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Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 14:06:57 -0400
From: [unknown]
To: phylocode@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu
Subject: Thoughts on the Paris meeting
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As an interested observer, but currently not a full fledged Phylocode=
=3D
advocate, I was probably an anomaly at the Paris meeting. Also, I app=
ear =3D
to have been the only mycologist there save for a half day attendance=
by =3D
a French colleague, whom unfortunately I never realized was there tha=
t =3D
day.=3D20
=3D20
Having said this, I have a few observations to share. But before that=
I =3D
would like to thank Michel Laurin for helping to arranging things and=
=3D
helping to host the meeting. It was a privilege to attend the meeting=
at =3D
the prestigious Mus=3DE9um National d'Histoire Naturelle and the exam=
ples =3D
of fine French cuisine arranged for the breaks and the social dinner =
=3D
were outstanding.
=3D20
As an outsider I was somewhat surprised by the number of palaeontolog=
ist =3D
at the meeting, which in retrospect perhaps should have been =3D
anticipated. I had expected the majority of Phylocode advocates to be=
=3D
those involved with DNA or protein sequence data. It now dawns on me =
why =3D
apomorphies are being used as specifiers, and it bewilders me as to h=
ow =3D
anatomical characters are objectively scored (as it is always slightl=
y =3D
subjective when scoring morphological features). It was also an =3D
eye-opener to note the lack of representatives in microbiology and =
=3D
entomology, and the relatively few botanists. During one coffee break=
a =3D
contributor optimistically stated that within 10 years everybody in =
=3D
biology would be adopting the Phylocode, but I think that is naive, a=
nd =3D
unrealistic given the lack of interest in the code by major groups of=
=3D
biologists. The other disappointment was the fact that the registrati=
on =3D
database was not up and running smoothly for the meeting. There were =
=3D
still too many glitches.
=3D20
The debate on incorporating species into the code took a worrying =
=3D
direction by the shift towards using current species epithets (stripp=
ed =3D
of generic names) but leaving attached authors' names, year and page =
(or =3D
reference) if necessary. One of the burden's of the current codes (IC=
BN, =3D
ICZN, ICNB) is the author citations, particularly for the botanical c=
ode =3D
that involves authors of new combinations being added on. Adding =
=3D
authors' names on taxon names always introduces the ego factor (no =
=3D
matter how noble one might believe themselves to be). The historic co=
des =3D
in part did this to help track names through literature. Such is =
=3D
unnecessary when every single name in this code is in a database. =
=3D
Authorship is irrelevant and can be eliminated because each has a uni=
que =3D
registration number. There is the grand opportunity to rise above =
=3D
everyone's collective egos (but of course nobody wanted to do this). =
=3D
Suggesting now that authors names (year of publication or validation)=
=3D
become part of species names actually goes several steps further in a=
n =3D
illogical direction.
=3D20
With regard to fungi, I noted in the current draft the following:
=3D20
Recommendation 10 E. Names referring to mitotic asexual morphs =3D
(anamorphs) of ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi are treated by the =
=3D
ICBN and Draft BioCode as applicable only to the organ or morph =3D
represented by their type, not to the fungus in all its morphs =3D
(holomorph), which is considered to be represented by the teleomorph,=
=3D
i.e. the morph characterized by the production of asci/ascospores, =
=3D
basidia/basidiospores, teliospores, or other basidium-bearing organs.=
=3D
Because of the frequent polyphyly of the sets of species to which =
=3D
anamorph names traditionally apply, the names of clades of ascomycete=
=3D
and basidiomycete fungi should not be based on the names of anamorphs=
=3D
unless there is reason to believe that the group generally associated=
=3D
with the anamorph name is monophyletic.=3D20
=3D20
For those of you unfamiliar with nomenclature of fungi as governed by=
=3D
the botanical code, fungi are the only group of extant organisms wher=
e =3D
species with multiple reproductive morphs have been allowed multiple =
=3D
accepted valid scientific names, one for the entire organism, based u=
pon =3D
a sexual morphotype, and others based upon asexual morphological =
=3D
features. Article 59 of the current ICBN covers this issue and =3D
undoubtedly led to the incorporation of recommendation 10E in the =
=3D
Phylocode.=3D20
=3D20
It is intriguing to see such a melding of definitions from an existin=
g =3D
code with the Phylocode while missing the point that the current arti=
cle =3D
dealt with pleomorphic fungi. There are some that only reproduce =
=3D
asexually and their anamorph (asexual morph-based) name is in fact th=
e =3D
holomorph name, applicable to the entire organism. In some cases it =
=3D
would make more sense to adopt the anamorph name for a clade that =
=3D
encompasses both sexual and asexual species regardless of whether =
=3D
existing names are typified by teleomorphs (sexual reproductive organ=
s) =3D
or anamorphs (asexual reproductive organs).
=3D20
Scott A. Redhead, Ph.D.=3D20
Curator - National Mycological Herbarium / Curator de l'herbier =3D
mycologique national=3D20
Research Scientist / Chercheur scientifique=3D20
Biodiversity (Mycology and Botany) / Biodiversit=3DE9 (Mycologie et =
=3D
Botanique) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture et =3D
Agroalimentaire Canada 960 Carling Avenue/960 Carling Avenue Saunder'=
s =3D
Bldg./ Edifice de Saunder Ottawa, Ontario/Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0C6
Telephone/T=3DE9l=3DE9phone: 613-759-1384=3D20
Facsimile/T=3DE9l=3DE9copieur: 613-759-1599=3D20
redheads@agr.gc.ca=3D20
=3D20
--Boundary_(ID_1alzelTuXcfCbo6gC9aAEQ)
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<div class=3D3DSection1>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal>As an interested observer, but currently not a=
full =3D
fledged Phylocode
advocate, I was probably an anomaly at the Paris meeting. Also, I app=
ear =3D
to
have been the only mycologist there save for a half day attendance by=
a =3D
French
colleague, whom unfortunately I never realized was there that day. </=
p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Having said this, I have a few observations to share. But bef=
ore =3D
that I
would like to thank Michel Laurin for helping to arranging things and=
=3D
helping
to host the meeting. It was a privilege to attend the meeting at the
prestigious <i><span style=3D3D'font-style:italic'>Mus=3DE9um Nationa=
l =3D
d’Histoire
Naturelle</span></i></span></font><font face=3D3DPalatino><span =3D
style=3D3D'font-family:
Palatino'> </span></font>and the examples of fine French cuisine =
=3D
arranged for
the breaks and the social dinner were outstanding.</p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>As an outsider I was somewhat surprised by the number of =
=3D
palaeontologist
at the meeting, which in retrospect perhaps should have been =3D
anticipated. I had
expected the majority of Phylocode advocates to be those involved wit=
h =3D
DNA or
protein sequence data. It now dawns on me why apomorphies are being u=
sed =3D
as specifiers,
and it bewilders me as to how anatomical characters are objectively =
=3D
scored (as
it is always slightly subjective when scoring morphological features)=
. =3D
It was
also an eye-opener to note the lack of representatives in microbiolog=
y =3D
and
entomology, and the relatively few botanists. During one coffee break=
a
contributor optimistically stated that within 10 years everybody in =
=3D
biology
would be adopting the Phylocode, but I think that is naive, and =3D
unrealistic
given the lack of interest in the code by major groups of biologists.=
=3D
The other
disappointment was the fact that the registration database was not up=
=3D
and
running smoothly for the meeting. There were still too many =3D
glitches.</span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>The debate on incorporating species into the code took a =
=3D
worrying
direction by the shift towards using current species epithets (stripp=
ed =3D
of
generic names) but leaving attached authors’ names, year and pa=
ge =3D
(or
reference) if necessary. One of the burden’s of the current cod=
es =3D
(ICBN,
ICZN, ICNB) is the author citations, particularly for the botanical c=
ode =3D
that
involves authors of new combinations being added on. Adding =3D
authors’
names on taxon names always introduces the ego factor (no matter how =
=3D
noble one
might believe themselves to be). The historic codes in part did this =
to =3D
help
track names through literature. Such is unnecessary when every single=
=3D
name in
this code is in a database. Authorship is irrelevant and can be =3D
eliminated
because each has a unique registration number. There is the grand =
=3D
opportunity
to rise above everyone’s collective egos (but of course nobody =
=3D
wanted to
do this).=3DA0 Suggesting now that authors names (year of publication=
or
validation) become part of species names actually goes several steps =
=3D
further in
an illogical direction.</span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>With regard to fungi, I noted in the current draft the =3D
following:</span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D1 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
9.0pt'>Recommendation 10 E. Names referring to mitotic asexual morphs=
=3D
(anamorphs)
of ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi are treated by the ICBN and Dra=
ft =3D
BioCode
as applicable only to the organ or morph represented by their type, n=
ot =3D
to the
fungus in all its morphs (holomorph), which is considered to be =3D
represented by
the teleomorph, i.e. the morph characterized by the production of =
=3D
asci/ascospores,
basidia/basidiospores, teliospores, or other basidium-bearing organs.=
=3D
Because
of the frequent polyphyly of the sets of species to which anamorph na=
mes
traditionally apply, the names of clades of ascomycete and basidiomyc=
ete =3D
fungi
should not be based on the names of anamorphs unless there is reason =
to =3D
believe
that the group generally associated with the anamorph name is =3D
monophyletic. </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>For those of you unfamiliar with nomenclature of fungi as =
=3D
governed by
the botanical code, fungi are the only group of extant organisms wher=
e =3D
species
with multiple reproductive morphs have been allowed multiple accepted=
=3D
valid
scientific names, one for the entire organism, based upon a sexual =
=3D
morphotype,
and others based upon asexual morphological features. Article 59 of t=
he =3D
current
ICBN covers this issue and undoubtedly led to the incorporation of
recommendation 10E in the Phylocode. </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>It is intriguing to see such a melding of definitions from an=
=3D
existing
code with the Phylocode while missing the point that the current arti=
cle =3D
dealt
with pleomorphic fungi. There are some that only reproduce asexually =
and =3D
their anamorph
(asexual morph-based) name is in fact the holomorph name, applicable =
to =3D
the
entire organism.=3DA0 In some cases it would make more sense to adopt=
the =3D
anamorph
name for a clade that encompasses both sexual and asexual species =
=3D
regardless of
whether existing names are typified by teleomorphs (sexual reproducti=
ve =3D
organs)
or anamorphs (asexual reproductive organs).</span></font></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D2 face=3D3DArial><span =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DEN-US =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>Scott A. Redhead, Ph.D.</span></font> <br>
<font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DEN-US =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>Curator - National Mycological Herbarium =
=3D
/</span></font> <font
size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DEN-US =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New"'>Curator de l'herbier mycologique national =3D
</span></font><br>
<font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DEN-US =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>Research Scientist / Chercheur =3D
scientifique</span></font>
<br>
<font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DEN-US =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>Biodiversity (Mycology and Botany) / =3D
Biodiversit=3DE9
(Mycologie et Botanique) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture=
et
Agroalimentaire Canada 960 Carling Avenue/960 Carling Avenue Saunder'=
s =3D
Bldg./ </span></font><font
size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DFR =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New"'>Edifice de Saunder Ottawa, Ontario/Ottawa (Ontario) K1=
A =3D
0C6</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DFR =3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>Telephone/T=3DE9l=3DE9phone: =3D
613-759-1384</span></font><span
lang=3D3DFR> <br>
</span><font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DFR =
=3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>Facsimile/T=3DE9l=3DE9copieur: =3D
613-759-1599</span></font><span
lang=3D3DFR> <br>
</span><font size=3D3D2 face=3D3D"Courier New"><span lang=3D3DFR =
=3D
style=3D3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'>redheads@agr.gc.ca</span></font><span =
=3D
lang=3D3DFR> </span></p>
<p class=3D3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3D3 face=3D3D"Times New Roman"><s=
pan =3D
lang=3D3DFR
style=3D3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
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--Boundary_(ID_1alzelTuXcfCbo6gC9aAEQ)--