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

Robin Leech releech at telus.net
Tue Jul 14 17:35:24 CDT 2015


Hmmm. Stephen,

You'd do that without listening or reading about it?  That is tantamount to "My head is made up.  Don't 
bother me with the facts."

The Neuropterida is a natural group, so whether you consider it on a par with Holometabola, or as a subgroup, it 
doesn't matter.  As you know what is a subfamily today is a family in the making tomorrow (e.g., Family Thomisidae, 
with the subfamilies Thomisinae and Philodrominae about 10 years ago).  Today we have Thomisidae and Philodromidae,
and I have not seen any dissention among the troops on this.

Often what happens is that with more work done, the distinctions between two subfamilies become more distinct. 
I can cite other examples of this for the family Amaurobiidae.  What was once considered 1 family with a number 
of subfamilies is now a whole bunch of erections to family level.
Robin


-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Stephen Thorpe
Sent: July-14-15 4:16 PM
To: Richard Jensen; Richard Zander
Cc: Taxacom
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al. "A Higher Level Classification of All Living Organisms"

Well at any rate, any classification which pulls Neuropterida out of Holometabola goes straight into my rubbish bin!

Stephen

--------------------------------------------
On Wed, 15/7/15, Richard Zander <Richard.Zander at mobot.org> wrote:

 Subject: RE: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al. "A Higher Level Classification of All Living Organisms"
 To: "Richard Jensen" <rjensen at saintmarys.edu>, "Stephen Thorpe" <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>
 Cc: "Taxacom" <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
 Received: Wednesday, 15 July, 2015, 2:40 AM
 
 This thread seems to consider
 classification either as a non-theoretic pattern of evidence
 or a subjective art form. I think that there are objective,
 scientific criteria for judging a "best" classification,
 e.g. the dissilient species/genus/family concept in:
 http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/ResBot/Repr/Zander-Framework.pdf
 
 
 Stephen suggests that " The term "natural classification"
 refers to a classification based on
 evolutionary/phylogenetic relationships"
 Which is it? Phylogenetic relationships minimize paraphyly,
 evolutionary relationships maximize paraphyly. The
 classifications are commonly different.
 
 -------
 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 Richard Jensen
 Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 8:46 AM
 To: Stephen Thorpe
 Cc: Taxacom
 Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al. "A Higher
 Level Classification of All Living Organisms"
 
 Stephen,
 
 Isn't ant classification simply one of a set of alternative
 classifications?
 
 And, you have your interpretation of what a "natural"
 classification is, but this is not something that has been
 accepted by all.  The history of the concept of natural
 classification is fraught with disagreements, sometimes
 quite heated, about this idea.
 
 
 Cheers,
 
 Dick J
 
 On Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 5:30 PM, Stephen Thorpe <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>
 wrote:
 
 > Not that well said, actually! The term "natural
 classification" refers 
 > to a classification based on evolutionary/phylogenetic
 relationships 
 > rather than on subjective judgements of similarity
 and/or "groups of convenience".
 > As I said earlier in this thread, one is free to choose
 a 
 > classification, and that of Ruggiero et al. is a choice
 one may 
 > choose, but there could be problems resulting from
 sticking too 
 > rigidly to it for too long, that's all. There may be
 better 
 > alternatives. I would really hate to see it adopted as
 some kind of 
 > "official standard", when all it is is one suggestion.
 >
 > Stephen
 >
 >
 > --------------------------------------------
 > On Tue, 14/7/15, Robin Leech <releech at telus.net>
 wrote:
 >
 >  Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al.
 "A Higher Level 
 > Classification of All Living Organisms"
 >  To: "'Pierre Deleporte'" <pierre.deleporte at univ-rennes1.fr>,
 > taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  Received: Tuesday, 14 July, 2015, 9:16 AM
 >
 >  Well said, Pierre.
 >  Robin
 >
 >  -----Original Message-----
 >  From: Taxacom [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu]
 >  On Behalf Of Pierre Deleporte
 >  Sent: July-13-15 2:16 PM
 >  To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New paper: Ruggiero et al.
 "A Higher  Level 
 > Classification of All Living Organisms"
 >
 >
 >  all classifications are concepts - there is
 no  classification 
 > without a classifier - there is no "natural"
 >  classification standing in itself out there in
 the natural  wild 
 > (proponents of "natural" classifications should 
 meticulously explain 
 > what they mean)
 >
 >  useful classifications serve communication
 purposes (talking  of 
 > things or 'objects'  by meaningful classes
 rather  than on by
 >  one)
 >
 >  many classifications can be useful, provided that
 they fit  their 
 > goals (what kind of information do we want to convey
 >  ?) and their specification (what are the desired
 properties  of such 
 > a classification, given its goals ?)
 >
 >  in the present case, the classification of
 Ruggiero et al.
 >  should be evaluated according to its specific
 goals (some  kind of 
 > informal "majority rule consensus" for practical 
 purposes of 
 > stability on a 5-years basis)
 >
 >  criticisms in terms of "scientificity" or
 "naturalness" are  largely 
 > missing the point
 >
 >  Best,
 >  Pierre
 >
 >
 >
 >  Le 13/07/2015 19:45, Richard Pyle wrote :
 >  > Hi Stephen,
 >  >
 >  > A piece of string is as long as it needs to
 be to  perform a 
 > specified task.
 >  > In this case, you still seem to be having
 trouble  understanding 
 > what  > the specific task of the CoL consensus
 taxonomy  is.  Tony 
 > Rees  > answered much more effectively than I
 could have; but  the key 
 > point to  > understand is that a consensus
 taxonomy of this sort is  
 > established  > explicitly to facilitate harmony
 among disparate  
 > datasets, to more  > effectively allow
 cross-dataset comparisons, and 
 > to  dramatically  > simplify activities
 that benefit from a general  
 > organization of  > biological names into a
 rough/approximate SHARED  
 > classification.  In  > this context, the
 importance of stability and 
 > shared  use of the  > consensus
 classification across multiple 
 > data-providing  constituents  > VASTLY
 exceeds the importance of 
 > reflecting the  evolutionary  >
 speculation du jour.  We have plenty 
 > of  information streams to provide  >
 dynamic/evolutionary 
 > classifications as new information  becomes 
 > available in real time.  
 > What we've been lacking  (prior to the  >
 establishment of this CoL 
 > consensus taxonomy), is a  community-oriented
 classification 
 > "flag-pole" around which  data content providers
 can collectively 
 > rally.
 >  >
 >  > Also, your reference to a "new species"
 further reveals  your  > 
 > misunderstanding of what this consensus
 classification  is intended  > 
 > for. If you had read the paper, and downloaded
 the  classification, 
 > you  > would see that it only goes down as far
 as the rank of  Order.  
 > More  > granular changes to taxonomy (e.g.,
 families, genera,  
 > species, etc.)  > are not included (those are
 in the realm of the  
 > much-more dynamically updated CoL itself).
 >  > Personally, I think a consensus
 classification at the  rank of 
 > Order  > and higher probably does not need to
 be updated more  than 
 > once a  > decade, but I suppose that revisiting
 it every five  years 
 > is a reasonable frequency.
 >  >
 >  > In any case, I agree with Tony that the
 discussion has  gotten a 
 > bit  > off track.
 >  >
 >  > Aloha,
 >  > Rich
 >  >
 >  > Richard L. Pyle, PhD
 >  > Database Coordinator for Natural Sciences |
 Associate  Zoologist in  
 > > Ichthyology | Dive Safety Officer Department of
 Natural  Sciences,  
 > > Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI
 96817  > Ph: 
 > (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252 email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
 >
 >  > http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/staff/pylerichard.html
 >  >
 >  >
 >  >
 >  >> -----Original Message-----
 >  >> From: Stephen Thorpe [mailto:stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz]
 >  >> Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2015 10:40
 AM  >> To: Richard Jensen  >> 
 > Cc: Kenneth Kinman; Taxacom; Richard Pyle 
 >> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] 
 > New paper: Ruggiero et al.
 >  "A Higher Level
 >  >> Classification of All Living Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >> Dick,
 >  >> Yes, but how long is a piece of string?
 Five years  is too long!
 >  >> Problems
 >  > arise
 >  >> trying to fit new species into
 classifications  which don't yet  
 > >> recognise  > the  >>
 relevant higher taxa. Do we really want a 5 
 > year  time lag for new  > species??
 >  >> Stephen
 >  >>
 >  >>
 --------------------------------------------
 >  >> On Mon, 13/7/15, Richard Jensen <rjensen at saintmarys.edu>
 >  wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>   Subject: Re: [Taxacom]
 New paper:
 >  Ruggiero et al. "A Higher Level
 >  >> Classification of All Living Organisms"
 >  >>   To: "Stephen Thorpe"
 <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>
 >  >>   Cc: "Kenneth Kinman"
 <kinman at hotmail.com>,
 >  "Taxacom"
 >  >> <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>,
 >  "Richard Pyle"
 >  >> <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org>
 >  >>   Received: Monday, 13
 July, 2015,
 >  4:30 AM
 >  >>
 >  >>   Stephen,
 >  >>   I didn't miss your
 point.
 >  Anyone who works  in
 >  >> taxonomy/systematics is
 >  > well
 >  >> aware of the lag time  between a
 taxonomist  making a discovery 
 > and  >> the  > rest  >>
 of us  learning about it.  Thus, all  
 > classifications are  restricted  >>
 to  > what is  >> presently known 
 > by those constructing  the  classification -
 they  >> cannot be 
 > expected to add caveats  or make  allowances
 for information  >> that, 
 > while  > just  >> discovered a
 nanosecond before they submitted their  
 > final  edited  >> copy,  >
 was  >> not available to them.
 >  >>   Let's be realistic
 about this.
 >  >>   Cheers,
 >  >>   Dick J
 >  >>   On Sat, Jul 11, 2015
 >  >>   at 6:26 PM, Stephen
 Thorpe <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>
 >  >>   wrote:
 >  >>   Dick
 >  >>   J said: ..., perhaps I
 missed
 >  something in Stephen's  last note;
 >  >> isn't
 >  > any
 >  >> classification (except for those 
 that are  purely fanciful) 
 > limited  >> by  > what is 
 >> presently  known?
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>   Yes, you did miss
 something, i.e.
 >  the point! My point was  that
 >  > classification
 >  >> (particularly when based on
 phylogenetic
 >  >>   analyses) is
 continuously changing
 >  with new information  coming in
 >  >> all
 >  > the
 >  >> time. Yet, I strongly suspect that it
 may  be  something like at 
 > least  >> a  > decade  >>
 before CoL, etc. think  about reviewing the  
 > results of Ruggiero et al.
 >  > (2015).
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>   Stephen
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
 >>   --------------------------------------------
 >  >>
 >  >>   On Sun, 12/7/15,
 Richard Jensen
 >  <rjensen at saintmarys.edu>
 >  >>   wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Subject: Re: [Taxacom] New
 paper:
 >  Ruggiero et al. "A  Higher Level
 >  >> Classification of All Living Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>    To: "Stephen Thorpe" <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Cc: "Kenneth Kinman" <kinman at hotmail.com>,
 >  "Taxacom"
 >  >> <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>,
 >  deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
 >  >>
 >  >>    Received: Sunday, 12 July,
 2015, 1:57
 >  AM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Hi
 >  >>
 >  >>    all,
 >  >>
 >  >>    A couple of
 >  >>
 >  >>    observations:
 >  >>
 >  >>    First,
 >  >>
 >  >>    as Richard Pyle noted,
 consensus does
 >  not necessarily  mean
 >  >>
 >  >>    unanimity.  If so,
 then most
 >  political bills would never  be
 >  >>
 >  >>    passed.  Think of
 'consensus
 >  trees"; these  reflect
 >  >>
 >  >>    areas of agreement among
 competing
 >  views and leave the
 >  >>
 >  >>    differences largely
 unresolved.
 >  >>
 >  >>    Second, perhaps I missed
 something
 >  >>
 >  >>    in Stephen's last note;
 isn't any
 >  classification
 >  >>
 >  >>    (except for those that are
 purely
 >  fanciful) limited by  what
 >  >>
 >  >>    is presently known?
 >  >>
 >  >>    Third, I haven't read the
 paper,
 >  >>
 >  >>    but comments made by
 several
 >  participants certainly come
 >  >>
 >  >>    close to reflecting the
 thinking of
 >  numerical  taxonomists,
 >  >>
 >  >>    whose classifications were
 based on
 >  overall patterns of
 >  >>
 >  >>    agreement among all
 characters
 >  available (or all  characters
 >  >>
 >  >>    used in the particular
 >  analysis).  These classifications
 >  >>
 >  >>    were intended, in keeping
 with ideas
 >  expressed by  Gilmour,
 >  >>
 >  >>    to be useful and, perhaps,
 serve as
 >  the basis for  inferring
 >  >>
 >  >>    components of evolutionary
 >  relationships (although this  was
 >  >>
 >  >>    not the goal). Based on
 what I've read
 >  here, the new
 >  >>
 >  >>    classification attempts to
 provide a
 >  useful
 >  >>
 >  >>    consensus.
 >  >>
 >  >>    Cheers,
 >  >>
 >  >>    Dick J
 >  >>
 >  >>    On Fri, Jul 10, 2015 at
 >  >>
 >  >>    11:14 PM, Stephen Thorpe
 <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>
 >  >>
 >  >>    wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>    I have no
 >  >>
 >  >>    problem with alphabetical
 sequencing
 >  of taxa at each  level,
 >  >>
 >  >>    in fact I prefer it. My
 only gripe is
 >  that the paper be  seen
 >  >>
 >  >>    for what it really is, i.e.
 simply a
 >  choice of
 >  >>
 >  >>    classification, based in
 part on
 >  PRESENTLY available
 >  >>
 >  >>    evidence. Also,
 classifications should
 >  really be  specified
 >  >>
 >  >>    from the bottom up. Top
 down
 >  approaches just push a lot  of
 >  >>
 >  >>    unresolved rubbish down to
 the lower
 >  levels and ignore
 >  >>
 >  >>    it.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Stephen
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  --------------------------------------------
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    On Sat, 11/7/15, Richard
 Pyle <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org>
 >  >>
 >  >>    wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Subject: Re:
 [Taxacom] New
 >  paper: Ruggiero et al.
 >  >>   "A
 >  >>
 >  >>    Higher Level
 >  Classification of All Living
 >  >>
 >  >>    Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     To: "'Kenneth
 Kinman'"
 >  <kinman at hotmail.com>,
 >  >>
 >  >>    taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Received:
 Saturday, 11
 >  July, 2015, 2:37 PM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Sure, one could
 argue
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     indefinitely
 about how to
 >  contruct a "better"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     consensus
 >  classification.  But these LITERALLY
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     endless
 arguments are
 >  exactly
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     why no such
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     comprehensive
 >  classification has previously been
 >  >>
 >  >>    presented
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     FOR
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     THE PURPOSES
 INTENDED BY
 >  THIS
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >> 
    classification.  The
 >  value of this listing is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     not the
 "classification"
 >  part, so
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     much as it is
 the
 >  "consensus" part.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Consensus is not
 the same
 >  thing as unanimity.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     You can
 certainly convey
 >  your
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     personal
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     opinions (as
 listed below)
 >  to the architects of the
 >  >>
 >  >>    list,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     and maybe
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     a future version
 will be
 >  altered
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     to reflect them
 (assuming
 >  your opinions
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     resonate with
 the broader
 >  consensus).
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     In any case,
 sequencing of
 >  names in a list is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     an incredibly
 BAD way to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     represent
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     phylogenetic
 information;
 >  ESPECIALLY in the context of
 >  >>
 >  >>    that
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     this
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     particular list
 is intended
 >  for.  If
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     you want to
 represent
 >  affinities of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     taxa,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     there are three
 basic ways
 >  to do it:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     1)   
   Come
 >  up with a mark-up scheme (like
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     yours)
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     2)
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Acknowledge
 names at ever
 >  finer units of intermediate
 >  >>
 >  >>    ranks,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     so that
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     relationships
 can be
 >  represented
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     within nested
 sets
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     3)
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>       Draw a
 cladogram
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     For the purposes
 of this
 >  list,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     any sequence
 other than
 >  alphabetical
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (particularly if
 some sort
 >  of information is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     intended to be
 conveyed by
 >  the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     particular
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     sequence) would
 have been a
 >  very silly thing to do.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Aloha,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Rich
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     From: Kenneth
 Kinman
 >  [mailto:kinman at hotmail.com]
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Sent: Friday,
 July 10, 2015
 >  3:39 PM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     To: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org;
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Subject: RE:
 [Taxacom] New
 >  paper: Ruggiero et
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     al. "A Higher
 Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Classification
 of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     All Living
 Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Hi Rich,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >     I think John is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     being overly
 harsh.
 >  Overall, it's not a bad
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     classification,
 but I think
 >  it certainly could
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     be made
 better.  The
 >  protist
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     classification
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     is very good,
 thanks to the
 >  work of Thomas
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Cavalier-Smith.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     It's too bad he
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     couldn't get his
 co-authors
 >  to classify
 >  >>
 >  >>    Posibacteria
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Archaebacteria
 together in
 >  one Kingdom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (and
 Negibacteria in
 >  another).  I
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     still
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     think
 alphabetizing the
 >  lists is still a sad loss of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >> 
    information.  It
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     may be a bit
 more
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     convenient for
 some, but
 >  I'm sure many others will
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     find
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     the loss of
 information
 >  more than just
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     an
 inconvenience.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >     I don't understand why they
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     didn't subdivide
 the list
 >  of orders of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     eutherian
 mammals (and
 >  splitting Pilosa and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Cingulata as
 separate
 >  orders
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     unfortunately
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     eliminated the
 more
 >  familiar name Xenarthra, as well as
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     being
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     separated
 >  alphabetically).  And of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     course, I would
 raise Aves
 >  back to Class
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     status, and add
 an {{Aves}}
 >  marker within
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Reptilia. 
 Anyway,
 >  even if they
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     insist on
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     retaining the
 alphabetical
 >  "convention" for
 >  >>
 >  >>    the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     convenience of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     some, there is
 still
 >  plenty
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of room for
 improvement in
 >  my opinion.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >> 
    ---------------Ken
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     P.S. 
 Hexapoda is
 >  probably
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     polyphyletic.
 >  Collembola almost certainly
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     evolved
 hexapody
 >  independently from one group
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of crustaceans,
 and the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     insects from a
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     different group
 of
 >  crustaceans
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     .
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >
 >  >
 >  
 >
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 >  > ----
 >  > --
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
    ---------------------------------------------
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > From: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > To: calabar.john at gmail.com;
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Date: Fri,
 10 Jul 2015
 >  14:52:03 -1000
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Subject:
 Re: [Taxacom]
 >  New paper: Ruggiero
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     et al. "A Higher
 Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Classification
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of All Living
 Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Hi John,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > I think you
 would need
 >  to read the full
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     paper (not just
 the two
 >  lines of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     text I
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     quoted from the
 abstract)
 >  before you could make an
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     assessment as
 to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     whether or not
 their work
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     fits within your
 own
 >  personal definition of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     "science".
 Considerably
 >  more
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     investigation
 would be
 >  required before you
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     could
 confidently infer
 >  whether or not the work
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     falls within the
 authors'
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     own personal
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     definitions of
 "science".
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Aloha,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Rich
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > From: John
 Grehan
 >  [mailto:calabar.john at gmail.com]
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Sent:
 Friday, July 10,
 >  2015 1:00 PM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > To: Richard
 Pyle;
 >  taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Subject:
 Re: [Taxacom]
 >  New paper: Ruggiero
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     et al. "A Higher
 Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Classification
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of All Living
 Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Yes I was
 implying
 >  (explicitly) that the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     authors of the
 paper appear
 >  to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     have a
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     definition of
 science
 >  (assuming that the classification
 >  >>
 >  >>    was
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     being
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     represented as
 science)
 >  where science
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     is a 'consensus'
 of
 >  opinion
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     compromising
 conflicting
 >  information. When one
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     comes up with a
 compromise
 >  of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     the sort it
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     does not appear
 to be a
 >  process that is attempting to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     reflect
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     reality
 (whatever that
 >  might be),
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     but just a
 compromise
 >  between different
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     opinions. A good
 example of
 >  this is how
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     so-called
 ecological areas
 >  were
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     defined in
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     New Zealand
 (Under the
 >  Protected Natural Areas program,
 >  >>
 >  >>    and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     with
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     lots of money to
 boot)
 >  according to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     compromises over
 different
 >  opinions
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     about
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     where the
 boundaries
 >  between the areas were to be drawn
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (said
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     boundaries
 having no
 >  reality anyway,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     hence the
 ability to
 >  'compromise').
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Perhaps I
 am being
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     awfully
 presumptuous, but
 >  if it is presumptuous to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     regard consensus
 opinions
 >  as outside science
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     then so be it.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > John
 Grehan
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > On Fri, Jul
 10, 2015
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     at 4:06 PM,
 Richard Pyle
 >  <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > The "nature
 of
 >  reality" is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     sufficiently
 vague that it
 >  could be interpreted
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     just as broadly
 as
 >  "science" can
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     be.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > My only
 point is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     that the outer
 boundaries
 >  of "science" are
 >  >>
 >  >>    not
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     well
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     defined.
 Controlled
 >  experimentation
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     following the
 scientific
 >  method is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     squarely
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     within the realm
 of
 >  science, and most would argue that
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     things like
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Astrology are
 pretty
 >  clearly at
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     the very
 outskirts. In
 >  between those is a
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     very broad range
 of
 >  activities, such as
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     phylogenetics,
 taxonomy,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     nomenclature,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     informatics, and
 a whole
 >  host of other things that may
 >  >>
 >  >>    or
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     may
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     not conform to
 some
 >  particular
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     person's
 definition of
 >  "science".
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Your
 comment, to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     which I was
 responding,
 >  seemed to imply that we all
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (including the
 authors of
 >  the paper) share a
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     definition of
 science that
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     would
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     unambiguously
 exclude their
 >  paper from
 >  >>
 >  >>    "science"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (i.e., the
 notion
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     that the
 authors
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     self-evidently
 "admit" that
 >  their work is not
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     science).
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     That seemed
 awfully
 >  presumptuous
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of you.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Aloha,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Rich
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > From: John
 Grehan
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     [mailto:calabar.john at gmail.com]
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Sent:
 Friday, July 10,
 >  2015 9:52 AM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > To: Richard
 Pyle
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Subject:
 Re:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     [Taxacom] New
 paper:
 >  Ruggiero et al. "A Higher
 >  >>
 >  >>    Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Classification
 of All
 >  Living Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Perhaps,
 but what do
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     you think is
 incorrect
 >  about the one I gave? Are you
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     saying consensus
 opinion is
 >  science?
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > John
 Grehan
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > On Fri, Jul
 10, 2015
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     at 3:30 PM,
 Richard Pyle
 >  <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > We all like
 to believe
 >  our own definition
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of "science" is
 the correct
 >  one.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Sigh..
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Rich
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > From: John
 Grehan
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     [mailto:calabar.john at gmail.com]
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Sent:
 Friday, July 10,
 >  2015 9:23 AM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > To: Richard
 Pyle
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Cc:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     TAXACOM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Subject:
 Re: [Taxacom]
 >  New paper: Ruggiero
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     et al. "A Higher
 Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Classification
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of All Living
 Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > At least
 the quotes
 >  show that the authors
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     admit their work
 not be
 >  science
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (if science
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     is understood to
 be about
 >  the nature of reality beyond
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     'consensus'
 opinion).
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > John
 Grehan
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > On Fri, Jul
 10, 2015
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     at 3:07 PM,
 Richard Pyle
 >  <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     wrote:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Hmmm....
 I've been
 >  deliberately quiet
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     on this thread
 as well. I
 >  appreciate
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     viewpoints of
 Ken and
 >  others in terms of holophyly, the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     value of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     acknowledging
 paraphyletic
 >  taxa
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     through Linnean
 >  nomenclature, etc. This is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     all good
 philosophical
 >  grit, and I enjoy the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     intellectual
 stimulation
 >  as
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     much as
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     anyone.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > However,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     this thread
 began (and
 >  remains?) relevant to the PLoS
 >  >>
 >  >>    ONE
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     publication of
 Ruggiero et
 >  al., which provides
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     a generalized
 **CONSENSUS
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >> 
    CLASSIFICATION**.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Perhaps there is
 some
 >  misunderstanding on what is meant
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     by
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     this term (and
 the
 >  associated
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     classification)?
 Anyone who
 >  read as far as the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     abstract of this
 paper
 >  should at least know
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     that:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > "This
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     classification
 is neither
 >  phylogenetic nor evolutionary
 >  >>
 >  >>    but
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     instead
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     represents a
 consensus view
 >  that
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     accommodates
 taxonomic
 >  choices and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     practical
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     compromises
 among diverse
 >  expert opinions, public
 >  >>
 >  >>    usages,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     conflicting
 evidence about
 >  the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     boundaries
 between taxa and
 >  the ranks of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     major taxa,
 including
 >  kingdoms."
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > And:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > "Beyond
 its
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     immediate use as
 a
 >  management tool for the CoL and ITIS
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (Integrated
 Taxonomic
 >  Information System), it
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     is immediately
 valuable as
 >  a
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     reference for
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     taxonomic and
 biodiversity
 >  research, as a tool for
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     societal
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     communication,
 and as a
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     classificatory
 "backbone"
 >  for biodiversity
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     databases,
 museum
 >  collections, libraries, and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     textbooks."
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     In this context,
 it is
 >  ABSOLUTELY CORRECT that the
 >  >>
 >  >>    subtaxa
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     within a taxon
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     are
 alphabetically
 >  arranged!
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     It is absolutely
 NOT
 >  intended to reflect any
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     sort of
 "naturalness" in
 >  patterns of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     evolution. Yes,
 it probably
 >  does kinda-
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     sorta- happen to
 reflect
 >  modern views of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     evolutionary
 relationships
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (otherwise
 there
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     wouldn't be much
 consensus
 >  behind it). But its
 >  >>
 >  >>    function
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     to serve as a
 tool for
 >  informatics and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     generalized
 (i.e., highly
 >  simplified)
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     organizational
 >  representation of life on Earth.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     As such, it is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     overwhelmingly
 valuable to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     the people for
 whom it was
 >  intended (see second
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     quote above).
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Aloha,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Rich
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 -----Original
 >  Message-----
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > From:
 Taxacom
 >  [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu]
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     On Behalf
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Of
 Richard
 >  Zander
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Sent:
 Friday,
 >  July 10, 2015 7:51
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     AM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > To:
 TAXACOM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Subject: Re:
 >  [Taxacom] New paper:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Ruggiero et al.
 "A Higher
 >  Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 Classification of All
 >  Living Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Maybe
 now
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     is the time to
 add my
 >  perspective, backing up that of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Ken.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Phylogenetic
 classification
 >  is artificial. Artificial
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     classifications
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     use one set of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > traits
 to group
 >  taxa, e.g., molecular
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     races, shared
 traits
 >  (only).
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Artificial
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 classifications
 >  are repeatable, yet
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     repeatability is
 not the
 >  only
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     requirement
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 science.
 >  Alphabetization is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     repeatable.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Principles
 of
 >  phylogenetic classification are
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     artificial.
 Some
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     principles
 include
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > strict
 monophyly
 >  (so long Aves),
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     putting known
 taxa at the
 >  top of a tree
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 relationships
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >> 
    ("tree-thinking") rather
 >  than in the tree
 >  >>
 >  >>    when
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     known
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     (stem-
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     thinking),
 ignoring the
 >  probability of extinct
 >  >>
 >  >>    paraphyly
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     that casts
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     doubt on
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > molecular
 trees,
 >  ignoring the evolutionary
 >  >>
 >  >>    importance
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of
 autapomorphies,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 asserting that
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     only zero length
 branches
 >  imply a surviving ancestral
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     taxon,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 pretending
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     that a cladogram
 is "the
 >  evidence" (when it
 >  >>
 >  >>    is
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     only some
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 evidence) and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     evolutionary
 theory is mere
 >  narrative . . . you can
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     probably
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > think
 of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     more
 phylogenetic
 >  principles of classification that do
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     violence
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     to
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     evolutionary
 theory
 >  developed only after long struggle
 >  >>
 >  >>    with
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     artificial
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 classifiers of
 >  the
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     past.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Classification
 by
 >  phylogenetic principles is actually
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     quite
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     unprincipled,
 and
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > serves only
 to
 >  preserve a modification of older
 >  >>
 >  >>    methods
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of numerical
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 taxonomy.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Richard
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 -------
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     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
 Nico Franz
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Sent:
 Friday,
 >  July 10, 2015 12:16
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     PM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > To:
 TAXACOM
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Subject: Re:
 >  [Taxacom] New paper:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Ruggiero et al.
 "A Higher
 >  Level
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 Classification of All
 >  Living Organisms"
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Computational
 logic? Nico
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Reasoning over
 >  taxonomic change:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >> 
 > http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0118
 >  >> 247
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Taxonomy - for
 >  computers:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/07/09/022145
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > -----
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Date:
 Thu, 9 Jul
 >  2015
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > From:
 Kenneth
 >  Kinman
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Hi
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Stephen,
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Logically, we
 >  must
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     remember that
 [...]
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
    _______________________________________________
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Taxacom Mailing
 >  List
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > The
 Taxacom
 >  Archive back to 1992 may
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     be searched at:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Celebrating
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     28 years of
 Taxacom in
 >  2015.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
    _______________________________________________
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Taxacom Mailing
 >  List
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > The
 Taxacom
 >  Archive back to 1992 may
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     be searched at:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > > http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > >
 Celebrating
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     28 years of
 Taxacom in
 >  2015.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
    _______________________________________________
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Taxacom
 Mailing List
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > The Taxacom
 Archive
 >  back to 1992 may be
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     searched at:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Celebrating
 28 years
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of Taxacom in
 2015.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
    _______________________________________________
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Taxacom
 Mailing List
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > The Taxacom
 Archive
 >  back to 1992 may be
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     searched at:
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     >
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     > Celebrating
 28 years
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     of Taxacom in
 2015.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 > 
    _______________________________________________
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Taxacom Mailing
 List
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     The Taxacom
 Archive back to
 >  1992 may be
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     searched at: http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Celebrating 28
 years of
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>     Taxacom in
 2015.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  _______________________________________________
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Taxacom Mailing List
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    The Taxacom Archive back to
 1992 may
 >  be searched at:
 >  >> http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    Celebrating 28 years of
 Taxacom in
 >  2015.
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>    --
 >  >>
 >  >>    Richard Jensen, Professor
 >  >>
 >  >>    Department of Biology
 >  >>
 >  >>    Saint Mary's College
 >  >>
 >  >>    Notre Dame, IN 46556
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >>   --
 >  >>   Richard Jensen,
 Professor
 >  >>   Department of Biology
 >  >>   Saint Mary's College
 >  >>   Notre Dame, IN 46556
 >  >>
 >  >>
 >  >
 _______________________________________________
 >  > Taxacom Mailing List
 >  > Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  > The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be
 searched at:
 >  > http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >  >
 >  > Celebrating 28 years of Taxacom in 2015.
 >
 >
 >  --
 >  Pierre DELEPORTE
 >  UMR6552 EthoS
 >  Université Rennes 1
 >  CNRS
 >  Station Biologique
 >  35380 PAIMPONT
 >  tél (+33) 02 99 61 81 63
 >  fax (+33) 02 99 61 81 88
 >
 >  _______________________________________________
 >  Taxacom Mailing List
 >  Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be searched
 at:
 > http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >
 >  Celebrating 28 years of Taxacom in 2015.
 >
 >  _______________________________________________
 >  Taxacom Mailing List
 >  Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 >  http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 >  The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be searched
 at:
 > http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >
 >  Celebrating 28 years of Taxacom in 2015.
 >
 > _______________________________________________
 > Taxacom Mailing List
 > Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 > The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be searched at:
 > http://taxacom.markmail.org
 >
 > Celebrating 28 years of Taxacom in 2015.
 >
 
 
 
 --
 Richard Jensen, Professor
 Department of Biology
 Saint Mary's College
 Notre Dame, IN 46556
 _______________________________________________
 Taxacom Mailing List
 Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
 http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
 The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be searched at: http://taxacom.markmail.org
 
 Celebrating 28 years of Taxacom in 2015.
 
_______________________________________________
Taxacom Mailing List
Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be searched at: http://taxacom.markmail.org

Celebrating 28 years of Taxacom in 2015.




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