[Taxacom] Integrative taxonomy

[dipteryx at freeler.nl]

Van: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu namens Richard Pyle
Verzonden: zo 1-8-2010 19:45

  [...]
> 4) Come up with a higher-resolution naming scheme that harmonizes 
> (as much as possible) with the existing Linnaean naming system.
  [...] 
> That's why I favor #4; starting with the mechanism we already have 

***
>From a historical perspective this has happened repeatedly, with the
system(s) for cultivated plants furthest along.

In botany there is a (local) example of something which in its form 
looks quite like what the present article proposes
(http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/help/names under "phrase names"),
although it is not limited to species.

So, basically, nothing new. And of course there is a risk
that the proposed mechanism would lead to massive dumping of
the contents of some database or other into this mechanism 
to yield massive amounts of new text strings, so beloved 
by biodiversity informaticians, leading to yet more confusion.

But, if used in moderation, it may be somewhat useful.

Paul