parataxonomists

[Peter Stevens]

I am not sure who "real" taxonomists are (do I count? do I care? :>
), but this definition of parataxonist is surely not how the term is
used in places like Costa Rica where there are indeed
parataxonomists.  I have the impression that parataxonomists may not
have formal training in the minuteae of taxonomy, but are an integral
part of the taxonomic enterprise.  They are paid, I think, and
generate large numbers of excellent collections by virtue of
focussing on an area and collecting throughout the years.  Perhaps
somebody on the list knows about how the term has come to be quite
popular, and how they operate - Dan Janzen may have been involved.

Peter S.

At 3:26 PM -0500 9/28/02, STEPHEN MANNING wrote:
>I interpreted the term "parataxonomists (amateurs)" to mean, not
>taxonomists who don't work for an institution, but rather persons who
>probably don't have training in taxonomy but just like to just go out and
>botanize for fun, usually consulting real taxonomists for any
>identifications or other information they are interested in.
>
>Steve