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Biological inventories and the PhyloCode
Author(s) -
Berry Paul E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1554960
Subject(s) - nomenclature , convention , phylogenetic nomenclature , hierarchy , phylogenetic tree , biological classification , geography , biology , genealogy , ecology , taxonomy (biology) , social science , sociology , political science , evolutionary biology , law , history , clade , biochemistry , gene
This paper assesses how the debate between the PhyloCode and Linnaean nomenclature and ranked classifications relates to biological inventory and monographic activities. I propose that there is a considerable gap between the overall inventory of biological resources and the better phylogenetic knowledge of certain groups. Since ranks and binomials are a useful societal convention, and alternative ways exist of dealing with improved phylogenetic knowledge without abandoning the Linnaean hierarchy, it could be counterproductive to the field as a whole to embark upon an alternative nomenclature system such as the PhyloCode at this time.