Nomenclature and classification

[Dr. Gurcharan Singh]

Richard Jensen wrote:

> Nomenclature and classification are inextricably linked:  if I
discover what
> I think to be a new taxon, I can only declare it as new in reference
to an
> existing classification and whatever name I assign it is also a
function of
> where it fits in a classification.  I don't see how a functional
system of
> nomenclature can exist without reference to a classification or
vice-versa.

 I think a distinction has to be made between whether we are dealing
with
biological entities (species and infraspecific taxa) or artifacts
(supraspecific taxa). We won't discover a supraspecific taxon (but
rather
create one to ease our process of classification). If we discover a
biological
entity (It would a matter of taxonomic judgement whether to consider it
a
species, subspecies, variety or even a form if you like it), its
position in
different classification systems would remain unaltered,  except when
you make
a drastic change of shifting it to a different genus. The names of
different
supraspecif taxa are, however, clearly linked with the classification
scheme
you are following.
Gurcharan Singh



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Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Res:                                           Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
Khalsa College
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Mail: singhg at satyam.net.in
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