A question about species authors

[Thomas G. Lammers]

At 01:02 PM 6/4/04, you wrote:
>In determining the names of persons who may be included as authors of
>proposed new species,  is it ever permissible to include the name of
>a person who was instrumental in providing financial, logistical
>support and editorial assistance in the discovery, collection and
>manuscript preparation associated with a proposed new taxon, even if
>this particular person is not a recognized taxonomist for the
>particular group of organisms in question (other authors listed as
>authors are so recognized).
>
>In a particular case I have in mind,  the first author of such
>proposed new species IS a recognized authority for the group and
>wishes to include in authorship of proposed new species, another
>person like that described above in the first paragraph.
>
>Is there a particular section of the ICBN that speaks to this point?

The author is the person(s) to whom the name and its validating
description/diagnosis are *ascribed* (Art 46.2).  If the protologue states
that "Dewey, Cheatham & Howe" are the authors of this name, and they accept
responsibility for it and its validating description/diagnosis, who is to
say otherwise?

As to ethics / morals / propriety, I would say that if this person actually
played a role or took a hand in bringing this species to light and
describing it, and didn't just write a big check, it's OK by me.

FWIW, it might be more appropriate to name the thing after him or her.


Thomas G. Lammers, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Curator of the Herbarium (OSH)
Department of Biology and Microbiology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901-8640 USA

e-mail:       lammers at uwosh.edu
phone:      920-424-1002
fax:           920-424-1101

Plant systematics; classification, nomenclature, evolution, and
biogeography of the Campanulaceae s. lat.

Webpages:
http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/Lammers.htm
http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/herbarium/herbarium.html
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Resort/7156/lammers.html
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