A question about species authors

[Tim Lowrey]

I would say Ron  is correct.  It is the author's choice and he/she has
the license to include whomever they want.  It would be nice if  only
people who contributed in some meaningful way to the research would be
included as co-authors.
Tim Lowrey

On Jun 4, 2004, at 2:16 PM, Ron Gatrelle wrote:

> John Landolt asked:
>
>> 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).
> snip
>
> ****************
>
> The key word there to me is "permissible" (vs. ethical).  Thus, I take
> that
> to mean _permitted_ by the ICBN.  In which case, I would look to see
> if that
> Code specifically address this issue - pro or con.   If not, then in
> actuality one could pick random names from the phone book and put them
> down
> as co-authors.   Sure, no one would do that, but IF not disallowed by
> the
> Code it COULD be done and once published, those would be the names of
> the
> authors.
>
>
> Dick Jensen wrote:
>
> I believe Lammers and Petit have provided appropriate replies.  I
> agree with
> Lammers reservation - if the individual simply financed the research,
> but
> played no other role (in the field, identification, preparation of ms.,
> etc.), than I would consider including that person as an author
> inappropriate.   snip
>
> ***************
>
> I am sure everyone agrees with this as a rule of thumb, or ethical
> policy.
> The key words in this reply being "appropriate / inappropriate".
> But this
> is irrelevant to the original question IF the term "permissible" was
> meant
> in relation to the specific rules of the ICBN.   IF a code does not
> forbid
> something, I don't think even editors and reviewers can do much about
> it.
> Plus, in relation to multi-authorship,  many times some of the junior
> authors names are not known to anyone.  So who would know what "part"
> they
> played in the process - who'd know the difference.
>
> I would think that a senior author (who obviously has a lot, and more
> than
> anyone else, invested in the work) could put anyone he wanted
> alongside his
> name as co-author if he/she so chose.   Others could think what they
> wanted,
> but isn't it author's choice?
>
> Ron Gatrelle
>
>
Tim Lowrey, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology, Regent's Lecturer, and Curator, UNM
Herbarium
Museum of Southwestern Biology
Department of  Biology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Tel: 505-277-2604
Fax: 505-277-6079

"It's possible to understand the world from studying a leaf.  You can
comprehend the laws of aerodynamics, mathematics, poetry, and biology
through the complex beauty of such a perfect structure.

It's also possible to travel the whole globe and learn nothing"

Joy Harjo, 1994.