Deposit of type material

[Julian Humphries]

>Jorge Soberon asked for comments on this statement:
>
>>"In the case that the material collected in Mexico is used to describe
>>new species, it will be necessary for the foreign scientist to deposit
>>part of the type material in a Mexican collection with an infrastructure
>>that guarantees its preservation and maintenance"
..
>Second, note that the requirement is only for deposition of "part of the
>type material." I interpret this to mean that, if the investigator so
>desired, paratype(s) would be sufficient. In my opinion this is entirely
>reasonable, and I would have no qualms if it were extended to say that if
>the holotype is designated from said material, it too is to be deposited in
>a Mexican institution.
>

Right, this is an easy decision, there is no problem with paratypes and
deposition of such in the country of origin could even be part of
the Code as far as I am concerned.

I don't think there wil be *any* controversy over paratypes.  Holotypes are
more sensitive, but without respect to country of origin.  These must
be deposited in an institution, whether in the country of biological origin
or authors affilitation, in institutions with long term infrastructure
support.  This may leave out all but a few universities in the USA and
even smaller freestanding museums.  I would guess that whatever policy
is decided upon, there may be groups (taxa) for which an exception is
warranted.  As long as an "appeals" process is possible (say for a group
with no Mexican collection), I would say your policy if fine.


Julian Humphries                          Email: jmh3 at cornell.edu
The MUSE Project, Cornell University
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