[Taxacom] "how to approach the revision of a taxon": a plea

[John Grehan]

 I agree - in every taxonomy there is a story, or more precisely, a series of stories as much about people as specimens, filled with history, comedy and tragedy (the loss of specimens in times of war for example). There is about as much to learn about human nature as about life itself. And all those weird people who for some reason had to study those obscure creatures that no one else really cared about - if they knew of their existence at all. And even specimen labels may tell the story of when a certain person was in a certain place at a certain time that can be revisited even centuries later (and before we had gps tracking too). 

John Grehan

-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Herbert Jacobson
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 8:27 PM
To: curini at uniss.it; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] "how to approach the revision of a taxon": a plea


Relax a little. You have the perfect story. It's what most taxonomist do everyday. We work on little know groups where the Types are lost, destroyed, or who knows where. The descriptions are vague, contradictory, or, like the Types, lost. It's also the reason many of us became taxonomists. 
 
Tell your story. It's a good one,
 
Herb 
> From: curini at uniss.it
> To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:58:58 +0200
> Subject: [Taxacom] "how to approach the revision of a taxon": a plea
> 
> some of you may have proved this special feeling... the deadline of your lecture approaching, and feeling totally inadeguate to the task........it is a disturbing sensation (disturbing at present, with the deadline on may 20th - it will be horrible on may 19th...).
> What I (alas, too lightly..) accepted to lecture was 'How to approach the revision of a taxon (some clues and a practical example)' in a spring school, addressed to PhD and post-doctoral students (I guess mostly italians) , which will be held in Venice (yes, this may have prompted my quick acceptation....).
> I (somehow...) revised the taxon I work on (Proseriata, a group of microturbellarians) - but I am afraid they would not be much useful as 'practical examples' (tiny, soft-bodied creatures, of which there are almost no collections in museums (and those few, made by german students, mostly blew up during WWII...), need to be studied in sections, bibliography far from extensive...). Many taxa are certainly not so.....
> would some of you want to share your experiences on other taxa? any input/suggestion on how to organize the lecture (which could make my presentation, and my present feelings, less miserable...) is absolutely welcome.................
> thank you.....................
> 
> Marco Curini-Galletti
> Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica Università di 
> Sassari Via F. Muroni, 25 - 07100 Sassari (Italy)
> Tel: +39 079 228662 Fax: +39 079 228665 
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