[Taxacom] How many species have been reported only once

[Gary Rosenberg]

David,
 
Of 5015 species of Western Atlantic gastropods in the Malacolog database www.malacolog.org for which I have compiled locality data, exactly 1500 are known only from the type locality. The database covers all depths, Greenland to Antarctica. There are probably several hundred more species that are know only from the original description, but were reported from more than one locality there. So 30 to 35% are known only from the original description.
 
Gary Rosenberg
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
 


>>> David Patterson <dpatterson at eol.org> 3/19/2010 3:13 PM >>>
I have heard suggestions that our understanding of 50% and 65% of all species is limited to the information that was included in the original description.  That is, for very many species, there have not been any further publications that add new information. These are the 'once only' species.  If the proportion is as high as this, it bears upon the reliability and effectiveness of the discovery process, how many species there are, and on asymmetry within our discipline.  

Does anyone know of analyses that explore this matter, or have any data to confirm the proportion of 'once only' species in their sphere of expertise?

Thanks

David Patterson

-- 
David J Patterson
Senior Taxonomist, EOL
CoPI Life Sciences, Data Conservancy

Biodiversity Informatics
Marine Biological Laboratory
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA.

(+) (1) 508 289 7260
dpatterson at mbl.edu

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