Theoretical courses

 

Folder Botanical nomenclature

What is nomenclature?

Taxonomic names face a dual problem:

 

  • each name represents a volatile scientific hypothesis that should be modifiable if evidence suggest so 
  • scientific names serve to unlock biosystematic information and thus should be as stable as possible.

 

To rime this duality, the international codes of nomenclature are used. These codes act as objective rule-books that govern and provide clear instructions on how organisms get their correct scientific name which must have maximun universality and continuity. The nomenclatural rules of the codes are tools that are designed to provide the maximum stability compatible with taxonomic freedom.

Why do we need nomenclature?

In order to avoid confusion over the identity of a taxon, each taxon must have one unique name that is the same throughout the world. This appears rather trivial but it has happened on numerous occasions that multiple names have been proposed for the same taxon (synonyms) or that different taxa were given the same name (homonyms). In order to avoid and, if already too late, resolve these problems universally accepted rules for name-giving must be installed: the codes of nomenclature.

How does botanical nomenclature operate?

The codes of nomenclature operate as conventions, are international in scope and are more or less universally accepted. The Code of Botanical Nomenclature consists of mandatory articles or rules and non-mandatory recommendations which enable botanists to arrive at names for taxa under particular taxonomic circumstances.

The ICBN is underbuild by the following guiding principles:

  • the Code never obstructs taxonomic judgment
  • every name is permanently attached to a name-bearing type; this is the principle of typification
  • the principle of priority determines which is the valid name for a taxon, unless usage of the principle threatens stability and universality (e.g. by upsetting a long-accepted name through the validation of little-known or forgotten names)
  • the same name for different taxa must not occur and is prohibited; this is the principle of homonymy
  • two or more different names cannot be used for the same taxon, this is the principle of synonymy
  • the International Commission on Botanical Nomenclature reserves the right to have the last word if needed
  • “case laws” do not exist; problems are solved by applying the Code directly or by ruling of the Commission
  • the botanical code start on 1 May 1753 for most plants (seed plants, ferns, one family of mosses, the Sphagnaceae, fungi and most algae), but other taxa have different starting dates for their nomenclature.
  • the botanical code does not use coordinate status authorship and date of publication
  • a name is validly published only if it is supplemented with a LAtin diagnosis

Course

De Clerck, 2008. The art of naming organisms (pdf)

De Clerck, 2008. The "correct" name. (pdf)

De Clerck, 2008. Excercises (pdf)

References 

  • Alroy, J. 2002. How many named species are valid? PNAS 99: 3706-3711.
  • Barraclough, T.G. & Nee, S. 2001. Phylogenetics and speciation. TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution 16: 391-399.
  • Berry, P.E. 2002. Biological inventories and the PhyloCode. Taxon 51: 27-29.
  • Borrell, B. 2007. The big name hunters. Nature 446: 253
  • Brisola Marcondes, C. 2007. Taxonomic changes: disprove or accept them/ TRENDS in Ecology & Systematics 23: 302-303
  • Dayrat, B. 2005. Towards integrative taxonomy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 85: 407-415. 
  • Dellaglio, F., Felis, G.E. & Germond J.-E. 2004. Should names reflect the evolution of bacterial species? International Journal of Systelatic and Evolutionary Microbiology 54, 3 pp. 
  • Dubois, A. 2007b. Naming taxa from cladograms: A cautionary tale. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 317-330.
  • Dubois, A. 2007c. Naming taxa from cladograms: some confusions, misleading statements and necessary clarifications. Cladistics 23: 1-13
  • Dubois, A. 2007d. Phylogeny, taxonomy and nomenclature: the problem of taxonomic categories and of nomenclatural ranks. Zootaxa 1519: 27-68
  • Dubois, A. & Némesio, A. 2007. Does nomenclatural availability of nomina of new species or subspecies require the deposition of vouchers in collections. Zootaxa 1409: 1-22
  • Forey, P.L. 2002. PhyloCode – pain, no gain. Taxon 51: 43-54.
  • Knapp, S., Lamas, G., Lughada, N. & Novarino, G. 2004. Stability or stasis in the names of organisms. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London B, 359: 611-622. 
  • Knapp, S., Polaszek, A., Watson, M. 2007. Spreading the word. Nature 446: 261-262.
  • Laurin, M. & Cantino, P.D. 2004. First international Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting: a report. Zoologica Scripta 33: 475-479.
  • Laporte, J. 2003. Does a type specimen necessarily or contingently belong to its type species? Biology & Philosophy 18: 583-588.
  • Levine, A. 2001. Individualism, Type Specimens, and the Scrutability of Species Membership. Biology & Philosophy 16: 325-338
  • Lughadha, E.N. 2004. Towards a working list of all known plant species. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. 359: 681-687. 
  • Minelli, A. 2003. The status of taxonomic literature. TRENDS in Ecology & Evolution 18: 75-76
  • Nimis, P.L. 2001. A tale from Bioutopia. Nature 413: 21
  • Polazek, A. 2007. Response to Marcondes: Accepting name changes. TRENDS in Ecology & Evolution 23: 303-304
  • Rapini, A.2002. Illustrating the Holy Cow. Taxon 51: 175-177
  • Sereno, P.C. 2005. The Logical Basis of Phylogenetic Taxonomy. Systematic Biology 54: 595-619. 
  • Stevens P.F. 2002. Why do we name organisms? Some reminders from the past. Taxon 51: 11-26.
  • Thiele, K. & Yeates, D. 2002. Tension arises from duality at the heart of taxonomy. Nature 419: 337.
  • Trivedi B.P. 2005. What's in a Species' Name? More than $ 450,000. Science 307: 1399. 
  • Zander, R.H.. 2004. (180-181) Reports of the Special Committee on Electronic Publishing with two proposals to amend the Code. Taxon 53: 592-593 

 

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