Fwd: Re: PhyloCode prefix/suffix?

[Richard Jensen]

On Thu, 26 Oct 2000, Philip Cantino wrote:

> Rich Pyle asked:
>
> >What was the specific objection to the required symbol?
> >
>
> As I recall, the primary objection to a mandatory symbol was the
> "second class citizen" issue that Barry Roth brought up.  People
> opposed marking PhyloCode names with a symbol unless names governed
> by rank-based nomenclature are also marked in some way, which of
> course the PhyloCode has no control over.  My response was that the
> symbol could be viewed as a "value-added" symbol indicating that the
> taxon bearing the name is necessarily monophyletic, something you
> can't be sure of with names under the current system.  However,the
> majority didn't buy this argument.

I find it hard to believe that your colleagues felt that it would create a
"second-class" citizen status for PC (is that an acceptable
abbreviation?) names.  Do "African-American" or "Mexican-American" or
"Serbo-Croatian" imply second-class status?  I certainly don't think
so.  The addition of the exclamation is, as you suggested, a value-added
character.  It makes it clear that the group in question is one that has
the added status of having been recognized (by the latest information
available) as a monophyletic group.  I would hope that some of them are
Taxacom participants and that the mesages coming from these discussions
will help avoid confusion and onfounded concerns.

Cheers,
Dick

Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |