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Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 13:42:52 +0200
From: [unknown]
To: PhyloCode mailing list <phylocode@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu>
Subject: Fwd: Re: Panstems
Hello, =09I agree with several comments recently=3D20 made in this discussion group about potential=3D20 problems of enforcing a clause or even a policy=3D20 of using the Pan- prefix to denote a stem-based=3D20 (total) group. Jason Anderson recently made some=3D20 points that I share, and Mickey Mortimer too=3D20 (below). I can easily add to the list of names=3D20 that would be displaced by Pan- based names (see=3D20 below). > >Pan-stems already disrupt continuity for many names, as most total c= lades >whose surrounding topologies are well known have been named already. > >Here are some total clade names that come to mind- >Amphibia =3D3D Panlissamphibia. >Salientia =3D3D Pananura. >Urodela =3D3D Pancaudata. >Reptiliomorpha =3D3D Panamniota. >Synapsida =3D3D Panmammalia. >Metatheria =3D3D Panmarsupalia. >Eutheria =3D3D Panplacentalia. >Sauropsida =3D3D Panreptilia. >Anapsida =3D3D Pantestudines. >Romeriida =3D3D Pansauria. >Lepidosauromorpha =3D3D Panlepidosauria. >Archosauromorpha =3D3D Panarchosauria. >Avemetatarsalia =3D3D Panaves. Add to this: Actinopterygii =3D3D Panteleostei Sarcopterygii =3D3D Pansarcopterygii Tetrapodomorpha =3D3D PanTetrapoda There are many more, but these names (at least=3D20 the first two) are often used in the literature. I also agree with Jonathan Wagner's comment about=3D20 the contradiction between the Pan- naming scheme=3D20 and recommendation 10A. I would not like to see=3D20 such contradictions in the PhyloCode. Jonathan's comment: "For the record, the use of Panstems violates the=3D20 letter and the spirit of Recommendation 10A:=3D20 "When establishing the name of a clade, a=3D20 preexisting name that has been applied to this=3D20 clade should generally be selected if such a name=3D20 exists." If this is to be made a rule within the=3D20 PhyloCode, substantial alteration will have to=3D20 occur. Naturally, I support making it a rule as=3D20 it stands." =09I would like to point out that my=3D20 greatest objection against this Pan-naming scheme=3D20 is that I know that several of my colleagues=3D20 that are respectable and reasonable systematists,=3D20 that came to the "First International=3D20 Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting" or that could=3D20 consider using the PhyloCode, are very much=3D20 opposed to it. We risk loosing a large basis of=3D20 support among systematists if we implement an=3D20 idea. Let's face it, the PhyloCode faces a long,=3D20 hard uphill battle for acceptance in the=3D20 systematic community. Let's not drastically=3D20 reduce the chances of the PhyloCode by=3D20 introducing an unnecessary clause into this=3D20 perfectly good code. =09Finally, I also note that the PhyloCode=3D20 is mostly about how to define names, not how to=3D20 name clades; the Pan-naming scheme in this=3D20 respect would differ from most of the other=3D20 clauses of this code that only set minimal=3D20 requirements for the names (like the use of the=3D20 Latin alphabet). Making such an addition is=3D20 dangerous in my opinion because I know that=3D20 systematists are quite attached to academic=3D20 freedom, and I believe that several consider that=3D20 choosing clade names is part of it. I am=3D20 convinced that most sensible systematist can see=3D20 the great advantages that the PhyloCode=3D20 represents over the rank-based codes, so why risk=3D20 loosing their support by enforcing a certain=3D20 perspective about which clades are important and=3D20 how they should be named? I believe that this=3D20 choice must rest with individual systematists. =09Sincerely, =09Michel Laurin --=20 Michel Laurin =3D46RE 2696, CNRS Universit=3DE9 Paris 7 - Denis Diderot 2, place Jussieu case 7077 75005 Paris =3D46RANCE tel. (33 1) 44 27 36 92 http://tolweb.org/tree/laurin/Laurin_Home_page.html Secretary of the International Society for Phylogenetic Nomenclature