Nomenclatural instability and society

[Frederick W. Schueler]

Geoffrey C. Bowker wrote:

> Indeed renaming in this context can be highly problematic:  when subspecies or varieties are elevated to full species rank: This may
have very unfortunate consequences from a legal point of  view when
the species to which the subspecies or variety belonged  before the
nomenclatural change is listed as a protected species, the result of
the split is  that the new species looses its protected status unless
the legislation is  amended to add it to the list.

* Gimme a break. Surely the use of a scientific name implies the
acceptance of the nomenclatoral system that produced and validated the
name, so that what is protected entity is the generally accepted members
of the named taxon at the time the legislation was passed. Do they let
newly-married lady murderers off because they've taken their husbands'
surnames since they committed their crime?

fred schueler.
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