systematics V taxonomy

[Mats Wedin]

I may have a very personal view of systematics, but I usually see
what I call the four the corner-stones of systematics (taxonomy - the
recognition and formal description of taxa, nomenclature - the formal
naming of taxa, phylogeny - the analysis of taxon relationships, and
classification - the formalized hierarchical arrangement of taxa into
groups) as very separate units which together forms the 'whole' - the
science of systematics.

I think that is it very important to make a clear distinction between
taxonomy, nomenclature and classification as these concepts are mixed
up all the time.

Mats Wedin

Dr Mats Wedin, docent, PhD
Senior Researcher (Swedish Research Council) in Systematics
Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Science (Inst. för Ekologi och geovetenskap)
Umeå University
SE-901 87 Umeå
Sweden

Phone +46-90-786 7045
Fax +46-90-786 6705