[Taxacom] iSpecies with Wikipedia

[Heike Vibrans]

> I just wonder what the ratio is of the figures 
> "knowledgeable users" to "less-knowledgeable 
> users" to "average users who are looking to the 
> web to provide an answer"? Is it 1:1:1, 100:10:1 or
> 1:10:100?

I would rather suspect something like 1:2:1000 or 10
000. I don't think that projects like Wikispecies is
the proper place for airing disagreements and
discussing world views between taxonomists. GBIF is
perhaps a better place for this.

And yes, we do need some sort of a consensus
classification, that doesn't change every year (though
some mechanism for change has to exist, but it should
be conservative). Taxonomy and systematics have a
scientific purpose, but they also have a much more
consequential practical one. As a matter of fact, I
believe that the taxonomic community has an obligation
to provide this, as we can't expect end users to make
these decisions.

Just imagine going to a doctor with a broken arm, and
he starts by listing 112 ways to inmovilize it,
without any willingness to tell you which one would be
best.

Regards,

Heike 



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Dra. Heike Vibrans Lindemann
Laboratorio de Etnobotánica
Postgrado en Botánica
Campus Montecillo
Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrícolas
km 35.5 carr. México-Texcoco
56230 Montecillo
Estado de México, Mexico

Tel. +52 (595) 95 20 200 Ext. 1335
Fax. +52 (595) 95 20 247
Correo electrónico: heike at colpos.mx (trabajo), heike_texcoco at yahoo.com.mx

Páginas web:
http://www.malezasdemexico.net
http://www.colpos.mx/IRENAT/bot/HeikeVibransLindemann.htm
Blog:
http://jehuite.blogspot.com
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