[Taxacom] Occurrence data...

[Walker, Ken]

On 19/02/2011, at 12:20 PM, "Stephen Thorpe" <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz<mailto:stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>> wrote:

taxonomic data created by taxonomists in advance of users has robust meaning

>So why is there a "taxonomic crisis/impediment".

occurrence data compiled in advance of taxonomic revision has no robust meaning ...

>It does at higher ranks and less so at lower ranks

________________________________
From: "Walker, Ken" <kwalker at museum.vic.gov.au<mailto:kwalker at museum.vic.gov.au>>
To: Bob Mesibov <mesibov at southcom.com.au<mailto:mesibov at southcom.com.au>>
Cc: TAXACOM <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu<mailto:taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>>
Sent: Sat, 19 February, 2011 2:06:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Occurrence data...



> the important thing is to have the data ready when someone, somewhere, wants it for some purpose. I can't think of any other major human enterprise that tolerates such vagueness in its aims.

How about taxonomy? When someone asks: "What is it?" Do we then begin to revise and describe to answer the question in perhaps 5 years? Taxonomy answers questions that are yet to be asked and like you Bob, many people have trouble placing a value on such a commodity.

How about museum and herbaria collections?  I cannot define the future use of every specimen in our collections and yet I go out and collect more specimens using taxpayer funds. How do I justify use of these funds unless society tolerates such vagueness.

Can you prepare a definitive list of users of your taxonomical outputs? How is your taxonomic output going to be used?

If not, then how do you "tolerates such vagueness in <your> aims."

Ken

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