[Taxacom] [TAXACOM] Systematists as holists

[Bob Mesibov]

'So if you are arguing that we need to develop stronger networks for
amateur or non-specialist collection, then I agree entirely. If you
are arguing that specialists should stay in their museums and leave
all the collecting to locals, my own experience suggests that there
are qualitative differences between data collected by generalists and
specialists.'

I'm arguing the first, not the second. We'll always need specialists and
taxonomic generalists in taxonomy. To accomplish what these folks want
to accomplish, they'll need a lot of help. That help is much easier to
find, organise and supervise now than ever before, thanks to the Web.
But that also means re-thinking a little how taxonomy is done, task by
task.

Incidentally, the best collector of mature male Polydesmida
(identifiable flatback millipedes) I've ever met is an amateur. She's my
wife. Close mentoring, there, for sure...
-- 
Dr Robert Mesibov
Honorary Research Associate, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
and School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
(03) 64371195; 61 3 64371195
http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/mesibov.html
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