Outlets for alpha taxonomy

[Barry Roth]

  Richard Jensen <rjensen at SAINTMARYS.EDU> wrote:
>Fortunately, plant systematists have a number of alternatives. All of the major
>journals (Systematic Botany, Taxon, Rhodora, Kew Bulletin, Novon, Madrono,
>Castanea, Plant Systematics and Evolution, and others) accept papers describing
>new species. However, for some, the general editorial policy is that the paper
>should be more than just the species description - there should be some discussion
>of the systematic importance or significance of the new species as well; e.g., how
>does it fit into the currently held view of the phylogeny, biogeography, ecology,
>etc. of the taxa to which it belongs.

I understand the motivation behind this, but I believe it can lead to padding a paper with essentially preliminary discussion that might better wait in the authors' files until monograph time.  Given the urgent need to get the earth's biota described, I think papers containing simple and efficient description should receive priority handling by editors.

Barry Roth



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