary theory and diversity.

fred schueler.
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler, Aleta Karstad, Jennifer Helene Schueler.
Bishops Mills, Grenville Co, Ontario, on the Smiths Falls Limestone
Plain: 18TVE 446 687, 44* 52'N 75* 42'W   bckcdb at istar.ca
Natural History Exploration, Interpretation, Illustration, & Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------



From dovpor at NETVISION.NET.IL  Tue Apr 28 11:55:40 1998
From: dovpor at NETVISION.NET.IL (Francis Dov Por)
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 11:55:40 
Subject: Dissatisfied with Gouldian  Aleatory Catastrophism ?
Message-ID: <mailman.9062.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

If you are  a zoologist dissatisifed with  Gouldian dice-play =
catastrophism and looking for a  non-theological alternative, try my  =
unconventional book
"Animal Achievement - a Unifying Theory of Zoology"  on  www.amazon.com

Francis Dov Por   - dovpor at netvision.net.il



From nfj at IRIS.BIOSCI.OHIO-STATE.EDU  Tue Apr 28 16:48:06 1998
From: nfj at IRIS.BIOSCI.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Norman F. Johnson)
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 16:48:06 
Subject: Hymenoptera On-Line Database
Message-ID: <mailman.9063.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

(cross-posted to ENTOMO-L, TAXACOM, PARAHYM)

Dear all,

We'd like to invite you to drop in and take a look at our new "Hymenoptera
On-Line Database" (http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/hymenoptera). This
is the web access page to our "Mopsus Database", a relational database
system that stores information on specimens, classification, taxonomy,
biological associations, and images. The database is an outgrowth
of our "Pelecinus Project", the goal of which was to build the database
and software tools to manage and present all the data related to one taxon.

Hymenoptera On-Line offers information on:

  1. Classification
  2. Taxonomic literature
  3. Images
  4. On -the -fly distribution mapping
  5. Biological associations
  6. Access to external databases

For a quick look at the section of the database that has received most
of our attention for the past year, try beginning with the family Pelecinidae.
Other sections that are fairly well-populated with data on names and literature
are the Proctotrupoidea, Platygastroidea, and Ceraphronoidea.  To see how
the biological associations and external database functions work, try looking
at the genus Sparasion (Scelionidae) and follow it through. We have locality
data for a number of taxa, particularly in the Stephanidae, Monomachidae, and
the genus Acanthoscelio (again, a scelionid).

Obviously, the magnitude of this project exceeds the capabilities of
our group alone. We invite and earnestly desire your contributions and
assistance in building this community resource. Our own priorities at this
time are to:

  1. continue to gather and input names of valid taxa: at the moment
the database contains the names of 31,606 valid species; 4,142 valid genera;
and a total of 46,881 names at all levels.

  2. enter data from specimens as vouchers of distribution
and biological associations (host, prey, pollen, etc.):  we now have
19,739 specimens with data stored.

  3. gather systematic and biological data from the literature
(the database is designed to be able to handle both specimens and unvouchered
records such as observations, label data and literature records): there are
only 1,905 publications in so far.

  4. images: the web is a visual creature and images, sounds,
even movies can be included. This is a black hole begging for the input
of matter!

So, please, check out the site and send us feedback.  We welcome any
assistance in data gathering and all contributors are credited.

--
Norman F. Johnson           Johnson.2 at osu.edu
Associate Professor         Phone: 614-292-6595
Director, Ohio State Univ.  Fax: 614-292-7774
   Insect Collection



From r.g.wilson at READING.AC.UK  Wed Apr 29 10:12:19 1998
From: r.g.wilson at READING.AC.UK (Rupert Wilson)
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:12:19 
Subject: Lectureship in Plant Diversity & Biodiversity Informatics
Message-ID: <mailman.9064.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The University of Reading, UK.
School of Plant Sciences - Department of Botany
Lectureship in Plant Diversity & Biodiversity Informaties

Applications are invited for a new lectureship in botanical aspects of
biodiversity.  Candidates with research interests in biodiversity
information systems and informatics will be welcomed.  Informal
enquiries may be made to f.a.bisby at reading.ac.uk. The department is one
of the centres for the NERC Taxonomy Initiative and part of the RAE 5*
rated School of Plant Sciences.  Candidates should have a PhD.

Salary in the range of 16,045 to 21,016 (Pounds Sterling) pa (Grade "A")
with USS benefits.  The appointment is intended to be "permanent"
subject to satisfactory completion of a three year probationary period.

Apply for further particulars and Application Forms (2 copies) to the
Personnel Office, The University of Reading.  Whiteknights, PO Box 217
READING RG6 6AH.  Telephone (01 18) 931 6771 (answerphone).  E-mail:
Persorineloreading.ac.uk giving name and full address.  See the School
Web Site: http://www.reading.ac.uk/Acadepts/sb/home.html for general
department information.  Closing date 27 May 1998.  Please quote
reference number AC9811.

These details can be found at;
http://www.rdg.ac.uk/Jobs/html/job_vacancies_-_teaching_3.html

--

_____________________________________________________________________________
|     ____            ____    ____
____                                     |
|    /\__/\  /\  /\  /\__/\  /\___\ /\___\                      Rupert
Wilson |
|   /_/_/ / / / / / /_/_/ / /_/_   /_/_
mailto:R.G.Wilson at reading.ac.uk |
|  /\ __\/ / / / / /\___\/ /\___\
\__/\                                      |
| / /\\   /_/_/ / / /     /_/__  ____/ /  Herbarium, School of Plant
Sciences |
| \/  \\  \___\/  \/      \____\ \___\/            University of
Reading, UK. |
| http://www.reading.ac.uk/~sbswilsn/ or
http://www.herbarium.reading.ac.uk/  |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|
--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE
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Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset="us-ascii"; name="vcard.vcf"

begin:          vcard
fn:             Rupert Wilson
n:              Wilson;Rupert
org:            The University of Reading
email;internet: r.g.wilson at reading.ac.uk
title:          Herbarium Database Manager http://www.herbarium.reading.ac.uk/
x-mozilla-cpt:  ;0
x-mozilla-html: TRUE
version:        2.1
end:            vcard


--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE--



From rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG  Wed Apr 29 16:32:27 1998
From: rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG (Gary Rosenberg)
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 16:32:27 
Subject: Publication dates of Sagra on Cuba
Message-ID: <mailman.9065.1298331039.8803.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The dates of publication of Ramon de la Sagra, Histoire physique, politique
et naturelle de l'Ile de Cuba (1838-1857), in which hundreds of new species
were described, have never been adequately established to my knowledge. The
catalogue of the Library of the British Museum (Natural History) gives a
collation. Stafleu & Cowan (Taxonomic Literature 2) give additional details
for botany.

I have just found that the handwritten ledger of acquisitions of the library
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has entries for the
period 1838 to 1841. Thereafter, library acquisitions were published in the
Proceedings of the Academy. Unfortunately, the information I have found is
presented in terms of livraisons, and I have not found anyway to tell what
subjects, pages or plates were covered in particular livraisons.

The ledger has the following entries:

August 13, 1839, Livraisons 1-7, folio plates, 8vo text.
Undated loose note, Livraisons "8, 9 & 12 & 16 Sheets of text".
September 22, 1840, Livraisons 14-16.
January 13, 1841. Someone tries to determine what parts have arrived, listing
        Mamif. texte & planches complete
        Oiseaux texte complete --- pl. wants 28
        Reptiles texte 15-206 p.  planch wants 29 & 29 bis
        Geographic text 1-144 p. plates 1-8 inclusive
        Mollusques texte 1-15 p. Planches ---
        Foraminiferes texte, I-16. 1-80 p. Planches ---
        Botaniques texte I-X. 1-32 p. Planches ---

The Proceedings list the following:

October 5, 1841, Liv. 21-25
February 1, 1842, Nos. 19-20, 26-29 [The handwritten acquisition book shows
that this is actually February 8, but it was listed with the meeting of
February 1 instead of the next meeting on February 15.]
August 9, 1842, Liv. 32-37
November 1, 1842, Liv. 38-39
February 4, 1845, Liv. 40-51

Please contact me if you additional information on this work, or know of set
that has any original wrappers. Anyone at University of Maryland or Missouri
Botanical Garden, please check your library's copy. The description on OCLC
gives different dates than usual for some parts (e.g. Mollusques starting in
1840 instead of 1841), suggesting that your copy may have internal
information. Several dozen other libraries in the United States hold this
work, and I would appreciate negative information from anyone who checks
their institution's copy or accession records.

Thanks,
Gary
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Rosenberg, Ph.D.                     rosenberg at acnatsci.org
Malacology & Invertebrate Paleontology    gopher://erato.acnatsci.org
Academy of Natural Sciences               http://www.acnatsci.org
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway            Phone 215-299-1033
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195 USA           Fax   215-299-1170



From MZFLJS at MAIL1.MCC.AC.UK  Wed Apr  1 11:46:29 1998
From: MZFLJS at MAIL1.MCC.AC.UK (lindsey stables)
Date: Wed,  1 Apr 1998 11:46:29 
Subject: MANCH loans and visitors
Message-ID: <mailman.8984.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Manchester Museum Herbarium - temporary suspension of some loans.

Beginning in August 1998 all specimens (except bryophytes and
lichens) in the Manchester Museum Herbarium, Manchester, England,
will be packed for temporary storage.  Work to be carried out in the
Herbarium will include new shelving, Solander boxes for storage of
all specimens and installation of ventilation ducts for a new
exhibition on the floor below.

During that time, which is anticipated to be twelve months, only
mosses, liverworts and lichens will be accessible; other collections
will be inaccessible to visitors and for loans.  We regret the
inconvenience this may cause, but look forward to the increased
efficiency and improved storage conditions that the changes will
provide.

We are particularly grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the
Wellcome Institute for support in this project.

Lindsey Stables
Curatorial Assistant (Botany)
The Manchester Museum,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. UK
Tel: 0161 275 2672/1
Fax: 0161 275 2676
http://www.mcc.ac.uk/museum/



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Wed Apr  1 07:54:47 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Wed,  1 Apr 1998  7:54:47 
Subject: woody Horning address
Message-ID: <mailman.8985.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Toto je zprava ve formatu MIME obsahujmcm nlkolik hastm.

------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-2"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear colleagues,

I am looking for address of Woody Horning (Australia) or his e-mail

Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

 (home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.


------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-2"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-2 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.11"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#82b733>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dear colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I am looking for address of Woody Horning =
(Australia) or his=20
e-mail</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Keep care and be of good=20
cheer<BR>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John=20
Baptiste<BR>of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Coleoptera - Australia, =
Tenebrionidae of=20
World</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Temporaly address =
1998:<BR>EDB.<BR>Husitska=20
15<BR>130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov<BR>CZECH Rep.<BR>ph.: (420+2) =
185</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;(home)<BR>32 Girrawheen =
Ave.<BR>Kiama NSW=20
2533<BR>Australia<BR>e-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:vratislav at bigfoot.com">vratislav at bigfoot.com</A><BR>&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
<A=20
href=3D"mailto:ricardo at login.cz">ricardo at login.cz</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
(before <A=20
href=3D"mailto:Ricardo at compuserve.com">Ricardo at compuserve.com</A>)</FONT>=
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Only after the last tree has been =
cut=20
down,<BR>only after the last river has been poisoned,<BR>only after the =
last=20
fish has been caught,<BR>only then will you find that money can not be=20
eaten.'<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CREE INDIAN=20
PROPHECY.<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_0054_01BD5D43.70FC0B00--



From stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU  Thu Apr  2 09:13:13 1998
From: stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU (Stuart Fullerton)
Date: Thu,  2 Apr 1998  9:13:13 
Subject: Dragonfly rearing (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.8986.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The message below is passed on from Zack Prusak, our local ant man, who
has been asked a dragonfly question by the folks out at WDworld. Anyone
who can help him with the rearing and releasing of dragonflies please
respone to him direct, or to me, and I will forward.  thanks.

cheers!! rof

Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Prusak <zjprusak at magicnet.net>
Subject: Dragonfly rearing

Stuart, congrats on the new UCF record for Discothyrea.  They are most
commonly encountered in Berlese samples.  Below is my simple question for
the bugnet...thanks!

Does anyone have any information or experience in the rearing and releasing
(like butterflies) of dragonflies?

Zach



From Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU  Fri Apr  3 17:13:22 1998
From: Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU (Yuri E. Mikhailov)
Date: Fri,  3 Apr 1998 17:13:22 
Subject: message from Yuri Mikhailov
Message-ID: <mailman.8987.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

-- [ From: Yuri E. Mikhailov * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Dear collegues,
Who would like to exchange information about and collection material from
regional faunas of Chrysomelidae. I am now working with large project on
variability regulations and polymorhism of Chrysomelidae (Cryptocephalus,
Chrysolina) of Palaearctics. So information of fauna of this geni is needed.
Also I am collecting a collection for this project and for my systematic
studies. All this not limited with Palaearctic.
My proposal - Russian Chrysomelidae (Urals, Altai, Tuva, ets.), including
mountain and endemic species. (Exept only Alticinae). Any available
information on Russian Chrysomelidae can be send to you as well. Including
my recently published paper on the Chrysomelidae of the Urals - the only
such rewiev and new unexpected findings.
What are your proposals?
Sincerely,
Yuri Mikhailov
e-mail:Yuri.Mikhailov at usu.ru



From alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA  Mon Apr  6 08:58:26 1998
From: alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA (Alec McClay)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998  8:58:26 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8988.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
reference to plant distribution?

Thanks.


Alec McClay
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds

alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada



From johnm at ROM.ON.CA  Mon Apr  6 11:13:54 1998
From: johnm at ROM.ON.CA (John McNeill)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 11:13:54 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8989.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Alec McClay asked about the term "Irano-Turanian".

The Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region has a fairly long history,
but the best accounts are perhaps those by M. Zohary in _Plant Life of
Palestine_, New York (1962) and in a paper "On the geobotanical
structure of Iran" _Bull. Res. Counc. Israel_ 11D: supplement. (1963).

Peter H. Davis in the Introduction to his _Flora of Turkey_ (vol 1 p.
21-24. 1965) says of the region: "In the broad sense the Irano-Turanian
region extends from Inner Anatolia southwards to Palestine and eastwards
to Mongolia ..."

There may be other, more recent and perhaps better, accounts of which I am
unaware.  There may even be an electronic one, though I doubt it.

John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Biogeographic term
Author:  Alec McClay <alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA> at Internet
Date:    06-04-98 09:55


Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
reference to plant distribution?

Thanks.


Alec McClay
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds

alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada



From colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU  Mon Apr  6 17:34:43 1998
From: colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU (Carmine Colacino)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 17:34:43 
Subject: Biogeographic term
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980406085826.007c5d20@mail.aec.arc.ab.ca>
Message-ID: <mailman.8990.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>reference to plant distribution?



Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")

Generally it refers here (in Italy) to plants in arid stations (Ephedra
distachya, Tribulus terrestris, etc.) or in coastal salty areas (Crypsis
aculeata, Salsola kali, Artemisia maritima, etc.) or (the major group) to
plants introduced with the cultivation of wheat (Avena fatua, Ranunculus
arvensis, Melilotus officinale, Matricaria chamomilla, etc.).

[cf. e.g., "Botanica" by C. Cappelletti, 1976]

--------------------------------------------------------------
Dott. Carmine Colacino
Herbarium Lucanum Universitatis Studiorum Basilicatae (HLUC) &
Dipartimento di biologia, difesa e biotecnologie agroforestali
Universita` della Basilicata - Via N. Sauro, 85
I-85100 Potenza, southern Italy
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tel.: ++39 971 474172; Fax: ++39 971 474256
--------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail & URL personale: colacino at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/utenti/colacino/mediterraneo.html
e-mail & URL Herbarium: hluc at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/dipartimenti/herbarium/hluc.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
'a vita e` n'affacciata 'e fenesta



From johnm at ROM.ON.CA  Mon Apr  6 11:46:00 1998
From: johnm at ROM.ON.CA (John McNeill)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 11:46:00 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8991.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Carmine Colacino replied to Alec McClay as follows:

>At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>reference to plant distribution?

>Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
>Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")

While this is true, it should be noted that the
"Irano-Turanian" phytogeographic region is but one that is
represented in the area Carmine Colacino describes.  For
example within the geographical entity of Palestine, Zohary
identifies the "Mediterranean" region near the coast, the
"Irano-Turanian" further inland, and the "Saharo-Sindian"
further east.  John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



From colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU  Mon Apr  6 18:59:41 1998
From: colacino at SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU (Carmine Colacino)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 18:59:41 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8992.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>Carmine Colacino replied to Alec McClay as follows:
>
>>At 08:58 -0600 6.04.1998, Alec McClay wrote:
>>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>>reference to plant distribution?
>
>>Plants whose distribution extends from the eastern Mediterranean to
>>Anatolia and Iran. (Also referred to as simply "Turanian")
>
>While this is true, it should be noted that the
>"Irano-Turanian" phytogeographic region is but one that is
>represented in the area Carmine Colacino describes.  For
>example within the geographical entity of Palestine, Zohary
>identifies the "Mediterranean" region near the coast, the
>"Irano-Turanian" further inland, and the "Saharo-Sindian"
>further east.  John McNeill

Thanks for pointing it out. Actually, my previous definition was
incomplete, as on further search, the Irano-Turanian region extends further
east than previously indicated (by myself, and more exactly, by the work I
referred to).
Regarding Palestine, actually Zohary refers to 4 different regions for
Palestine (cf. eg Zohary: Plants of the Bible): Mediterranean,
Irano-Turanian (Oriental Steppe), Saharan - all temperate - and Sudanian
(tropical Sudanian-Zambesian, e.g. Aravah Valley).

A more precise definition of the Irano-Turanian region can be found in vol.
1 of "Centers of Plant Diversity", in the chapter on South West Asia and
the Middle East:

"The Irano-Turanian covers 2,400,000 km2, extending eastwards from Anatolia
(Asiatic Turkey) to include most of Syria, Iran and noth-east Afghanistan,
northern Iraq and parts of Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. Outside south-west
Asia it extends northwards into Central Asia (including most of Kazakhstan)
and eastward to the Tien Shan and Altai Mountain chains. ... It is
topographically very diverse, including deserts, low plains, high plateaux
and high mountains."

This time we should all agree, I believe :-)

Greetings.


--------------------------------------------------------------
Dott. Carmine Colacino
Herbarium Lucanum Universitatis Studiorum Basilicatae (HLUC) &
Dipartimento di biologia, difesa e biotecnologie agroforestali
Universita` della Basilicata - Via N. Sauro, 85
I-85100 Potenza, southern Italy
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tel.: ++39 971 474172; Fax: ++39 971 474256
--------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail & URL personale: colacino at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/utenti/colacino/mediterraneo.html
e-mail & URL Herbarium: hluc at unibas.it
http://www.unibas.it/dipartimenti/herbarium/hluc.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
'a vita e` n'affacciata 'e fenesta



From leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV  Mon Apr  6 14:17:26 1998
From: leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV (Detlef Leipe)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 14:17:26 
Subject: job offer at NCBI/GenBank
In-Reply-To: John McNeill <johnm@ROM.ON.CA> "Re: Biogeographic term" (Apr  6,
              11:13am)
Message-ID: <mailman.8993.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear All,

I have appended a job offer to the end of this message. The
position would be most beneficial for somebody who has a
background in traditional systematics but also an interest in
sequence databases, molecular and computational biology. For
more information on the position you can call or email me but
formal applications should go to Dr. Landsman's address
below.

Sincerely,

        Detlef Leipe


Detlef Leipe, Ph.D.
NCBI (GenBank)
National Library of Medicine
NIH, Bldg 38A, Rm 8N-805     email:leipe at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike          phone: 301-435-5999
Bethesda, MD 20894, USA      Facs:  301-480-9241

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Taxonomist Position at NCBI/GenBank

The Taxonomy Project at the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI) in the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
is looking for a postdoctoral scientist with a minimum of 3
years of experience in metazoan systematics. The NCBI/GenBank
taxonomy group attempts to follow phylogenetic principles
wherever possible and it would be preferable if the candidate
were familiar with this approach. The successful candidate
will be required to devote 50% of her/his time to the work
associated with maintaining the taxonomy database. This
includes look-ups in the literature for taxonomic schemes,
keeping contact with our outside taxonomy advisors, checking
for the validity of names, and adding new organisms to the
existing taxonomy database. The other 50% of the time will be
available for independent research.

The initial salary will be between US$ 35,000-50,000 and will
depend on the successful applicants experience. The initial
appointment will be a commitment for two years and could be
extended. Starting dates are negotiable but appointments will
be made as soon as possible.

Applications can be sent via mail, e-mail or faxed to the
address below.

David Landsman, Ph.D.

Chair, Search Committee
NCBI (GenBank)
National Library of Medicine
NIH, Building 38A, Room 8N807      E-mail :  landsman at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike                Phone  :  301-496-2477 x223
Bethesda, MD 20984, USA            Fax    :  301-480-9241

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



From lcjbrick at ANTELOPE.WCC.EDU  Mon Apr  6 14:45:50 1998
From: lcjbrick at ANTELOPE.WCC.EDU (Jerry Bricker)
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1998 14:45:50 
Subject: Weight of Human Head
Message-ID: <mailman.8994.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

A student sent this request to me.  Anyone out there know the answer?


JB

>> What is the proportion of the weight of the human
>head to that of the human
>> body? This is a serious question.

-------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Bricker
Department of Biology
Laramie County Community College
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007-3299
Phone: (307) 778-1139
Fax: (307) 778-1395
e-mail: lcjbrick at antelope.wcc.edu
Homepage: http://www.science.lcc.whecn.edu/biology/mainpage/biology.html

 "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?  I'm halfway through my
fishburger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner."

--Lynda Montgomery



From Les at   Tue Apr  7 09:13:53 1998
From: Les at  (Les at )
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998  9:13:53 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8995.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>To: Alec McClay <alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA>
>From: lesw at albanyis.com.au (Les Watson)
>Subject: Re: Biogeographic term
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>>Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" in
>>reference to plant distribution?

You will find a comprehensive account of `The floristic regions of the
world', with maps, in Appendix II of:


    Takhtajan, A.L. (1969). `Flowering Plants, Origin and Dispersal'.
    (Translation from the Russian by C. Jeffrey). Oliver and Boyd,
Edinburgh.

Dr. Les Watson
78 Vancouver Street                     Email: lesw at albanyis.com.au
Albany, WA 6330, Australia              Phone: +61 98 41 6181



From GUIDO at BR.FGOV.BE  Tue Apr  7 10:25:05 1998
From: GUIDO at BR.FGOV.BE (GUIDO RAPPE)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 10:25:05 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.8996.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

> Can someone please tell me the definition of the term "Irano-Turanian" =
in
> reference to plant distribution?
>=20
> Thanks.
>=20
> Alec McClay
> Research Scientist, Biological Control of Weeds
>=20
> alec at aec.arc.ab.ca       Alberta Research Council
> Phone (403) 632-8207     Bag 4000, Vegreville
> Fax   (403) 632-8612     Alberta T9C 1T4, Canada

Interesting related literature be the contributions of J. L=E9onard on th=
e
Flora and vegetation of the deserts of Iran, published as a series of
separate volumes "Contribution =E0 l'=E9tude de la flore et de la v=E9g=E9=
tation
des d=E9serts d'Iran". Available at the National Botanic Garden of
Belgium. Most recent and last volume: Fascicule 10(2), 1992.
--=20
Guido Rapp=E9

National Botanic Garden of Belgium
Domein van Bouchout=20
B-1860 Meise
Belgium

tel +32 2 269 39 05
fax +32 2 270 15 67

Email: guido.rappe at br.fgov.be

!!Visit the website=20
BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES IN BELGIUM
http://www.br.fgov.be/BIODIV/



From dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE  Tue Apr  7 12:24:05 1998
From: dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE (Paul DESSART)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 12:24:05 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
Message-ID: <mailman.8997.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,

   This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which rests
in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
    For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
    Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
Paul.
Paul Dessart,
Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
29, rue Vautier,
B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique



From leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV  Tue Apr  7 09:54:01 1998
From: leipe at CROCUS.NLM.NIH.GOV (Detlef Leipe)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998  9:54:01 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
In-Reply-To: Paul DESSART <dessart@KBINIRSNB.BE> "sciurus/Eichhorn" (Apr  7,
              12:24pm)
Message-ID: <mailman.8998.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I haven't brought my etymological dictionary to the states but
I have looked it up a couple of years ago and if I remember
correctly than this is derived from an old German adjective
'eik' which describes the quickness or suppleness of
movement and a noun 'horni' which has been a collective for
small mammals in old german (mostly carnivors like marder,
iltist and the like, I think).

So, Eichhorn/Eichhoernchen, translates to something like
the 'quick small mammal'. After 'eik' and  'horni' have been
lost from the German language, folk ethymology has shifted
the spelling of the word to make it similar to words that
still exist in German but it is neither named for the
oak tree nor for having a horn.

As I said, this is from memory. I would await corraboration
from somebody who acutally has a dictonary.


   Detlef






On Apr 7, 12:24pm, Paul DESSART wrote:
> Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
> Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,
>
>    This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
> it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
> useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
> German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
> dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
> Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
> skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
> all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which rests
> in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
>     For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
> sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
>     Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
> Paul.
> Paul Dessart,
> Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
> a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
> 29, rue Vautier,
> B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
>-- End of excerpt from Paul DESSART



From fschroe1 at GWDG.DE  Tue Apr  7 16:42:06 1998
From: fschroe1 at GWDG.DE (Florian Schroeder)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 16:42:06 
Subject: sciurus/ Eichhoernchen
Message-ID: <mailman.8999.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Paul Dessart,
I try to help in the problem of revealing the origin of the german name
for squirrel " Eich horn/ Eichhoernchen":
Synonymes are the german words " Eichkaetzchen or Eichkatze" ( from
Katze= Felis catus).
The word "Eichhoernchen" derived from the old german word "eihhurno" and

this comes from an older word "aikwernan" which is composed of "aik"=
Eiche=Quercus and an very old root stem with the meaning of "
Frettchen"= ferret ( e.g. in latin viverra).
I got this informations from the famous german dictionary "Wahrig
Deutsches Woerterbuch, 6. edition, Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag" and I
hope it is helpful for your problem.
With regards

--
Florian Schroeder
Institut fuer Zoologie und Anthropologie
und Zoologisches Museum
Abtlg.Morphologie u. Systematik
Berliner Str. 28
D-37073 Goettingen
Germany
Phone +49+551 395456
e-mail fschroe1 at gwdg.de



From alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA  Tue Apr  7 22:52:47 1998
From: alec at AEC.ARC.AB.CA (Alec McClay)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 1998 22:52:47 
Subject: Biogeographic term
Message-ID: <mailman.9000.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Thanks to all those who provided information on the Irano-Turanian region.
Alec McClay
Research Scientist,Biological Control of Weeds

Alberta Research Council
PO Bag 4000, Vegreville, Alberta, CANADA T9C 1T4

Tel:    (403) 632-8207
Fax:    (403) 632-8612
Email:  alec at aec.arc.ab.ca



From jjarvie at JAYAPURA.WASANTARA.NET.ID  Wed Apr  8 10:42:22 1998
From: jjarvie at JAYAPURA.WASANTARA.NET.ID (James Jarvie)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998 10:42:22 
Subject: Indonesian biodiversity databases
Message-ID: <mailman.9001.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear Taxacomers,
=20
A project, started recently within the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, =
is commencing work to set up a National Biodiversity Information Network =
(NBIN) for Indonesia.
=20
We are seeking to hook up with data providers who have taxonomic =
databases relevant to Indonesia.  If any are interested, I would be =
grateful for information on:
=20
1.    What sort of taxonomic data are available?
2.    What metadata standards (if any) do you use?  Can an example be =
provided?=20
3.    Do you have active links between your data and a GIS facility?=20
=20
All answers to this address! =20
=20
All best,
=20
Jim


Jim Jarvie
Ecologist/Biodiversity Specialist
National Biodiversity Information Network
Research and Development Center for Biology
Indonesian Institute of Sciences
Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 18
Bogor 16002
Indonesia

T: +62 (0251) 321039=20

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 =
HTML//EN">
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#c8e0d8>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dear Taxacomers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>A project, started recently within the Indonesian =
Institute of=20
Sciences, is commencing work to set up a National Biodiversity =
Information=20
Network (NBIN) for Indonesia.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>We are seeking to hook up with data providers who =
have=20
taxonomic databases relevant to Indonesia.&nbsp; If any are interested, =
I would=20
be grateful for information on:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What sort of taxonomic data are =

available?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What metadata standards (if =
any) do you=20
use?&nbsp; Can an example be provided?</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you have active links =
between your=20
data and a GIS facility?</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>All answers to this address!&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>All best,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Jim</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Jim Jarvie<BR>Ecologist/Biodiversity =

Specialist<BR>National Biodiversity Information Network<BR>Research and=20
Development Center for Biology<BR>Indonesian Institute of =
Sciences<BR>Jl. Ir. H.=20
Juanda 18<BR>Bogor 16002<BR>Indonesia<BR><BR>T: +62 (0251)=20
321039</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01BD62DB.03041140--



From mj00kg at LION.RBGKEW.ORG.UK  Wed Apr  8 11:04:17 1998
From: mj00kg at LION.RBGKEW.ORG.UK (Mark Jackson)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998 11:04:17 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
Message-ID: <mailman.9002.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

We intend to seek funding to mark-up the Richard Spruce archives
held here at Kew, using the recently announced XML standard. The
content of the archive is quite diverse - it contains plant
collecting lists, journals, correspondence, etc.

Our aim is to create a digital text archive which can be processed
into various output media, but we are also interested in the
potential of using marked-up text as a searchable resource alongside
traditional databases.

Before we do, has anyone got any experience of marking up botanical
text using XML (or more likely SGML)? Are there any other projects
out there, perhaps to formulate a botanical DTD?

Mark Jackson
Applications Development Manager
Hanover House,
Kew Green,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
0181-332-5716
M.Jackson at lion.rbgkew.org.uk



From una.smith at YALE.EDU  Wed Apr  8 09:23:36 1998
From: una.smith at YALE.EDU (Una Smith)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998  9:23:36 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
In-Reply-To: <199804081004.LAA03563@lion.rbgkew.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9003.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I was not aware of a new XML standard;  can you provide a reference?

I have used LaTeX (a popular mark-up language) for years, and before
that I used GML and GML derivatives, usually for botanical subjects.
As far as I know, botanical subjects present no special problems.
What issues are you concerned about?

For what it's worth, Allen Press marks up the journals it publishes
(including American Journal of Botany) in SGML and is now offering
some of these journals online in PDF and HTML formats converted from
the source SGML files.  See http://www.allenpress.com/ for more info.

        Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
                                Yale University
        una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106



From sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU  Wed Apr  8 08:46:00 1998
From: sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU (Stuart G. Poss)
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1998  8:46:00 
Subject: XML markup in botanical context
Message-ID: <mailman.9004.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

see

http://www.w3.org/XML/


Una Smith wrote:
>
> I was not aware of a new XML standard;  can you provide a reference?
>
> I have used LaTeX (a popular mark-up language) for years, and before
> that I used GML and GML derivatives, usually for botanical subjects.
> As far as I know, botanical subjects present no special problems.
> What issues are you concerned about?
>
> For what it's worth, Allen Press marks up the journals it publishes
> (including American Journal of Botany) in SGML and is now offering
> some of these journals online in PDF and HTML formats converted from
> the source SGML files.  See http://www.allenpress.com/ for more info.
>
>         Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
>                                 Yale University
>         una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000                        703 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000



From dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE  Fri Apr 10 12:22:07 1998
From: dessart at KBINIRSNB.BE (Paul DESSART)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 12:22:07 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9005.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear all,

A few days ago I discovered that my Eudora-software signed automatically my
messages; as I added the signature myself with copy-paste, many of my
messages had two signatures: this short message just to inform everybody
that this was due to ignorance, not to vanity...
Paul.
Paul Dessart,
Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
29, rue Vautier,
B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique



From stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU  Fri Apr 10 08:33:00 1998
From: stuartf at PEGASUS.CC.UCF.EDU (Stuart Fullerton)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998  8:33:00 
Subject: extinction distinction
Message-ID: <mailman.9006.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dr. John Hitt
President
University of Central Florida

Dear Dr. Hitt:


You and the University of Central Florida are to be congratulated.

Yesterday I went over to the South West corner of the campus to check a
research site just North of Lake Lee. Much to my surprise I find a new
road under construction, and vast areas under de/con-struction for
parking.

Unfortunately this area includes a trap site that I have used for a number
of years. Even more unfortunately this site is the "type trap site and
locality" for a new species of parasitic wasp recently described and
published by Dr. Howard E. Evans:  _Bakeriella mira Evans_.

This particular creature of God is known only from 6 specimens collected
from this specific trap site in 5 years. Nothing is known about its life
habits, prey, or general ecology. After 7 years of continuous campus
survey, as well as in other areas surrounding the campus, this species of
living creature has not been found elsewhere. Now its only known living
area is gone, For all intents and purposes it has become extinct until it
can be "rediscovered" elsewhere.

A second species, also a creation of God, has also gone this way. This is
also a parasitic wasp, recently described and published by Dr. Massimo Olmi
-Dryinus fullertoni Olmi_.  This particular species also has its "type
trap site and locality" listed as the UCF campus. Unfortunately it also
has suffered the same fate. This particular area of campus has recently
been converted into a parking lot and a parking garage is abuilding. It
too, for all intents and purposes has become extinct until it can be
"rediscovered" elsewhere. Likewise absolutely nothing is known about its
life habits, prey, and general ecology.

So much for consideration of the "biodiversity" of the University of
Central Florida campus. We have what is no doubt the unique distinction of
being the only university that has had two new species of living creatures
discovered, named, described, and published with the campus being the
"type" locality, within three years, --- AND had its habitat destroyed.

The distinction of extinction is that of the University of Central Florida
- of which you are our titular head.

I will continue to do what I do best - bug stuff. I understand that the
university is growing, that we will continue to grow, and that this is
considered by many to be progress. However, some days it is very very had
for me and I find it difficult to try and inspire young folks to become
interested in, concerned about, and mindful of being good stewards of
this world.  There is so very very much that we do not know, even about
our own back yard.

Sincerely yours,




Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Sat Apr 11 11:02:10 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 11:02:10 
Subject: NAS Publ. on Teaching Evolution
Message-ID: <mailman.9007.1478109137.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Excerpts from a new publication of the National Academy of Sciences,
of probably interest to many Taxacomers. Go to the URL's indicated
for more details. And then, of course, post your comments to Taxacom
on whether you think NAS did a good job, etc.!

(Will NAS ship copies in plain brown wrappers to teachers in select
school board districts across the U.S.?  :>)

Peter

   Linkname: Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science
        URL: http://www2.nas.edu/whatsnew/2882.html
       size: 259 lines

   Date: April 9, 1998
      ...cut, cut...
   Learning About Evolution Critical for Understanding Science

   WASHINGTON -- Many public school students receive little or no
   exposure to the theory of evolution, the most important concept in
   understanding biology, says a new guidebook from the National Academy
   of Sciences (NAS). Teachers are reluctant to teach evolution because
   of pressures from special-interest groups to downplay or eliminate it
   as part of the science curriculum. Moreover, some are advocating that
   creationism be taught in public schools -- even though the Supreme
   Court ruled in 1987 that creationism is a religious idea that cannot
   be mandated in public education.
     ...cut, cut...
   Science teachers can use the new publication in conjunction with the
   National Science Education Standards -- voluntary guidelines
   introduced three years ago by the National Research Council to ensure
   that all students achieve scientific literacy through improving what
   is taught, how it is taught, and how students are assessed. The
   science standards stress the importance of evolution because
   understanding the theory is essential to mastering basic biology and
   learning how science works. Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of
   Science also provides criteria for evaluating school science programs
   and the content and design of instructional materials.
      ...cut, cut...
   ______________________________________________________________________
   *Copies of Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science are
      ...cut, cut... The complete
   guidebook is also available on the World Wide Web at
   <www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98>.
      ...cut, cut...
   Copyright S 1997 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights
   reserved.



From egrchryso at TAMU.EDU  Mon Apr 13 13:10:22 1998
From: egrchryso at TAMU.EDU (Edward G. Riley)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 13:10:22 
Subject: info on compactors
Message-ID: <mailman.9008.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Taxacomers:

As part of long-range planning effort, we are investigating the feasibility
of using compactors to house our present entomological collections and
anticipated growth.  I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has recent
experience in designing and installing compactor systems for their
collections.  I welcome comments on experiences with various companies that
supply compactor systems in North America, and your views on the pros and
cons, various pit-falls to be avoided, etc. You may respond directly to me.
Thanks ...

Edward G. Riley
Assistant Curator (Collections Manager)
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX  77843
Phone (409) 845-9711
FAX (409) 845-6305



From fewlessg at GBMS01.UWGB.EDU  Tue Apr 14 09:41:46 1998
From: fewlessg at GBMS01.UWGB.EDU (Gary Fewless)
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998  9:41:46 
Subject: info on compactors
In-Reply-To: <b158114c00021004d186@[165.91.184.24]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9009.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I'd be interested in any response to this question also.

On Mon, 13 Apr
1998, Edward G. Riley wrote:

> Taxacomers:
>
> As part of long-range planning effort, we are investigating the feasibility
> of using compactors to house our present entomological collections and
> anticipated growth.  I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has recent
> experience in designing and installing compactor systems for their
> collections.  I welcome comments on experiences with various companies that
> supply compactor systems in North America, and your views on the pros and
> cons, various pit-falls to be avoided, etc. You may respond directly to me.
> Thanks ...
>
> Edward G. Riley
> Assistant Curator (Collections Manager)
> Department of Entomology
> Texas A&M University
> College Station, TX  77843
> Phone (409) 845-9711
> FAX (409) 845-6305
>



From nawaz at KACST.EDU.SA  Thu Apr 16 12:53:05 1998
From: nawaz at KACST.EDU.SA (Abdul Ghafoor Ali Nawaz)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:53:05 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9010.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxacomers,

I would like to know the view point of members of the list on consequences
of hybridization and hybrid speciation. Could one speculate origin of a
species on the basis of morphological differences and resemblances or
characters shared by a suspected (or to be described )new species with its
possible  parents.
How could an evidence to such a speculation be provided? Could this evidence
be provided from the geographic distribution (allopatry or sympatry) of the
suspected parents of the new hybridogenous species.


Abdul Ghafoor
Scientific Research Specialist,
Herbarium,
Research Institute of Natural Resources & Environment,
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology,
P.O.Box 6086, Riyadh-11442, Saudi Arabia

Fax: 00-966-1-4813611
E-mail: nawaz at kacst.edu.sa



From S.Helfer at RBGE.ORG.UK  Thu Apr 16 11:29:53 1998
From: S.Helfer at RBGE.ORG.UK (Stephan Helfer)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:29:53 
Subject: Edinburgh Herbarium (E) new FAX number
Message-ID: <mailman.9011.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxonomists

With the installation of a new telephone system the fax number for
the Edinburgh Herbarium (E) has changed. Please take a note of our
new numbers:

Fax: +44 (0)131 248 2901
Herbarium Office direct 'Phone number: +44 (0)131 248 2855

the General Enquiries number [+44 (0)131 552 7171] and email address
[herbarium at rbge.org.uk] are unchanged.

Sincerely
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO
|Senior Mycologist - MSc Course Director
|
|Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR,
|Scotland UK
|
|http://www.rbge.org.uk
|
|phone: +44 (0)131 248 2865 (direct digital line)
|fax:   +44 (0)131 248 2901
|
+------------------------------------------------------------------



From melot at ITN.IS  Thu Apr 16 13:58:09 1998
From: melot at ITN.IS (Jacques Melot)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 13:58:09 
Subject: sciurus/Eichhorn
In-Reply-To: <3.0.2.32.19980407122405.0068a804@d5100.kbinirsnb.be>
Message-ID: <mailman.9012.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

=A0Le 7/04/98, =E0 10:24 +0000, nous recevions de Paul DESSART :

>Dear German-speaking Taxacomers,
>
>   This may seem to have no relation with my entomological work, but
>it DOES actually have, although accessorily, of course (too long and
>useless to explain here). So I would be extremely grateful to any
>German speaking colleague, in possession of an etymological German
>dictionary, who would send me the explanation of the German name
>Eich-horn (Sciurus; Mammalia, Rodentia). (By the way, the Greek
>skiouros, the Latin sciurus, the French e'cureuil, the Enghish squirrel,
>all derive from skia: shadow, and ouros: tail, i.e. the animal which res=
ts
>in the shadow of its own tail: what anybody may check in nature).
>    For me, Eich is oak (Quercus) and Horn is ... horn (cornu). The
>sense of the combination escapes to my understanding.
>    Many, many thanks to any collaborator.
>Paul.
>Paul Dessart,
>Chef honoraire de la Section Insectes et Arachnomorphes
>a l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,
>29, rue Vautier,
>B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgique


[Une version accentuee est donnee a la suite.]

Le mot allemand actuel << Eichhorn >> (fr. ecureuil), vient du norrois <<
ikorni >> (ce qui est encore le nom actuel en islandais moderne) qui a
donne l'anglo-saxon << acweorna >>, << acwern >>, le moyen neerlandais <<
eencoren >>, le moyen saxon << ekeren >>, << ekhorn >>, le vieux haut
allemand << eihhurno >>, << eihhorno >>. Le mot << ikorni >> devrait
provenir du germanique commun << *aikwerna >> ou << *ikwerna >>.
La premiere partie du mot, aik- ou ik-, est le plus souvent consideree
comme derivee du norrois << eikinn >>, dont le sens est << se mouvoir ave=
c
velocite >>, << industrieux >>, << qui ne connait pas de repos >>, cf. gr=
ec
<< aigis >> (tempete), vieil indien << ejati >> (se remuer), slavon <<
igrati >> (sautiller), indo-europeen << *aig >> (remuer, agiter).
La seconde partie du mot, -werna, correspondrait au vieux celte *vever, a=
u
lituanien (une langue qui a garde de remarquables archaismes) vovere, au
vieux prussion vevare, au slavon veverica, au grec berberitza, au perse
varvarah et au latin viverra (furet) et, qui sait, peut-etre meme le mot
francais << vouivre >> (cf. Marcel Ayme).
La deuxieme partie du compose allemand (<< -horn >>), une forme
d'etymologie populaire, n'est pas anterieure au XIe siecle. Elle a servi
d'exemple a la formation d'autres noms d'animaux : Backenhorn, Flatterhor=
n,
etc., C'est la famille des Sciuridae (Hornchen).
Les dictionnaires etymologiques francais admettent generalement que <<
ecureuil >> vient du grec par le latin << skioyros >> (qui se fait de
l'ombre avec sa queue) > lat. << sciurus >>, qui, par une metathese qui
s'explique par la difficulte de prononciation, a donne << scurius >>, d'o=
u
le diminutif << scuriolus >> > vieux francais << escuriuel >> (Chretien d=
e
Troyes, 1175).

[Version riche]

Le mot allemand actuel =AB Eichhorn =BB (fr. =E9cureuil), vient du norroi=
s =AB
=EDkorni =BB (ce qui est encore le nom actuel en islandais moderne) qui a=
 donn=E9
l=B9anglo-saxon =AB acweorna =BB, =AB acwern =BB, le moyen n=E9erlandais =
=AB eencoren =BB,
le moyen saxon =AB ekeren =BB, =AB ekhorn =BB, le vieux haut allemand =AB=
 eihhurno =BB,
=AB eihhorno =BB. Le mot =AB =EDkorni =BB devrait provenir du germanique =
commun =AB
*aikwerna =BB ou =AB *ikwerna =BB.
La premi=E8re partie du mot, aik- ou ik-, est le plus souvent consid=E9r=E9=
e
comme d=E9riv=E9e du norrois =AB eikinn =BB, dont le sens est =AB se mouv=
oir avec
v=E9locit=E9 =BB, =AB industrieux =BB, =AB qui ne conna=EEt pas de repos =
=BB, cf. grec =AB
aigis =BB (temp=EAte), vieil indien =AB ejati =BB (se remuer), slavon =AB=
 igrati =BB
(sautiller), indo-europ=E9en =AB *aig =BB (remuer, agiter).
La seconde partie du mot, -werna, correspondrait au vieux celte *vever, a=
u
lituanien (une langue qui a gard=E9 de remarquables archa=EFsmes) vovere,=
 au
vieux prussion vevare, au slavon veverica, au grec berberitza, au perse
varvarah et au latin viverra (furet) et, qui sait, peut-=EAtre m=EAme le =
mot
fran=E7ais =AB vouivre =BB (cf. Marcel Aym=E9).
La deuxi=E8me partie du compos=E9 allemand (=AB -horn =BB), une forme d=B9=
=E9tymologie
populaire, n=B9est pas ant=E9rieure au XIe si=E8cle. Elle a servi d=B9exe=
mple =E0 la
formation d=B9autres noms d=B9animaux : Backenhorn, Flatterhorn, etc., C=B9=
est la
famille des Sciuridae (H=F6rnchen).
Les dictionnaires =E9tymologiques fran=E7ais admettent g=E9n=E9ralement q=
ue =AB
=E9cureuil =BB vient du grec par le latin =AB skioyros =BB (qui se fait d=
e l=B9ombre
avec sa queue) > lat. =AB sciurus =BB, qui, par une m=E9tath=E8se qui s=B9=
explique
par la difficult=E9 de prononciation, a donn=E9 =AB scurius =BB, d=B9o=F9=
 le diminutif
=AB scuriolus =BB > vieux fran=E7ais =AB escuriuel =BB (Chr=E9tien de Tro=
yes, 1175).

   Salutations amicales,

Jacques Melot, Reykjavik
melot at itn.is



From Athanasios at   Fri Apr 17 02:54:29 1998
From: Athanasios at  (Athanasios at )
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998  2:54:29 
Subject: Miniacina miniacea
Message-ID: <mailman.9013.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear taxacomers,

This beauty is a common epiphyte on Posidonia rhizomes and other substrata
in the Aegean. Sometimes it is found in great numbers on the beach
colouring the sand.
Can anybody tell me the distribution of the species ? is the genus monotypic ?

I have recently observed it on a collection from the Bahamas. Is it the
same species ?

Many thanks in advance.

Athanasios



From R.Hyam at RBGE.ORG.UK  Fri Apr 17 11:53:02 1998
From: R.Hyam at RBGE.ORG.UK (ROGER HYAM)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 11:53:02 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9014.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Abdul Ghafoor and others,

I have done some thinking about this problem with regard to the genus
Rhododendron where hybridisation is rife.

I believe one first has to ask the question 'What is a hybrid?'

The mundane definition of this is that it is a cross between two
species but as species boundaries are often a matter of opinion and
may certainly be debated this is not much use. I therefore define a
hybrid in a cladistic sense - as a cross between two non-sister taxa
(i.e. taxa that would form a paraphyletic group).

If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.

If the patents of a hybrid are non-sisters (i.e. can be demonstrated
to have different evolutionary histories) then the hybrid can truely
be said to be a hybrid.

All this becomes clear if you draw out the trees. Something I won't
attempt to do on e-mail.

The problem with all this theory is that it relies on an analysis
having been carried out on a data set that excludes all the hybrids.
This is tricky!! The only suggestion I have here is to use intuition
and leave out obviously phenetically intermediate taxa. This is not
a solution to the problem just a means of getting on with something.

Whether a species is of hybrid origin can not be detected
retrospectively using phenetic or cladistic analyses alone, really
one needs to employ the techniques of population/molecular biology
and cytology to answer this kind of question.

At the alpha-taxonomic level one could say that it doesn't really
matter. Describe every distinct entity as a taxon and, unless there
is very good circumstantial evidence (e.g. sympatric distributions
and deformed pollen) keep speculation on the origins of the group in
a comments or notes section of the publication. Some one can always
put an X infront of the name at a later date.

Hope this helps out. I am sure that there are taxacomers who will
strongly disagree with part or all of what I have said and voice
different opinions.

Roger.



**************************************
Dr Roger Hyam
Royal Botanic Garden,
Inverleith Row,
Edinburgh, EH3 5LR
Scotland, U.K.
Tel. 0131 248 2893 (direct)
Tel. 0131 552 7171 (switchboard)
Fax. 0131 248 2901
http://www.rbge.org.uk
*************************************
Please Note New Phone & Fax Numbers !
*************************************



From dgeiger at SCF-FS.USC.EDU  Fri Apr 17 08:57:11 1998
From: dgeiger at SCF-FS.USC.EDU (Daniel L. Geiger)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998  8:57:11 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <4BE4D53677@rbg-3.rbge.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9015.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>I believe one first has to ask the question 'What is a hybrid?'

Good point to start with.

>I therefore define a
>hybrid in a cladistic sense - as a cross between two non-sister taxa
>(i.e. taxa that would form a paraphyletic group).
>
>If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
>taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
>these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
>taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.

Here I disagree. I work in the marine snail family Haliotidae (= abalone,
ormers). On the West American coast pretty much all 7 "species" hybridize,
at least most of them have been documented in laboratory cross
fertilization studies and a good number of them have been observed in the
field, though in low frequencies. So then if all species hybridize and the
fact that they form a monophyletic group, that then means that at least
some are sister species; hence we have one west coast species according to
the above definition. This is clearly nonsense in the abalone, where
postive Darwinian selection has been demonstrated for some sperm acrosomal
protein (Vacquier and co-workers at SCIRPPS, UCSD). The animals as well as
the shells are distinct with rather little variation.

So I think the non-sister species argument is certainly powerfull, but it
shall not exclude hybrids of "good" sister species. A frequency argument
may be helpful to understand a particular case. Where we have some
estimates on the frequency in abalone it is on the order of 0.5%, i.e.,
rather low.

I second the point that cladistic or phenetic methodologies cannot identify
reticulate speciation, so some other approach needs to be taken.

Daniel Geiger

*****************************************************************************
Daniel L. Geiger
Department of Biological Sciences
Allan Hancock Foundation Building 233
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
USA

phone  (213) 740 5783
fax    (213) 740 8123
e-mail dgeiger at usc.edu
www    http://nhm.org/~dgeiger



From jcclark at CSUPOMONA.EDU  Fri Apr 17 20:54:25 1998
From: jcclark at CSUPOMONA.EDU (Curtis Clark)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 20:54:25 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <4BE4D53677@rbg-3.rbge.org.uk>
Message-ID: <mailman.9016.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 11:53 AM 4/17/98 +0000, ROGER HYAM wrote:
>If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
>taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
>these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
>taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.


Even if the hybrids are sterile?

And consider the following case:


A--+
   +--+
B--+  +----
      |
C-----+

By your measure, a hybrid between A and B would demonstrate that they are
conspecific, but a hybrid between A and C, since they are not sister taxa,
would be a hybrid. But if A and B are conspecific, then C is the sister to
the species A+B, so A x C is not a hybrid. Following this method, one could
reduce much of the Orchidaceae to synonymy.


----------------------------------------------------------------
Curtis Clark         http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
Biological Sciences Department             Voice: (909) 869-4062
California State Polytechnic University      FAX: (909) 869-4078
Pomona CA 91768-4032  USA                  jcclark at csupomona.edu



From mcall at SUPERAJE.COM  Sat Apr 18 07:49:15 1998
From: mcall at SUPERAJE.COM (Don McAllister)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  7:49:15 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9017.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hybridisation per se does not indicate that the two entities are conspecific.
Hybrids can be sterile.  Hybridisation with fertile offspring can be so rare
that there is no significant genetic interchange between the two species which
are thus able to maintain their distinctions.  Hybridisation may occur when the
environment is severely disturbed by humans or where the numbers of one species
are so depleted by humans that there is little opportunity to find a mate of
the same species, but be absent in undisturbed areas.  About 1% of the sucker
family, Catostomidae (a fish family) are saide to be hybrids in the U.S., but
the species remain distinct.

don

Curtis Clark wrote:

> At 11:53 AM 4/17/98 +0000, ROGER HYAM wrote:
> >If a cross occures between sister taxa then it suggests that these
> >taxa should be considered as a single entity - how could we show that
> >these two taxa (OTUs in our analysis) aren't segregates of a larger
> >taxon? 'Hybrids' of this type should not be formally recognised.
>
> Even if the hybrids are sterile?
>
> And consider the following case:
>
> A--+
>    +--+
> B--+  +----
>       |
> C-----+
>
> By your measure, a hybrid between A and B would demonstrate that they are
> conspecific, but a hybrid between A and C, since they are not sister taxa,
> would be a hybrid. But if A and B are conspecific, then C is the sister to
> the species A+B, so A x C is not a hybrid. Following this method, one could
> reduce much of the Orchidaceae to synonymy.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Curtis Clark         http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/
> Biological Sciences Department             Voice: (909) 869-4062
> California State Polytechnic University      FAX: (909) 869-4078
> Pomona CA 91768-4032  USA                  jcclark at csupomona.edu



--
Don E. McAllister             /& Canadian Centre for Biodiversity
Ocean Voice International          /Canadian Museum of Nature
Box 37026, 3332 McCarthy Rd. /Box 3443, Station D
Ottawa, ON K1V 0W0, Canada    /Ottawa, ON K1P 6P4
URL: http://www.ovi.ca  E-mail: mcall at superaje.com
 (or: ah194 at freenet.carleton.ca) Tel: (613) 264-8986, Fax: (613) 264-9204



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Sat Apr 18 09:36:43 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  9:36:43 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980417205425.0075db68@mail.intranet.csupomona.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9018.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
else out there been thinking about this?

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
lesk at bio.bu.edu
617-353-5560 office
617-353-6965 lab
617-353-6340 fax



From ret at PLUTO.NJCC.COM  Sat Apr 18 09:54:51 1998
From: ret at PLUTO.NJCC.COM (Rodham E. Tulloss)
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998  9:54:51 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9019.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

It would be very nice if Ron Petersen (Univ. Tenn.) would add to this
discussion regarding fungi.  He has several interesting examples of taxa
that are treated as species and have been separated from each other geo-
graphically for ...well...very long periods of time, but have some
"reproductive memory" and can mate with probabilities that he has
established.  The mating produces viable, fertile offspring.  Some of his
percentages are very low...like 4% if I remember (between an Australian
and a North American species in Omphalotus).

Rod Tulloss



From atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX  Sun Apr 19 14:03:56 1998
From: atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX (A. Contreras-Ramos)
Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 14:03:56 
Subject: Rio Longo, Bolivia.
Message-ID: <mailman.9020.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Members of Taxacom,

Several dobsonfly specimens (Megaloptera) were collected from Bolivia
(probably in the early 1900's) by a collector named H. Fassl. and are
part of the N. Banks collections at the MCZ.  One of the localities is
"Rio Longo", a river I have not been able to locate in any of the atlases
that I have checked.  I would appreciate receiving any information on
where in Bolivia (province, if possible) is that river located.  Since
this is of no general interest please reply directly to me.  Thanks very
much in advance.

-----------------------------------------------------
Atilano Contreras-Ramos, Ph.D.
Instituto de Biologia, U.N.A.M.; Depto. Zoologia;
Apdo. Postal 70-153; 04510 Mexico, D.F.; MEXICO.
tel. oficina (525) 622-5705, -5706; exs. 286, 287
fax (525) 550-0164; tel. casa (525) 528-2636
atilano at mail.ibiologia.unam.mx
species at servidor.unam.mx
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/eukaryotes/animals/
arthropoda/hexapoda/megaloptera/megaloptera.html
-----------------------------------------------------



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Mon Apr 20 07:25:24 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  7:25:24 
Subject: Genera Strongylium 1819 and 1809 PROTOZOA
Message-ID: <mailman.9021.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear colleagues,

I am looking for reference on genus Strongylium Ditmar 1809 Protozoa,
[there is common used name Strongylium 1819 Kirby for Tenebrionidae
(Coleoptera) is in this case preoccupied and therefore probably and has to
be replaced.]

I will be please for any comment about this Protozoa genus, too.

Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

(home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.



From Athanasios at   Mon Apr 20 04:22:06 1998
From: Athanasios at  (Athanasios at )
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  4:22:06 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9022.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

>A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
>Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
>of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
>way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
>shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
>may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
>and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've
>been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
>else out there been thinking about this?
>
>Les Kaufman
>Boston University Marine Program
>lesk at bio.bu.edu

What seems important to me, is the group you deal with. In marine algae,
particularly corallines and other calcified groups, there are many species
postulated to be living fossils. Many of these organisms have a sexual life
history and have apparently coexisted with 'related' species for million of
years. The fact that they are distinct today suggest that after all the way
that Hennig (& Croizat ?) had in mind may be true (for these groups at
least).



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 09:43:38 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  9:43:38 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
Message-ID: <mailman.9023.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Some comments regarding notes by Les Kaufman on Croizat and Hennig and hybrids.
I have not read everything of Croizat's, and have not concentrated on his
considerations of species, but I am not aware that anything Les stated
about the complexity of landscape fragmentation and speciation would
conflict with Croizat's position. I do recall that Croizat was very
critical of cladistic splitting being representative of actual speciation
in many cases where he considered a polycotomous division to be more true
to the event even though the character relationships of the descendants
could be resolved to a dichotomous level.

The concept of "webbing at the node" would also appear to be in close
agreement with Croizat's concept of differentiated ancestor. Heads (Syst
Zoo 1985 pp 205-215) identified distinguished between the concepts of
differentiated and uniform ancestor. To the former he identified Croizat,
Simpson and Rosa, and the latter Darwin, Hennig, Brundin, Mayr, Nelson, and
Platnick.

On page 188 of Space, Time, Form, Croizat illustrates a model of
form-making ("speciation" in which the rearrangements of the landscape is
distinctly uneven. When considering the process of differentiation
(form-making) Croizat emphasizes character recombination of an acestor that
is already partially differentiated, both biologically and
geogeographically. The idea that vicariants may achieve the level of
semispecies, then anastomose back and forth would seem to be compatible
with Croizat. On page 184 Crioizat refers to hybridization of populations
within a species complex as part of the normal process of differentiation.

Heads (1990, New Zealand Journal of Zoology 16(4) p. 578), provides an
illustration of complex ancestral differentiation which he refers to as
hybrid swarms which may form and deform, with the possiblity that the
"crystallisation" of such swarms may result in descendant taxa with a very
high potential to hybrize. The concept of "hybrid swarm" and "webbing at
the node" would appear to have much in common, particularly in the
reference to node, since nodes are biogeographically and phylogenetically
complex points of differentiation in space and time.

John Grehan


>>A major challenge, and one that I believe we are having with the Lake
>>Victoria haplochromines, is that of adequately dealing with early stages
>>of lineage splitting.  In the real world, this does not happen exactly the
>>way that Croizat or Hennig seemed to have in mind.  Some landscapes
>>shatter, rather than divide evenly, producing scores of vicariants that
>>may alternately achieve the level of semispecies, then anastomose, back
>>and forth, until some decisive event puts an end to the confusion.   I've
>>been calling this "the webbing at the node."  Has anybody
>>else out there been thinking about this?
>>
>>Les Kaufman
>>Boston University Marine Program
>>lesk at bio.bu.edu
>
>What seems important to me, is the group you deal with. In marine algae,
>particularly corallines and other calcified groups, there are many species
>postulated to be living fossils. Many of these organisms have a sexual life
>history and have apparently coexisted with 'related' species for million of
>years. The fact that they are distinct today suggest that after all the way
>that Hennig (& Croizat ?) had in mind may be true (for these groups at
>least).



From "=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu  Mon Apr 20 16:19:19 1998
From: "=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu ("=?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Geir_E._E._S=F6li=22?=" at Mizzou1.Missouri.edu)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 16:19:19 
Subject: VACANT POSITION
Message-ID: <mailman.9024.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

<bold>Associate Professor in Molecular Systematics (Zoology)

</bold>

The Zoological Museum at the University of Oslo is seeking qualified

applicants for the above position.  The Museum will strengthen its
research

activities in systematic zoology, and is seeking a person that can
build a

strong research group in molecular systematics. The position is placed
in

the Section for Marine Invertebrates and has the curatorial
responsibility

for scientific collections of several invertebrate taxa, among which
the

collection of crustaceans is of particular international importance.


The successful applicant must have a strong scientific record in
molecular

systematics, and preferably in the systematics of invertebrates.
Practical

experience with various molecular methods will be required.  He or she

should also have curatorial experience. Documented qualifications in

teaching, administration and museum-related activities will also be

considered.


=46urther information about the museum and the available position can be

obtained at http://www.toyen.uio.no/zoomus/, or by contacting professor
Jan

T. Lifjeld (e-mail: j.t.lifjeld at toyen.uio.no). The application should

contain a full CV and copies of until ten scientific papers for
specific

evaluation. The application should be sent in three copies to the

Zoological Museum, University of Oslo, Sars gate 1, N-0562 Oslo.
Closing

date: 7 May 1998.

=20



From kinman at HOTMAIL.COM  Mon Apr 20 07:59:02 1998
From: kinman at HOTMAIL.COM (Ken Kinman)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998  7:59:02 
Subject: IMPORTANT PAPER: SYNOPSIS & TEXT
Message-ID: <mailman.9025.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

**TITLE: Another Woesian Myth Exposed As Simplistic and Homoplasious,
      Woese's "Stanier Memorial" Self-Serving Authoritarian Sophistry,
      And Finally Regrouping For "A True Renaissance In Bacteriology"
                         by Kenneth E. Kinman
      Citation: Journal of MetaBioSystematics, No. 9 (April 1998)
**SYNOPSIS: (1) Bacterial Diversity and Classification;(2) Mis-
conceptions on the distribution of ester and ether-linked lipids;
(3) Its Implication for the new "HYDROGEN HYPOTHESIS" of eukaryotic
origins; (4) the core of Lake's "Eocyte" theory; (5) Woese's totally
inappropriate choice of occasion ("Stanier Memorial" Lecture) to
criticize Stanier and self-servingly declare a Woesian "Renaissance";
(6) the derived nature of thermophilic life; (7) Whole Genome Sequencing
(what organisms should have higher priority?); and
(8) Trees of Life (Three Domains are simplistic and harmful).
        * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
***FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE:
     Before delving into parallel evolution and the homoplasious nature
of the ether lipid "character" (they actually do occur in Eubacteria,
even the branched-chain type, despite common belief), I would first like
to thank the NCBI taxonomy staff for quickly acting after my paper of
last October (text on my Internet homepage at:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074  ; the text of other relevant
papers are also found there).  Synergistes was not only removed from
Family Clostridiaceae, but from Firmicutes (my Posibacteracea)
altogether, and placed in a "group" of its own.  I was also encouraged
by the January 1998 paper of Hugenholtz et al. (Journal of Bacteriology,
180:366-376) which shows Synergistes branching next to the
Proteobacteria, and thus supports the view of my 1996 and 1997 papers.
These may seem like trivial matters at this point in time, but this
group may prove to be very important in fleshing out a true eubacterial
phylogeny.  Neither "Proteobacteria" (which is probably not holophyletic
anyway), nor Synergistaceae, are nearly as peripheral and unimportant to
bacterial evolution as present gene trees would indicate.  Just more
Woesian distortions that must be addressed.
     More importantly at the present time, however, both NCBI's taxonomy
and the Hugenholtz paper demonstrate a widespread reluctance to adopt a
stable Linnaean classification for bacteria, like the one I presented in
my 1994 book (The Kinman System: Toward A Stable Cladisto-Eclectic
Classification of Organisms; see footnote).  Instead we have a very
uncoordinated conglomeration of "groups", common names, formal names
(some poorly conceived), and "Odyssean" genera (wandering about without
a home).  Do we have to wait for years in a confusing limbo until
another edition of Bergey's Manual finally restores some order?  I think
this would be a mistake (especially since the last edition apparently
made little impact upon molecular biologists anyway), and my formal
classification of 1994 needs relatively little modification (although I
would like to expand it down to family, or even generic level).
     In any case, the genus Synergistes does have a home, namely Family
Synergistaceae Kinman, 1996.  And now that its distinctiveness is being
acknowledged, I here propose that it constitutes a new higher taxon,
Order Synergistales ord. nov.  I would also note that other distinctive
orders were proposed in the 1994 book, including Fibrobacterales,
Thermodesulfobacteriales (which have branched-chain ether-linked lipids,
as will be discussed below), and Verrucomicrobiales.   The latter name
has also been independently proposed by others and is gaining gradual
acceptance, and it is distinctive enough that I placed it in its own
Class Verrucomicrobea (in The Kinman System, 1994).
     WARNING:  I am definitely not advocating a mindless or rapid,
wholesale increase in higher taxa of bacteria.  On the contrary, I
believe it is Woese's "Three Domain Theory" which poses the added risk
of massive and unwarranted taxonomic inflation (on top of all the other
problems it is causing).  Hugenholtz et al.'s many "candidate divisions"
provide an unsettling omen that overreaction to newly discovered
bacterial diversity could initiate an excessive taxonomic pendulum
swing, particularly in the most distorted part of Woese's misrooted
phylogenies, namely in my Class Togobacteracea (where most of these
"candidate divisions" are popping up).  These extremes of homeless
genera on the one hand, and numerous candidate divisions on the other,
can only cause a confusing smoke screen that will prevent a stable
taxonomy and delay the inevitable realization of just how distorted and
damaging Woesian bacterial phylogenies actually are.
  >>>The Lipid Misconception---Another Woesian "Simplistication"<<<
     It is clearly not in the interests of Woese et al. to elaborate on
matters than run counter to their paradigm, thus allowing a continuation
of the resulting widespread notion that membrane lipids support a
"monophyletic" (holophyletic) Metabacteria ("Archaebacteria").  I
believe the scientific community at large must take a closer look.
Ether-linked lipids (sometimes even the branched-chain diether types)
actually do occur in Eubacteria (in Aquificales, Thermotogales,
Thermodesulfobacteriales, and no doubt other groups).  Furthermore,
halophilic Metabacteria contain some "ester-linked" lipids and
functional fatty acid synthetases (see Kamekura and Kates, 1988; in the
book Halophilic Bacteria, Rodriques-Valera, ed.).
     This distribution of lipids (along with the homoplasious tendency
of thermophiles to "prefer" ether-linked lipids to the less thermostable
ester-linked types) leads me to believe that many primitive Metabacteria
must have possessed various lipid combinations utilizing two linkage
types and two stereochemistries.  Furthermore, most of the
recently-discovered, non-thermophilic extant members of this group (in
both mesophilic and psychrophilic habitats) are only known from their
rRNA.  Once cultured, some of them could be shown to contain a weak
"ester-linked" composition (like the halophiles) or possibly even
stronger such compositions (especially if some of them lack strong
thermophiles in their ancestry--a possibility worth noting once one
ignores the Woesian myth of a thermophilic origin of life).  I will not
discuss murein here, but I would surmise that there was probably also a
fairly smooth transition between forms containing murein and
pseudomurein (probably no need to invoke convergence for this
character).
     For those who are caught up in 20 years of Woesian circular
reasoning, please do not be tempted to view ether-linked lipids as
"primitive" based upon their distribution in Woese's Three Domain trees.
As a former organic chemist myself, I can assure you that living systems
(and their organic constituents) have a great deal of difficulty
surviving thermophilic conditions.  It took a tremendous amount of
biochemical "pre-adaptation" (including ether lipids in most cases) for
thermophilic life to evolve (the hyperthermophiles in particular).
Years from now scientists will not only chuckle when they look at
Woesian "Trees of Life" (especially the eubacterial parts), but
philosophers of science will wonder why the primitiveness of thermophily
was ever taken seriously at all, much less for decades.
     Although I have not fully evaluated the recent and fascinating
"Hydrogen Hypothesis" for the origin of the eukaryotic cell (Martin and
Muller, 1998; Nature, 392:37-41), I would suggest to others (as I have
already suggested to them) a possible alternative to their solution of
the lipid problem addressed in their Figure 2(d).  In view of what is
related above, I think a more parsimonious solution would be that the
Metabacterial ("Archaebacterial") host of the first eukaryote (assuming
it was the host) may well have had a composite lipid membrane profile
all along.  It is even conceivable it had a predominantly ester-linked
lipid membrane.  The point is that we don't have to invoke reversals and
other unparsimonious explanations every time there are incongruencies
with Woese's ideas.  Once we begin really challenging the underpinnings
of Woesian ideas and phylogenies, many of the incongruencies and
puzzling paradoxes will simply disappear.
     In any case, once we have begun culturing the many "environmental"
members of Euryarchaea and Crenarchaea, we will be in a better position
to deal with the Metabacterial incongruencies more effectively.  This is
especially true for the latter, because Crenarchaea are just another
(but formal) name for Dr. Lake's "eocytes".  Although I disapproved of
his eocyte trees in the 1980's (which made Eubacteria too derived and
metabacterial groups too deep and archaic), his more recent eocyte trees
are much improved.  I still strongly object to viewing Eubacteria as a
"monophyletic" (holophyletic) group, but this is a widespread Woesian
misconception that is rarely challenged (but I continue my research in
trying to set that all straight).  However, I certainly wasn't about to
throw the baby out with the bathwater and have always embraced that part
of Lake's eocyte theory that views Crenarchaea (eocytes) as the
metabacterial (archaebacterial) component of the eukaryotic cell.  I
showed Eukaryota evolving from Crenarchaea in my recent book (The Kinman
System; see footnote) since they were the major component of the
chimaeric eukaryotic cell.  My own continuing studies of Woese's 16S
rRNA data further strengthens my belief in this central tenet of the
"eocyte" theory.
     >>>>Woese's Self-Serving Sermon At Stanier's Expense<<<<
     The Roger Y. Stanier Memorial Lecture of 11 March 1993, given by
Carl Woese, must have been rather uncomfortable (if not shocking) for
many microbiologists.  What a terrible choice of occasion to be branding
the Stanier years as "The Dark Age" and self-servingly declaring a
Woesian "Renaissance".  If I had then been aware of this and other
examples of such poor judgment (both socially and scientifically), I
would have never even begun my attempts to correspond with him in 1994.
This is doubly true in retrospect since I have not received a single
word of correspondence in return, and not even the courtesy of any
reprints.  Perhaps it is fitting that a bully in the pulpit is finally
beginning to get a taste of his own medicine.
     I firmly believe that (1) the lipid misconception discussed above,
(2) the reluctance to embrace the core of Lake's eocyte theory, and (3)
the clumsy, disinformational nature of present bacterial
classifications, are all further cases of prokaryotic evolution being
obscured by an intransigent refusal to let go of a much greater
misconception (namely a thermophilic origin of life and/or a
thermophilic cenancestor of all extant life), and we all know where that
misconception originated!  The discovery in 1977 that we had been
overlooking two important and closely related groups of Metabacteria
(Euryarchaea and Crenarchaea) was unfortunately ladened with a heavy
burden of erroneous notions, including: (1) a fundamental primitiveness
of thermophily, (2) "archaic" primitiveness of Eukaryota and
Metabacteria, and (3) "monophyly" (holophyly) of three simplistic
Urkingdoms.  I have finally concluded that Woese may never let go of his
Three Urkingdoms (a.k.a. Three Domains), in spite of contrary evidence
and criticism.  However, although rRNA sequences are extremely important
(and I rely on them heavily myself), it is foolhardy to view the Woesian
"Tree of RIBOSOMES" as a true "Tree of LIFE".  There are clearly Three
Domains of Ribosomes, but to simplistically declare Three Domains of
Life is not only illogical (as eminent scientists have repeatedly
noted), but also far more damaging than any of them ever imagined.
Eventually the Tree of Ribosomes and the Tree of Life will be one and
the same (but not with Three Domains).
     The reclassification of prokaryotes is progressing in spite of all
this, but we would undoubtedly be much further along without 20 years of
unresolved and unchallenged baggage. Perhaps microbiology would have
experienced a much easier transition if Metabacteria had been discovered
a year or two later by someone else.  I was truly convinced that my 1994
classification (of prokaryotes in particular) would facilitate, perhaps
even invigorate, the process of reevaluation.  Instead I have been very
disappointed by the lack of response to, understanding of, or even
willingness to consider, my contributions thus far.  Whether the
situation in bacteriology is remedied sooner or later, efficiently or
not, we may be shaking our heads 10 years hence in disbelief how clouded
our thinking has been.  The Three Urkingdoms were like boils (in need of
lancing) back in 1990.  Regretfully they were instead bandaged over,
spin-doctored into Three Domains, and allowed to fester ever since.
     And the claims in 1996 that the Methanococcus jannaschii genome
supports the Three Domain Theory seem to be little more than wishful
thinking in the form of nonsensical and unscientific sensationalism,
once again reflective of Woesian authoritarian sophistry.  Complete
genome sequencing is still too expensive to be making such unwise
choices as to which organisms should receive higher priorities.  For
those who think my tone has been too irreverent of late, it was at this
point (August 1996) that my frustration and concern became more like
indignation, especially when my letter to Science was not printed (even
though I expressed my reactions quite diplomatically).  Although never
published, that letter appears on my Internet homepage at:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074    Judge for yourself whether it
was worth printing.
     Ironically it was Woese himself who complained in 1993-94 that this
"is the way of paradigms"---that challenges to them are ignored and/or
scoffed at.  It seems to me this is a flagrant case of the pot calling
the kettle black, ignoring Mayr, Lake, myself, and others.  Microbiology
had every right (even a duty) to question Woese's paradigm, for he
appears to have used his good fortune (to be the first to discover
Metabacteria) to promote a lot of damaging nonsense and stubbornly
refuse to accept evidence to the contrary.  And it is not just Stanier
who has been unjustly criticized in this process, but also C.B. van
Niel, Ernst Mayr, and others.  Unfortunately when a significant portion
of his house of cards finally begins to crumble, it will be others who
will have to pick up the pieces.  The circular reasoning alone may have
done so much damage that it will probably take decades to assess its
scope.
     Recognition for my own work (much less funding for it) may never
come (especially for the bacteriological aspects).  In which case, I may
well continue to live impoverished and struggling to continue my
research.  But I will never regret having stood up for what I believe
and practice real scientific thinking.  It has been suggested to me that
I should give up this stressful and financially draining crusade and
redirect my talents elsewhere.  It may eventually come to that, but I
wouldn't feel right if I abandoned the effort when there seems to be at
least some progress being made.  If funding should eventually be found,
the spark would remain, but the ability to publish in peer-reviewed
("real") journals could temper my polemic, reduce the frustration, and I
might even become positively diplomatic once again.  Those who know me
realize that this is my natural inclination.  But if for some reason
this is that last of my papers on bacteriology, I wish you all luck in
the difficult period ahead.  Someone has to clean up the mess, and if
you kill or starve the messenger, he can't be around to help set things
right.
     Finally, although none of us knows for certain what tomorrow will
bring, the nature of my own work leaves me even more uncertain than most
what the future holds.  With that in mind, I would like to note that one
of the most often quoted papers in bacteriology is Woese, 1987, but I
wonder how many biologists have read it carefully.  As time goes on,
many of the assumptions and conclusions in that paper, look more and
more erroneously circular (if not outright fanciful).  If I don't get a
chance to expose the many other fallacies in that paper, I hope others
will do so, and that there will be less tendency in the future to quote
that paper as being so authoritative.  Viewing it as a firm foundation
on which to build seems ill-advised.  The real evolutionary story of
life has often taken twists and turns that fool those whose notions are
too simplistic, and whose minds are not open enough to accept credible
challenges.  Intransigence is unacceptable and is eventually exposed,
but unfortunately it is too often neither a timely nor efficient
process.  Biology, and bacteriology in particular, needs to take a hard
look at what has actually happened in the last 20 years, and make some
changes that will improve its future prospects.
                                           Kenneth E. Kinman
                                           P.O. Box 1377
                                           Hays, Kansas  67601
*****FOOTNOTE:  Kinman, K.E. 1994.  The Kinman System: Toward A Stable
Cladisto-Eclectic Classification of Organisms (Living and Extinct; 48
Phyla, 269 Classes, 1,719 Orders).  Published September 1994.
     Many libraries do not yet have this book.  However, it is available
(to libraries and individuals) from the author for $38.00 U.S. postpaid
(outside the U.S. add $5.00).  Libraries can access bibliographic
information about the book through OCLC/WorldCat.  An 8-page extract is
also available, describing and illustrating the new system, including
the cladisto-eclectic classification of the 48 phyla of organisms (cost
of book extract is $5.00 U.S. postpaid; $6.00 elsewhere).  The proceeds
help to fund further research.
Kenneth E. Kinman, P.O. Box 1377, Hays, Kansas  67601-8377
e-mail:   kinman at hotmail.com
      or  kinman at scientist.com
      or  kinman at usa.net
homepage:  www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5074
     Feedback (positive or negative) on the above paper is encouraged
and welcome.  Thanks.  [Please forward this paper to any of your
colleagues who you think might find it of interest.]


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



From jsolomon at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG  Mon Apr 20 12:04:24 1998
From: jsolomon at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG (Dr. Jim Solomon)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 12:04:24 
Subject: Missouri Botanical Garden Bibliographic Database Now Available
Message-ID: <mailman.9026.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The Missouri Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the development of a
web interface to allow queries of the Vascular Plant Bibliography used by
all TROPICOS databases to link literature-based project information.
There are presently nearly 54,000 bibliographic items available.

Bibliographic citations are added to this database based on the needs of
individual Garden projects.  Thus, the literature for certain geographic
regions or taxonomic groups may be extensive, while other areas or groups
may be limited.  Queries of the database are made in real time, and
reflect the instantaneous content of the database.  Each html document
returned is custom built for that request.

To make a query of the bibliographic database type the senior authors
last name (Smith) or a keyword (Poa).  The number of 'hits' may be
restricted by adding the year of publication (1989), decade (198), or
century (19) after the author's name (e.g. Smith 1987 or Poa 198).

The keywords used in the database are not extensive, but represent major
categories of research (ecology, morphology), important research topics
(heavy metal, bog), scientific names (genera or families), and geography
(country or state).  Keywords are singular (chromosome, leaf).

In this release (rev. 1.5) the following information is provided when
present: 1) Author(s) of the publication, 2) Date, 3) Title of the
article, 4) Journal or book title, 5) Volume and pagination, and 6)
Keywords.

Data may be accessed through the Garden's home page under W3TROPICOS at:

http://www.mobot.org

or directly at:

http://mobot.mobot.org/Pick/Search/vbib.html
***************************************************************
* James C. Solomon            e-mail: solomon at mobot.mobot.org *
* Curator of the Herbarium    tel: (314) 577-9507             *
* Missouri Botanical Garden   fax: (314) 577-9596             *
* P.O. Box 299                                                *
* St. Louis, Missouri  63166                                  *
***************************************************************



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 13:27:11 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 13:27:11 
Subject: Hybrid Speciation
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b160b04e5ece@[146.186.19.180]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9027.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I want to thank John Grehan for his note.  Some things fade faster than
others as years go by since reading something.  It is probably useful to
clarify when one is thinking more from the perspective of landscape
effects and more from the perspective of the resulting phylogenies.  In my
case it was the former, and Vrba's (1995) recent paper in the book on
African palaeoclimatology well captures the situation as it appears in
East African aquatic systems, with slight caveats attendent to the
translation from a terrestrial to an aquatic bias.  Now we might
wonder how taxa vary in the duration of "hybrid swarm" or "webbed"
phases.  Vrba obviously recognized that they would vary, reflecting
landscape effects to different degree, and running on different clocks.
Indeed, variation in the architecture of adaptive radiation (given
common circumstances) could be one
of the most distinctive features of higher taxa.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
lesk at bio.bu.edu
617-353-5560 office
617-353-6965 lab
617-353-6340 fax



From lbg at INFINET.COM  Mon Apr 20 14:46:03 1998
From: lbg at INFINET.COM (Linda Gottfried)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 14:46:03 
Subject: invitation
Message-ID: <mailman.9028.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Attn: AAM Attendees:

Roundtable Discussion On Storage

Viking Metal Cabinet Company Inc., is having a luncheon on the future of =
museum collection storage. We have several seats available for those of =
you who might be interested in sharing your thoughts and comments.

DATE: Wednesday , May 13,1998
TIME: From 12:15-1:30
LOCATION: To be announced


We only have a few spaces left- Email me as soon as possible for a space =
reservation.
( linda at vikingmetal.com)


Note: Museum Cabinets previously produced by The Interior Steel =
Equipment Co., Inc.



From cukmf4 at PANTHER2.PEN.EIU.EDU  Mon Apr 20 17:50:36 1998
From: cukmf4 at PANTHER2.PEN.EIU.EDU (Kevin Mathe Franken)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:50:36 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9029.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I forwarded this to myself from my hotmail account so I wouldn't have to
type it all over again.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 14:33:14 PDT
From: kevin franken <kfranken at hotmail.com>
To: cukmf4 at panther2.pen.eiu.edu
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments

Will someone on this listserv let me know if the listserv received this
message. I have never used this listserv before. Please send this to AS
MANY people and listservs that can help.  Thanks.

Hi. My name is Kevin Franken.  I'm a senior Environmental Biology major
here at Eastern Illinois University.  Currently, there is a proposal to
merge the Botany and Zoology Dept's into the Dept of Biological
Sciences.  The vast majority of the Botany faculty here OPPOSE it
because they fear the high-quality Botany program here will suffer (and
for many other reasons).  In past mergers at other universities, it has
been said that Botany faculty and course offerings DECLINE after such
mergers.

What I'm looking for is DATA/EVIDENCE to support that idea.  Do you or
anyone you know have access to such data or can get a hold of such data
showing a decline of Botany faculty and course offerings AFTER a merger
with a Zoology Dept?  If you have such info, please show the Botany
faculty #'s and course offerings BEFORE the merger and AFTER.  If yes,
could you send that information to me via email or regular mail?  My
fellow students and I are trying to bring evidence to our Student
Senate, Faculty Senate, and administration.  Such info. would be very
useful.

Do you have any advice for our movement here?  Do you know any
names/emails of faculty at other universities who I could contact
regarding this?

Also, EIU currently offers a BS degree in Botany and Zoology and
Environmental Biology, if the merger goes through, only a BS in
Biological Sciences will be offered, with an option in Environmental
Biology, and a concentration in Botany (and other areas).  I don't think
a degree in Botany is the same thing as a concentration in Botany, do
you?

Thank you for your time.


Kevin Franken
103 Taylor Hall
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-2003

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



From atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX  Mon Apr 20 19:40:40 1998
From: atilano at IBIOLOGIA.UNAM.MX (A. Contreras-Ramos)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 19:40:40 
Subject: Rio Longo--Thanks.
Message-ID: <mailman.9030.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

THANKS VERY MUCH (y muchas gracias tambien!) to all that kindly responded
with suggestions about where Rio Longo might be in Bolivia.  The most
plausible explanation (and according to Dr. Newton from the Field Museum
of Chicago) seems to be that the name is a misspelling of  "Rio Zongo in
La Paz province, 15* 43' S, 67* 41' W...  A handwritten German "L" and
"Z" can beeasily confused...".

Sincerely,

-----------------------------------------------------
Atilano Contreras-Ramos, Ph.D.
Instituto de Biologia, U.N.A.M.; Depto. Zoologia;
Apdo. Postal 70-153; 04510 Mexico, D.F.; MEXICO.
tel. oficina (525) 622-5705, -5706; ex 286;
fax (525) 550-0164.
atilano at mail.ibiologia.unam.mx
species at servidor.unam.mx
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/eukaryotes/animals/
arthropoda/hexapoda/megaloptera/megaloptera.html
-----------------------------------------------------



From rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU  Tue Apr 21 08:24:18 1998
From: rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU (Richard Jensen)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998  8:24:18 
Subject: Dalla Torre and Harms
Message-ID: <mailman.9031.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Does anyone know if the genus/family numbers in Dalla Torre and Harms are
available in electronic form?  We are having to reconfigure an herbarium
database and we need access to these numbers.  We would rather not have
to input all of them by hand, if we can avoid it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |



From bryo at COMMTECH.NET  Tue Apr 21 09:19:28 1998
From: bryo at COMMTECH.NET (Richard Zander)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998  9:19:28 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9032.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Long ago, botanists at Duke University split their Biol. Sci. dept into
Zoology and Botany Depts. This has been a considerable success, and I
think you might write to them for additional info and background. The
problem nowadays with integrating Zoology and Botany is not that Botany
is squelched (so much) but that both become test tube oriented.
Botanists start calling themselves "Plant Scientists" and collections
are orphaned. It's happened locally at SUNY/Buffalo, though there are
some notable exceptions (e.g. UC/Berkeley). You might write Dept.
Integrative Biology at Berkeley and find out how they preserve a
systematic/organismal approach.


Kevin Mathe Franken wrote:
> Currently, there is a proposal to
> merge the Botany and Zoology Dept's into the Dept of Biological
> Sciences.  The vast majority of the Botany faculty here OPPOSE it
> because they fear the high-quality Botany program here will suffer (and
> for many other reasons).  In past mergers at other universities, it has
> been said that Botany faculty and course offerings DECLINE after such
> mergers.
>
> What I'm looking for is DATA/EVIDENCE to support that idea.  Do you or
> anyone you know have access to such data or can get a hold of such data
> showing a decline of Botany faculty and course offerings AFTER a merger
> with a Zoology Dept?  If you have such info, please show the Botany
> faculty #'s and course offerings BEFORE the merger and AFTER.  If yes,
> could you send that information to me via email or regular mail?  My
> fellow students and I are trying to bring evidence to our Student
> Senate, Faculty Senate, and administration.  Such info. would be very
> useful.


************************************************
Richard H. Zander
Curator of Botany, Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14211 USA
bryo at commtech.net   voice: 716-896-5200 ext. 351
************************************************



From una.smith at YALE.EDU  Wed Apr 22 10:41:16 1998
From: una.smith at YALE.EDU (Una Smith)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:41:16 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <353CC710.7FE2@commtech.net>
Message-ID: <mailman.9033.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On Tue, 21 Apr 1998, Richard Zander wrote:

>Long ago, botanists at Duke University split their Biol. Sci. dept into
>Zoology and Botany Depts.

I wasn't aware that they were ever a joint department.  How long ago did
the split happen?  Both Duke departments are strong, but I'm not sure
they are strong because they are separate.

>The problem nowadays with integrating Zoology and Botany is not that
>Botany is squelched (so much) but that both become test tube oriented.

Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
increasing focus on levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms,
communities) rather than taxonomic groups (plants, animals) in American
universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
are the result, not the other way around.

Apparently, Yale was among the first universities to merge botany and
zoology into an integrated biology department.  For at least a decade
after that, organismal biology was strong at Yale.  But gradually the
focus shifted, to the point where the organismal biologists had little
in common with the rest of the department.  The other faculty, though
working on a broad variety of problems and systems, share a lot of the
same technology and methodology, and have similar types of laboratory
groups, with many people all working on small parts of a very specific
large problem.  They are utterly dependent on the continued receipt of
big research grants or collaborations with industry.  In contrast, the
organismal biologists tend to have far smaller research groups, little
coordinated research within groups, and can function with little or no
money.  Another difference:  perhaps 10% of the graduate students had
sufficient training in organismal biology to be teaching assistants in
organismal courses, but these courses represented 50% of the demand for
graduate TAs.  All of these factors, and others, caused enough stress
within the department in the past decade or so that the department has
(this year!) split into Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology;
and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

By the way, Berkeley has departments of Integrative Biology and Plant
Biology.  They are in separate colleges.

As far as undergraduate degrees are concerned, I think what you learn is
far more important than the name of your major.

                                NEW ADDRESS as of February 1998:
        Una Smith               Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
                                Yale University
        una.smith at yale.edu      New Haven, CT  06520-8106



From pkoleff at XOLO.CONABIO.GOB.MX  Wed Apr 22 11:30:22 1998
From: pkoleff at XOLO.CONABIO.GOB.MX (Patricia Koleff)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 11:30:22 
Subject: World Wide Specimens
Message-ID: <mailman.9034.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Colleges,

        We received very interesting information on the total number
of specimens holded on herbaria of the world, and also information
on some particulars herbaria and museums. Thank you very much  for
your enthusiastic answer!

        The total number of specimens is available in the Index
Herbariorum. Probably these numbers, even though now out-of-date
(1990) are still the most accurate.  Tables 3 and 4 (pp. 481-485)
list the total number of herbarium specimens as 272,800,926, held
worldwide in 2639 herbaria.

The reference for IH is:

Holmgren, P.K., N.H. Holmgren and L.C. Barnett (eds.).  1990.
Index Herbariorum Part I: The Herbaria of the World.  8th edition.
The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, New York.

Another reference recommended is:

Cooley, G.P., Harrington, M.B. and Lawrence,, 1993. Analysis and
Recommendations for Scientific Computing and Collections
Information Management of Free-Standing Museums of Natural History
and Botanical Gardens. Vol. 1 Paper. Mitre Corporation publication
93W0000109V1.


Thanks
Gracias

Pilar Rodriguez & Patricia Koleff



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 12:30:19 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:30:19 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9035.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
publication
on teaching evolution.

My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
and inferences. It would
do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
heavy emphasis on
indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
natural selection),
and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
emphasis on method
in chemistry or physics).

As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
which focuses on the
assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
the Creationists who apply
the same strategy.

I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
nonetheless. With the way
evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
I wouldn't blame
them in the slightest.

John Grehan



From jhbeach at IBM.NET  Wed Apr 22 12:46:52 1998
From: jhbeach at IBM.NET (James H. Beach)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:46:52 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b16384085fcf@[146.186.16.100]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9036.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi All:

I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
for this.  Thank you.


Jim Beach
Listowner of Taxacom





At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
>publication
>on teaching evolution.
>
>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
>and inferences. It would
>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
>heavy emphasis on
>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
>natural selection),
>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
>emphasis on method
>in chemistry or physics).
>
>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
>which focuses on the
>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>the Creationists who apply
>the same strategy.
>
>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
>nonetheless. With the way
>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
>I wouldn't blame
>them in the slightest.
>
>John Grehan
>
>

_________________________________________

James H. Beach
National Biological Information Infrastructure
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 11:58:04 1998
From: wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU (Hugh Wilson)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 11:58:04 
Subject: NAS/Evolution
In-Reply-To: <v01540b00b16384085fcf@[146.186.16.100]>
Message-ID: <mailman.9037.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I think its *about time* organized science 1) recognized the
potential danger of organized anti-evolution activity in education
and 2) actually did something about it.  Good for NAS.  Their rep.
(Kennedy?) on the PBS news yesterday (with excellent support from a
HS biology teacher) did a good job - at least from my perspective -
of presenting the case.  Too bad other professional groups, esp.
those associated with systematics, have provided such lame leadership
and support in this area.

On 22 Apr 98 at 12:30, John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU> wrote:

Date:          Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:30:19 -0400
Reply-to:      John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU>
From:          John Grehan <jrg13 at PSU.EDU>
To:            Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM <TAXACOM at CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>

Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
publication on teaching evolution............................

My comment is that.................................

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~hugh/homepage.html



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Wed Apr 22 10:58:06 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:58:06 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19980422124652.00a78710@eagle.cc.ukans.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9038.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report on
evolution.  The fact that the previous poster mentioned the word
"creationism", comparing his concern about how he perceived the NAS
treatment of evolution (as non-science) to creationism's non-science is
hardly a discussion devolved into an evolution vs creationism debate.
His comments could have stood on their own legs even without his
sidetrack comparison (which I reproduce far below) with creationism.

So, please, if you wish to review the NAS publication on teaching
evolution, and to comment here, I certainly would like to know what you
think of their publication.

As the NAS publication asserts, it is not about the
creationism/evolution debate. It's about providing a coherent teaching
plan for various levels of K-12. Systematists surely can relate to that
and discuss it, leaving out the creationism issue unless it is
specifically brought up in the NAS publication itself, and the reviewer
feels it should be commented upon in that context.

Later, when the NAS publishes on creationism, maybe that should be
reviewed here as well?
Peter

On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, James H. Beach wrote:

> I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
> ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
> for this.  Thank you.
> Jim Beach
> Listowner of Taxacom

> At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
     ...cut, cut...
> >As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
> >which focuses on the
> >assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
> >the Creationists who apply
> >the same strategy.
     ...cut, cut...
> >John Grehan



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 15:17:48 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:17:48 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
Message-ID: <mailman.9039.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Personally I have no problem avoiding the evolution versus creationism
debate, but I was
not aware that certain subjects were banned.

The listserver states that the facility  is for " all manner of discussion
about biological systematics, including the science, educational, policy
and political issues that are of concern to systematists".

I don't understand the concern expressed by Jim Bach, but I hope that
further disucssion of how evolution is presentated, conceptualized, taught
etc is not precluded if such disucssion is of interest to participating
systematists. If it is not, then the subject will fail to take up much of
the traffic.

John Grehan


>Hi All:
>
>I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
>ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
>for this.  Thank you.
>
>
>Jim Beach
>Listowner of Taxacom
>
>
>
>
>
>At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of Science
>>publication
>>on teaching evolution.
>>
>>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of assertions
>>and inferences. It would
>>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science. There is a
>>heavy emphasis on
>>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes place (e.g.
>>natural selection),
>>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with the
>>emphasis on method
>>in chemistry or physics).
>>
>>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a doctrine
>>which focuses on the
>>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>>the Creationists who apply
>>the same strategy.
>>
>>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
>>nonetheless. With the way
>>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away from it.
>>I wouldn't blame
>>them in the slightest.
>>
>>John Grehan
>>
>>
>
>_________________________________________
>
>James H. Beach
>National Biological Information Infrastructure
>U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
>Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
>E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:19:07 1998
From: sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU (Stuart G. Poss)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:19:07 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9040.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

I too saw the PBS coverage of the NAS report and would in general agree
with Hugh's and Peter's comments concerning the appropriateness of
discussion of the report.  However, I would also agree with Jim that we
need not retry the Scopes trial in TAXACOM.

I personally do not believe that we can expect to make much progress
toward the solution of the biodiversity crisis, if the bulk of students
graduating from US high schools do not have at least a modicum of
understanding of the concepts, mechanisms, and implications of modern
evolutionary theory.  Clearly, as taxonomists and systematists, and
perhaps citizens of a still liveable planet, this should concern us.

Given Hugh Wilson's criticism of the systematics community, which I
would regard as not entirely accurate, I would be interested to learn
what under his #2 he might propose that we do to "address our limp" on
this issue, beyond what most of us do every day, namely attempting to
ellucidate the taxa and linneages that have historically resulted from
evolution and to communicate our findings to others.  Perhaps the report
itself provides some suggestions.

Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

Peter Rauch wrote:
>
> With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
> invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report ...

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000                        703 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000



From dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR  Wed Apr 22 16:31:06 1998
From: dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR (Doug Yanega)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 16:31:06 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9041.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Stuart Poss wrote:

>Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

Apparently this contains the full text.

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-449-2579, fax: 031-441-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82



From jrg13 at PSU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 15:30:15 1998
From: jrg13 at PSU.EDU (John Grehan)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:30:15 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9042.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

To: Peter Rauch <anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: jrg13 at psu.edu (John Grehan)
Subject: Re: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:

Response to Peter Rauch on NAS evolution report.

As perceived by Peter Rauch, it was not my intention to set up an evolution
versus creation debate. I did not, however, intend to represent the NAS
treatment of evolution as non-science. My emphasis, perhaps obscured by
the creation reference, was that the science of evolution was stronger on a
doctrine of beliefs rather than analytical methodology. In my opinion, for what
it is worth, that it is this emphasis that makes the teaching of evolution so
problematic, and such an easy target for creationists (oops mentioned that
word again).

I agree that there is a need for a coherent teaching of evolution, but the
document did not achieve that for me (others feeling different notwithstanding).
 If I have more time I will try to make some specific comments rather than
these generalities.

I appreciate Peter Rauch bringing this to general attention as I find it
difficult
to keep track of everything that is going on in this field.

John Grehan



From wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:32:46 1998
From: wilson at BIO.TAMU.EDU (Hugh Wilson)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:32:46 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
In-Reply-To: <353E42AB.477696FF@whale.st.usm.edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9043.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Its at:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

with an overview at:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/evol4.html

and - with regard to my beef - check out:

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/Wilson/tfp/tfpintro.htm

and the comment on evolution vs. creation (3, 3rd paragraph) - prior to the NAS
effort, the only other 'debunking  ref. I could find for this was:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/2437/index.htm

and I think that the systematic community, at least an organized
rep (professional society)., could put together this sort of material
- hardcopy or web - that would help those of us involved with biology
teaching

On 22 Apr 98 at 14:19, Stuart G. Poss <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
wrote:

Date:          Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:19:07 -0500
Reply-to:      "Stuart G. Poss" <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
From:          "Stuart G. Poss" <sgposs at WHALE.ST.USM.EDU>
Organization:  Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Subject:       Re: Discussion of NAS Report
To:            Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM <TAXACOM at CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>


....Given Hugh Wilson's criticism of the systematics community, which
I would regard as not entirely accurate, I would be interested to
learn what under his #2 he might propose that we do to "address our
limp" on this issue, beyond what most of us do every day, namely
attempting to ellucidate the taxa and linneages that have
historically resulted from evolution and to communicate our findings
to others.  Perhaps the report itself provides some suggestions.

Has anyone discovered an internet posted version of the report?

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~hugh/homepage.html



From jhbeach at IBM.NET  Wed Apr 22 15:34:26 1998
From: jhbeach at IBM.NET (James H. Beach)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:34:26 
Subject: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SUN.3.96.980422104601.7724B-100000@grinnell.berkeley. edu>
Message-ID: <mailman.9044.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Ok! Mea Culpa. I pulled the trigger too soon on this thread, so debate away!

-- Jim Beach




At 10:58 AM 4/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>With all due respect to the Taxacom's father, as a mere subscriber, I
>invite continued discussion and commentary about the ***NAS*** report on
>evolution.  The fact that the previous poster mentioned the word
>"creationism", comparing his concern about how he perceived the NAS
>treatment of evolution (as non-science) to creationism's non-science is
>hardly a discussion devolved into an evolution vs creationism debate.
>His comments could have stood on their own legs even without his
>sidetrack comparison (which I reproduce far below) with creationism.
>
>So, please, if you wish to review the NAS publication on teaching
>evolution, and to comment here, I certainly would like to know what you
>think of their publication.
>
>As the NAS publication asserts, it is not about the
>creationism/evolution debate. It's about providing a coherent teaching
>plan for various levels of K-12. Systematists surely can relate to that
>and discuss it, leaving out the creationism issue unless it is
>specifically brought up in the NAS publication itself, and the reviewer
>feels it should be commented upon in that context.
>
>Later, when the NAS publishes on creationism, maybe that should be
>reviewed here as well?
>Peter
>
>On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, James H. Beach wrote:
>
>> I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would otherwise now
>> ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best place
>> for this.  Thank you.
>> Jim Beach
>> Listowner of Taxacom
>
>> At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>     ...cut, cut...
>> >As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a
doctrine
>> >which focuses on the
>> >assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror image to
>> >the Creationists who apply
>> >the same strategy.
>     ...cut, cut...
>> >John Grehan
>
>

_________________________________________

James H. Beach
National Biological Information Infrastructure
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net



From dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR  Wed Apr 22 17:12:45 1998
From: dyanega at MONO.ICB.UFMG.BR (Doug Yanega)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:12:45 
Subject: Discussion of NAS Report
Message-ID: <mailman.9045.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

John Grehan wrote:

>I agree that there is a need for a coherent teaching of evolution, but the
>document did not achieve that for me (others feeling different
>notwithstanding).

Just my two cents, having looked the document over briefly myself - while I
may certainly have missed something, I do think that not enough emphasis
was placed on the demonstrable and quantifiable aspects of evolution, and
too much was simply a matter of saying "So-and-so demonstrated this back in
XXXX". When many folks define evolution as "a change in gene frequencies in
a population over time", it should be rather easy to directly demonstrate
that evolution not only occurs, but is an inevitable feature of life
itself, and yet much of the paper still just reads like a history lesson.
For example, I didn't catch any references, in my reading, to things like
genetic drift or gene flow being modes of evolution, and that sort of
omission is a serious oversight - distinguishing macro- and micro-evolution
(and how one can gather evidence for each) would seem to be essential, no?

Peace,

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-449-2579, fax: 031-441-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82



From sierwald at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG  Wed Apr 22 15:20:58 1998
From: sierwald at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG (Petra Sierwald)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:20:58 
Subject: Time to unsubscribe?
Message-ID: <mailman.9046.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Please let me know if you intend to drown everybody in a flood of
creationism discussions.  If yes, I want to unsubscribe from the list.



***************************************************************
Petra Sierwald, Adjunct Curator - Zoology, Insects
Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Rd @ Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605, USA. E-maiL: psierwald at fmnh.org
Phone: (312)922-9410, ext. 841; Fax: (312)663-5397

http://www.fmnh.org
***************************************************************



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Wed Apr 22 14:05:44 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:05:44 
Subject: Time to unsubscribe?
In-Reply-To: <9804222020.AA06911@fmppr.fmnh.org>
Message-ID: <mailman.9047.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, Petra Sierwald wrote:
> Please let me know if you intend to drown everybody in a flood of
> creationism discussions.  If yes, I want to unsubscribe from the list.

Maybe if I remind everyone that the origin of this thread was not
"creationism" nor even "evolution", but rather it was a request (by me)
for comments on the National Academy of Sciences report (sort of a
primer/guide) on how to teach _evolution_ (by natural selection) in the
kindergarten through 12th grades (K-12).

Any systematist who is concerned with biodiversity, with the health of
the systematics (scientific) enterprise, and with the role of evolution
in understanding how our bioworld works --any such subscriber to
Taxacom, was invited to read the report (available online, easy access)
and comment on the adequacy of the work done by NAS.

If you consider that an invitation to be drowned in a flood
of creationism discussions, you would be wrong. If others believe it was
an invitation to drown the list in such a flood, they'd be wrong too.

I have faith that most systematists are interested enough in evolution
and in the adequate representation of their work (that portion of it
that deals with evolution, for example) to our children, that they will
stick around and maybe even contribute their own comments on the NAS
report.
Peter



From jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU  Thu Apr 23 12:04:15 1998
From: jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU (Jeremy J. Bruhl)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 12:04:15 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9048.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear all

Both Richard and Una's comments ring true. Kevin, you might like to =
search back a year or two on the list-server archives for my request for =
comments and posting of comments on this very topic. Funny thing is that =
we did not merge with Zoology and thought (how na=EFve) that the issue =
had gone away, till the Dean wanted/needed to be seen to be =
restructuring our Faculty. So, here we are, a Division in the School of =
Rural Sciences and Natural Resources with Ecosystem Management, Agronomy =
and Soil Sc. and Animal Science and some of Physiology. Zoology has =
split off Molecular and Cellular Biology. Zoo and MCB are in a School of =
Biological Sciences and we are not...!@# I am waiting for the music to =
stop next time to see where we will be. The past and present groupings =
cut across joint programs in study and those who collaborated still do.

Cheers
Jeremy

Dr Jeremy J. Bruhl
Senior Lecturer in Botany
Director, N.C.W. Beadle Herbarium (NE)
Division of Botany
University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351
Australia
jbruhl at metz.une.edu.au
http://www.une.edu.au/botany/jjbres.htm
Phone:  +61 2 6773 2429
Fax:    +61 2 6773 3283



From Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU  Wed Apr 22 14:46:16 1998
From: Yuri.Mikhailov at USU.RU (Yuri E. Mikhailov)
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 14:46:16 
Subject: Goliathus
Message-ID: <mailman.9049.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

-- [ From: Yuri E. Mikhailov * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Dear collegues,
One friend of mine is very much interested to get for his collection
specimens of Goliathus spp. (Scarabaeidae) and African Cetoniinae. May be
anyone would like to exchange them for Russian Carabidae, Cerambycidae,
Scarabaeidae or other families of Coleoptera.
Sincerely yours,
Yuri Mikhailov



From lesk at BIO.BU.EDU  Thu Apr 23 09:54:25 1998
From: lesk at BIO.BU.EDU (Les Kaufman)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998  9:54:25 
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <mailman.9050.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi, everybody.  The Vrba reference that John Grehan asked for the other day is:

Vrba, E. S.  1995.  On the connections between paleoclimate and evolution.
Pp. 24-45 In: Paleoclimate and Evolution, with Emphasis on Human Origins.
Yale University Press, New Haven.  547pp.

There are two domains of "common knowledge" that are not really common and
sometimes confounded in discussions of macroevolutionary pattern.  The
first is that there is no a priori relationship between speciation and
functional differentiation.  The other, dealt with articulately in this
article, is the importance of the interaction between landscape (exogenous)
and genetic (endogenous) influences in adaptive radiations.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
Department of Biology
Boston University
5 Cummington Street
Boston, MA 02215

e-mail: lesk at bio.bu.edu
phone: 617-353-5560
fax:   617-353-6340


"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very
wasteful. How true that is." -- Vice President Dan Quayle



From jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU  Fri Apr 24 09:20:43 1998
From: jbruhl at METZ.UNE.EDU.AU (Jeremy J. Bruhl)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  9:20:43 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9051.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Hi

Who has an idea on this one. Ah the joys of common names...Almost reads like sweet potato, but that common name is not in my books!

Cheers
Jeremy

==================================

>Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:10:34 -0700
>From:  Tina McCoy <tmccoy at iea.com>
>Reply-To: tmccoy at iea.com
>Organization: City of Post Falls
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>To:    botany at metz.une.edu.au
>Subject:       (no subject)
>Status:
>
>I am hoping someone within your organization might have an answer to a
>"plant" question I have.
>I was gifted with a bulb I was told was a Voodoo Plant. According to the
>instructions you do not plant or water the bulb. Simply place the bulb
>in a sunny location and watch it grow.  The bulb is about the size of a
>tennis ball and has a skin texture and color similar to a white potato.
>It has one shoot coming from the center that is purple.
>I would really like to know what this is and where it came from.
>Can you assist me?
>Thank you for any help or direction you might give.
>
>Tina McCoy
>7400 E Hauser Lake Road
>Post Falls  ID  83854
>tmccoy at iea.com
>



From anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU  Thu Apr 23 16:44:48 1998
From: anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU (Peter Rauch)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 16:44:48 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
In-Reply-To: <01BD6F62.43E80840@botany-38.une.edu.au>
Message-ID: <mailman.9052.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

How about Sauromatum venosum (aka S. guttatum, Arum cornutum), Araceae
Voodoo Lily... Sunset Western Garden Book says "Bloom has extremely
strong, unpleasant odor for a brief time after opening."

Now, what is Tina up to anyway...?     :>)
Peter

On Fri, 24 Apr 1998, Jeremy J. Bruhl wrote:

> Who has an idea on this one. Ah the joys of common names...Almost
> reads like sweet potato, but that common name is not in my books!

> ==================================
>
> >Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:10:34 -0700
> >From:  Tina McCoy <tmccoy at iea.com>
> >Reply-To: tmccoy at iea.com
> >Organization: City of Post Falls
> >To:    botany at metz.une.edu.au
> >
> >I am hoping someone within your organization might have an answer to a
> >"plant" question I have.
> >I was gifted with a bulb I was told was a Voodoo Plant. According to the
> >instructions you do not plant or water the bulb. Simply place the bulb
> >in a sunny location and watch it grow.  The bulb is about the size of a
> >tennis ball and has a skin texture and color similar to a white potato.
> >It has one shoot coming from the center that is purple.
> >I would really like to know what this is and where it came from.
> >Can you assist me?
> >Thank you for any help or direction you might give.



From ricardo at LOGIN.CZ  Thu Apr 23 19:17:40 1998
From: ricardo at LOGIN.CZ (ricardo)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 19:17:40 
Subject: Uloma
Message-ID: <mailman.9053.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear colleagues,

Uloma (Tenebrionidae) was described:

Latreille in Cuvier, Regne anim. ed. 2,5,1829 p. 129 [Gebien 1943]
or
Laporte 1829, p.? [Lawrence 1989]
or
Laporte, 1840 Hist. Nat.II, p.219 [Gebien 1911]


Keep care and be of good cheer
Regards

Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste
of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld

Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World

Temporaly address 1998:
EDB.
Husitska 15
130 00 Prague 3 Zizkov
CZECH Rep.
ph.: (420+2) 185

 (home)
32 Girrawheen Ave.
Kiama NSW 2533
Australia
e-mail: vratislav at bigfoot.com
           ricardo at login.cz
           (before Ricardo at compuserve.com)

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has been poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money can not be eaten.'
        CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.



From lammers at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG  Fri Apr 24 06:01:52 1998
From: lammers at FMPPR.FMNH.ORG (Thomas G. Lammers)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  6:01:52 
Subject: FW: Voodoo Plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9054.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

At 04:44 PM 04-23-98 -0700, Peter Rauch wrote:

>How about Sauromatum venosum (aka S. guttatum, Arum cornutum), Araceae
>Voodoo Lily... Sunset Western Garden Book says "Bloom has extremely
>strong, unpleasant odor for a brief time after opening."

Could also be Amorphophallus rivieri, another aroid, which is grown in a
similar fashion.


Thomas G. Lammers

Classification, Nomenclature, Phylogeny and Biogeography
of the Campanulaceae, s. lat.

Department of Botany
Field Museum of Natural History
Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496 USA

e-mail:    tlammers at fmnh.org
office:          312-922-9410 ext. 317 (voice-mail)
home:     630-759-4280
fax:                312-427-2530
http:    www.fmnh.org/candr/academic_affairs/collection_report/cv_lammers.htm

-----------------------------------------------------
Malapropism of the Day:

"Oh!  What kind of plant is it?"
"It's an 'Audrey Junior'!"
"Well, is that all?  I mean, doesn't it have a scientific name?"
"Yes, of course, but who could denounce it?"

              -- "Little Shop of Horrors" (1960)



From anita at MOZART.CBS.UMN.EDU  Fri Apr 24 08:18:58 1998
From: anita at MOZART.CBS.UMN.EDU (Anita Cholewa)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  8:18:58 
Subject: voodoo plant
Message-ID: <mailman.9055.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Gardeners will probably know the answer to this one.
The voodoo lily is the Amorphophallus rivieri as
Tom mentioned.  It can be found as a "oddball"
in garden cataloges.

ANITA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
                                            / \     /_ _  /                   |
                          _ _             /     \ /     /                     |
                         | \  \         / \     /_ _  /                       |
                         | _\/ \      /     \ /     /                         |
                          \  \/ \     \     /_ _  /                           |
Anita F. Cholewa, Ph.D.    \ _\/ \     \  /     /                             |
Curator / UM Herbarium      \ _\  \     //- - -                               |
Bell Museum of Nat. His.      \__\/    // _  _          Please Visit          |
1445 Gortner Ave.                 \\ //__( )( )              Our              |
University of Minnesota            \//    (_)             Web Site:           |
St Paul,  MN  55108                ||                                         |
  612-625-0215                     ||    http://biosci.cbs.umn.edu/herbarium  |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|



From FLang at SOU.EDU  Fri Apr 24 08:34:22 1998
From: FLang at SOU.EDU (Frank Lang)
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998  8:34:22 
Subject: voodoo plant -Reply
Message-ID: <mailman.9056.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

When in doubt try Mabberley's " The Plant-book."  I have always known the =
voodoo lily to be Sauromatum venosum [S. guttatum] in the Araceae. =
Mabberley says that it is sold as dry tubers that will produce an =
inflorescence without water. It is Bas Meeuse's favorite plant.  He =
studied it for years.  The appendix of the inflorescence heats up about =
the time the flowers open. The better to spread around the fetid odor of =
the plant, perhaps.  It is mentioned in his book "The Sex Life of =
Flowers."



From Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG  Sun Apr 26 11:20:04 1998
From: Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG (Mammals)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 11:20:04 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9057.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Richard Zander wrote:

 You might write Dept.
Integrative Biology at Berkeley and find out how they preserve a
systematic/organismal approach.

Partly through an active seminar series for the whole
          department ranging widely in topics (2 per week.  - Sylvia
          Hope



From Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG  Sun Apr 26 11:20:03 1998
From: Mammals at CASMAIL.CALACADEMY.ORG (Mammals)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 11:20:03 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9058.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

On 22 April Una Smith wrote:
Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
increasing focus on levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms,
communities) rather than taxonomic groups (plants, animals) in American
universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
are the result, not the other way around.

          and:

By the way, Berkeley has departments of Integrative Biology and Plant
Biology.  They are in separate colleges.

          Integrative Biology at Berkeley even includes Paleotology. I
          think that the merging of biological disciplines has much to
          do with advanced development of evolutionary theory and
          increased perception of common interests among organismal
          biologists.  This is a good thing, but the integration of
          disciplines may go to far if it erodes opportunities for
          students to do basic field work and and careful
          functional/morphological studies, emphasizing metanalysis at
          the expense of original observation.

          On the other hand Integrative Biology at Berkeley manages
          pretty well to integrate molecular and organismal studies.


        ***************************************
        Sylvia Hope                           *
        Dept. of Ornithology and Mammalogy    *
        California Academy of Sciences        *
        Golden Gate Park                      *
        San Francisco, CA, USA 94118          *
                                              *
        email:  sylvia.hope at calacademy.org    *
        phone:  (415) 750-7176                *
        fax:    (415) 750-7137                *
        ***************************************



From sang at PILOT.MSU.EDU  Sun Apr 26 15:52:50 1998
From: sang at PILOT.MSU.EDU (tao sang)
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 15:52:50 
Subject: Postdoc in plant molecular systematics at MSU
Message-ID: <mailman.9059.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

<fontfamily><param>Times</param><bigger><bigger>

       A NSF founded two-year postdoctoral position is available to
study plant molecular systematics and evolution, with a focus on
phylogenetic reconstruction of hybrid speciation using sequences of
single-copy nuclear genes.  Please e-mail or send curriculum vitae and
names of two references to:



          Tao Sang

          Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology

          Michigan State University

          East Lansing, MI 48824


          E-mail: sang at pilot.msu.edu

          Web site:
http://www.msu.edu/user/sang/</bigger></bigger></fontfamily>



From aguiar.2 at POSTBOX.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU  Mon Apr 27 09:13:35 1998
From: aguiar.2 at POSTBOX.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Alexandre Pires Aguiar)
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998  9:13:35 
Subject: Stephanidae Homepage
Message-ID: <mailman.9060.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Dear Taxacomers,

I am glad to announce that my STEPHANIDAE HOMEPAGE (Hymenoptera) is now
available to public access at
http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/stephanids

The page was optimized for NETSCAPE v. 2.02, and you will find some things
out of format if using earlier versions. Please be also aware that many
parts are still unfinished.

While there, please make sure you will not miss the following:

1. A new way of presenting morphometric data.
Path: [Ongoing Projects]->[Revision of the Genus Hemistephanus]->[Material
and Methods]

2. A method specific for collecting stephanids, under [Collecting Stephanids]

I would greatly appreciate receiving your suggestions and commentaries about
the site--from eventual misspellings to other subjects you would like (or
expect) to see in a site like that. Please send messages directly to
aguiar.2 at osu.edu

I hope you like it!

Alexandre Pires Aguiar
The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1157
USA

Phone (614) 292-2750
FAX   (614) 292-7774

Alexandre Pires Aguiar
The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1192
USA

Phone (613) 292-2750
FAX   (613) 292-7774



From bckcdb at ISTAR.CA  Mon Apr 27 10:33:15 1998
From: bckcdb at ISTAR.CA (karstad - schueler)
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:33:15 
Subject: merging Botany and Zoology Departments (fwd)
Message-ID: <mailman.9061.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

Sylvia Hope wrote:

> Biological science department mergers are certainly correlated with
> increasing focus on levels of organization
> rather than taxonomic groups in American
> universities.  But I think the changing focus is the cause and mergers
> are the result, not the other way around.
>
>           and:
>
> I think that the merging of biological disciplines has much to do with
> advanced development of evolutionary theory and increased perception
> of common interests among organismal biologists.  This is a good
> thing, but the integration of disciplines may go to far if it erodes
> opportunities for students to do basic field work and and careful
> functional/morphological studies, emphasizing metanalysis at the
> expense of original observation.

* and it may over-ride teaching about the immense range of taxa that
students must know about if they are to think plausibly about
evolutionary theory and diversity.

fred schueler.
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler, Aleta Karstad, Jennifer Helene Schueler.
Bishops Mills, Grenville Co, Ontario, on the Smiths Falls Limestone
Plain: 18TVE 446 687, 44* 52'N 75* 42'W   bckcdb at istar.ca
Natural History Exploration, Interpretation, Illustration, & Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------



From dovpor at NETVISION.NET.IL  Tue Apr 28 11:55:40 1998
From: dovpor at NETVISION.NET.IL (Francis Dov Por)
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 11:55:40 
Subject: Dissatisfied with Gouldian  Aleatory Catastrophism ?
Message-ID: <mailman.9062.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

If you are  a zoologist dissatisifed with  Gouldian dice-play =
catastrophism and looking for a  non-theological alternative, try my  =
unconventional book
"Animal Achievement - a Unifying Theory of Zoology"  on  www.amazon.com

Francis Dov Por   - dovpor at netvision.net.il



From nfj at IRIS.BIOSCI.OHIO-STATE.EDU  Tue Apr 28 16:48:06 1998
From: nfj at IRIS.BIOSCI.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Norman F. Johnson)
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 16:48:06 
Subject: Hymenoptera On-Line Database
Message-ID: <mailman.9063.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

(cross-posted to ENTOMO-L, TAXACOM, PARAHYM)

Dear all,

We'd like to invite you to drop in and take a look at our new "Hymenoptera
On-Line Database" (http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/hymenoptera). This
is the web access page to our "Mopsus Database", a relational database
system that stores information on specimens, classification, taxonomy,
biological associations, and images. The database is an outgrowth
of our "Pelecinus Project", the goal of which was to build the database
and software tools to manage and present all the data related to one taxon.

Hymenoptera On-Line offers information on:

  1. Classification
  2. Taxonomic literature
  3. Images
  4. On -the -fly distribution mapping
  5. Biological associations
  6. Access to external databases

For a quick look at the section of the database that has received most
of our attention for the past year, try beginning with the family Pelecinidae.
Other sections that are fairly well-populated with data on names and literature
are the Proctotrupoidea, Platygastroidea, and Ceraphronoidea.  To see how
the biological associations and external database functions work, try looking
at the genus Sparasion (Scelionidae) and follow it through. We have locality
data for a number of taxa, particularly in the Stephanidae, Monomachidae, and
the genus Acanthoscelio (again, a scelionid).

Obviously, the magnitude of this project exceeds the capabilities of
our group alone. We invite and earnestly desire your contributions and
assistance in building this community resource. Our own priorities at this
time are to:

  1. continue to gather and input names of valid taxa: at the moment
the database contains the names of 31,606 valid species; 4,142 valid genera;
and a total of 46,881 names at all levels.

  2. enter data from specimens as vouchers of distribution
and biological associations (host, prey, pollen, etc.):  we now have
19,739 specimens with data stored.

  3. gather systematic and biological data from the literature
(the database is designed to be able to handle both specimens and unvouchered
records such as observations, label data and literature records): there are
only 1,905 publications in so far.

  4. images: the web is a visual creature and images, sounds,
even movies can be included. This is a black hole begging for the input
of matter!

So, please, check out the site and send us feedback.  We welcome any
assistance in data gathering and all contributors are credited.

--
Norman F. Johnson           Johnson.2 at osu.edu
Associate Professor         Phone: 614-292-6595
Director, Ohio State Univ.  Fax: 614-292-7774
   Insect Collection



From r.g.wilson at READING.AC.UK  Wed Apr 29 10:12:19 1998
From: r.g.wilson at READING.AC.UK (Rupert Wilson)
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:12:19 
Subject: Lectureship in Plant Diversity & Biodiversity Informatics
Message-ID: <mailman.9064.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

--------------A2012DEABAAE8B73CACAB2FE
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The University of Reading, UK.
School of Plant Sciences - Department of Botany
Lectureship in Plant Diversity & Biodiversity Informaties

Applications are invited for a new lectureship in botanical aspects of
biodiversity.  Candidates with research interests in biodiversity
information systems and informatics will be welcomed.  Informal
enquiries may be made to f.a.bisby at reading.ac.uk. The department is one
of the centres for the NERC Taxonomy Initiative and part of the RAE 5*
rated School of Plant Sciences.  Candidates should have a PhD.

Salary in the range of 16,045 to 21,016 (Pounds Sterling) pa (Grade "A")
with USS benefits.  The appointment is intended to be "permanent"
subject to satisfactory completion of a three year probationary period.

Apply for further particulars and Application Forms (2 copies) to the
Personnel Office, The University of Reading.  Whiteknights, PO Box 217
READING RG6 6AH.  Telephone (01 18) 931 6771 (answerphone).  E-mail:
Persorineloreading.ac.uk giving name and full address.  See the School
Web Site: http://www.reading.ac.uk/Acadepts/sb/home.html for general
department information.  Closing date 27 May 1998.  Please quote
reference number AC9811.

These details can be found at;
http://www.rdg.ac.uk/Jobs/html/job_vacancies_-_teaching_3.html

--

_____________________________________________________________________________
|     ____            ____    ____
____                                     |
|    /\__/\  /\  /\  /\__/\  /\___\ /\___\                      Rupert
Wilson |
|   /_/_/ / / / / / /_/_/ / /_/_   /_/_
mailto:R.G.Wilson at reading.ac.uk |
|  /\ __\/ / / / / /\___\/ /\___\
\__/\                                      |
| / /\\   /_/_/ / / /     /_/__  ____/ /  Herbarium, School of Plant
Sciences |
| \/  \\  \___\/  \/      \____\ \___\/            University of
Reading, UK. |
| http://www.reading.ac.uk/~sbswilsn/ or
http://www.herbarium.reading.ac.uk/  |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|
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From rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG  Wed Apr 29 16:32:27 1998
From: rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG (Gary Rosenberg)
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 16:32:27 
Subject: Publication dates of Sagra on Cuba
Message-ID: <mailman.9065.1478109138.19411.taxacom@mailman.nhm.ku.edu>

The dates of publication of Ramon de la Sagra, Histoire physique, politique
et naturelle de l'Ile de Cuba (1838-1857), in which hundreds of new species
were described, have never been adequately established to my knowledge. The
catalogue of the Library of the British Museum (Natural History) gives a
collation. Stafleu & Cowan (Taxonomic Literature 2) give additional details
for botany.

I have just found that the handwritten ledger of acquisitions of the library
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has entries for the
period 1838 to 1841. Thereafter, library acquisitions were published in the
Proceedings of the Academy. Unfortunately, the information I have found is
presented in terms of livraisons, and I have not found anyway to tell what
subjects, pages or plates were covered in particular livraisons.

The ledger has the following entries:

August 13, 1839, Livraisons 1-7, folio plates, 8vo text.
Undated loose note, Livraisons "8, 9 & 12 & 16 Sheets of text".
September 22, 1840, Livraisons 14-16.
January 13, 1841. Someone tries to determine what parts have arrived, listing
        Mamif. texte & planches complete
        Oiseaux texte complete --- pl. wants 28
        Reptiles texte 15-206 p.  planch wants 29 & 29 bis
        Geographic text 1-144 p. plates 1-8 inclusive
        Mollusques texte 1-15 p. Planches ---
        Foraminiferes texte, I-16. 1-80 p. Planches ---
        Botaniques texte I-X. 1-32 p. Planches ---

The Proceedings list the following:

October 5, 1841, Liv. 21-25
February 1, 1842, Nos. 19-20, 26-29 [The handwritten acquisition book shows
that this is actually February 8, but it was listed with the meeting of
February 1 instead of the next meeting on February 15.]
August 9, 1842, Liv. 32-37
November 1, 1842, Liv. 38-39
February 4, 1845, Liv. 40-51

Please contact me if you additional information on this work, or know of set
that has any original wrappers. Anyone at University of Maryland or Missouri
Botanical Garden, please check your library's copy. The description on OCLC
gives different dates than usual for some parts (e.g. Mollusques starting in
1840 instead of 1841), suggesting that your copy may have internal
information. Several dozen other libraries in the United States hold this
work, and I would appreciate negative information from anyone who checks
their institution's copy or accession records.

Thanks,
Gary
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Rosenberg, Ph.D.                     rosenberg at acnatsci.org
Malacology & Invertebrate Paleontology    gopher://erato.acnatsci.org
Academy of Natural Sciences               http://www.acnatsci.org
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway            Phone 215-299-1033
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195 USA           Fax   215-299-1170