[Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al. "A Higher Level Classification of All Living Organisms"

[Richard Zander]

Data bases of classified taxa are valuable, but tend to be monolithic because of the problems involved in reflecting the ever-changing results of new study and new opinion. Consensus or what passes for consensus is thus at least a temporary target if not a strongly defended goal. 

One way to deal with this is to, yes, do a monolithic data set with "best" classification, but make sure that every taxonomist has a "kit" of critical floristic and faunistic literature for every region, published by a variety of authors. In particular, new taxonomists often ask around to see if out-of-print literature is available. 

It is possible that, given the present biodiversity emergency, an organization like a United Nations Environmental Protection Agency might buy the copyrights to out-of-print taxonomic works considered absolutely necessary for biodiversity research for each world region, and make them available in PDF form.  Thus, new taxonomists would still have to pay for in-print volumes but would be given free PDFs for those difficult to obtain books they need.

This blunts the objection that consensus must rule taxonomy, and puts the onus on publishers who will not reprint major works because the costs would exceed projected net sales.


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Richard H. Zander
Missouri Botanical Garden – 4344 Shaw Blvd. – St. Louis – Missouri – 63110 – USA
richard.zander at mobot.org 
Web sites: http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/bfnamenu.htm and http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/ 

-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Wilson
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2015 10:02 PM
To: Richard Jensen
Cc: Taxacom
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al. "A Higher Level Classification of All Living Organisms"

Exactly, Dick.  This is intended as a pragmatic way to arrange/link information about all organisms so that the information can be made available electronically, no more nor less than that.

It is unrealistic to think that such a classification can reflect all of the most up-to-date research findings - or that it can be changed very frequently, given the intellectual and keyboard effort needed to make such changes carefully to avoid losing links to the information.

Congratulations to my former colleagues at Species 2000 and ITIS for producing this updated classification for the Catalogue of Life (and for use by any other digital system that needs one).

For those picking holes in certain areas of it: you could help to improve future versions by getting involved with the project and contributing your expertise.
Just a thought.

Karen Wilson

________________________________________________________________________________________________
Karen L. Wilson AM
Senior Research Scientist, National Herbarium of New South Wales

Adjunct Associate Professor, University of New England, Armidale, NSW  
Secretary, General Committee, International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi & Plants    

Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands
T +61 (02) 9231 8137 | E karen.wilson at rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Jensen
Sent: Saturday, 11 July 2015 11:57 PM
To: Stephen Thorpe
Cc: Taxacom
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al. "A Higher Level Classification of All Living Organisms"

Hi all,

... Based on what I've read here, the new classification attempts to provide a useful consensus.

Cheers,

Dick J

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