Undescribed species and the Internet

[Robin Leech]

Hi Charles,

This sounding board had several months, if I remember correctly, about the
different methods of effecting publication and storage of info by non-paper
means.
As none of the CDs or tapes or diskettes lasts as long as paper, I believe
it was felt that paper should continue to be the medium.  So, if you do
both, do the paper first.

In the ICZN, 4th ed., effective 1 Jan 2000.
Under Article 8, Recommendation 8B, it states:
"Desirability of works on paper.  Authors and publishers are strongly urged
to ensure that a new scientific name or nomenclatural act is first published
in a work printed on paper."
Under Article 9.  What does not constitute published work.
9.8.  text or illustrations distributed by means of electronic signals
(e.g., by means of the World Wide Web); or..."

In the ICBN, Tokyo Code of 1994.
Article 29.1  "Publication is effected, under this Code, only by
distribution of printed matter (through sale, exchange or gift) to the
general public or at least to botanical institutions with libraries
accessible to botanists generally."

An illustration has no value in science until it has a valid name attached
to it.  There are also unscrupulous people about who can, and will (it has
happened!), take your pictures and use them in their own revisions of a
group or groups.  If you are "scooped" by this process, then the names you
are about to propose can never be valid.  To publish a picture with a name
you hope to use constitutes a nomen nudum, and it is invalid as a name in
science.
I do not see how one or more of your funders can demand - in order for fund
renewal - that you distribute pictures of unpublished works.
There may be a way around this.  Put the pix on the internet, but delete, by
covering, key parts of the pictures so that they are unusable to another
person.  Alternatively, give the funder copies of the pictures.  This should
show progress on your part.  But, before you do all this, explain a few of
the problems to the funder(s).

Robin Leech


----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles R Parker" <chuck_parker at USGS.GOV>
To: <TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG>
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 1:27 PM
Subject: Undescribed species and the Internet


> I have two somewhat related questions regarding new species and the
> Internet.
>
> First, what are the positions of the different ICxNs regarding publishing
> new species on the Internet?  As I understand the ICZN, valid publication
> requires that a hardcopy publication, possibly a CD under the right
> conditions, deposited in five different libraries, is necessary.  If this
> is so, it seems to imply that publication on the Internet would not be
> valid.  What about ICBN or other (IC_microbial_N ?) governing bodies?
>
> Second, in general, is it advisible or inadvisible to make illustrations,
> photographs, or other images of undescribed species available on the
> Internet (or other public outlets) prior to publication?  I ask because
> there is some pressure from certain funding sources to make such images
> available as soon as possible.  I don't think it is a good idea generally,
> but if there are no real downsides to doing so, it would help keep certain
> funding lines lubricated, help generate excitement among the public,
> promote interest among students, etc.
>
> I would appreciate any insight TAXACOMers might have.
>
> Chuck
>
> ==========================================
> Charles R. Parker
> Research Aquatic Biologist
> USGS Biological Resources Division
> 1314 Cherokee Orchard Road
> Gatlinburg, TN 37738
> USA
> (865) 436-1704
> (865) 430-4753 [fax]
>