[Taxacom] "how to approach the revision of a taxon": thank you!

[curini]

Hi all,
I am really thankful to the many of you who answered and helped me - now my mind is much clearer, and I am starting to relax (and sort of enjoying the idea to prepare the lecture...). I have a frame (thanks, Yuri), and an inspiration. John put down the exact feelings I have about our job, in a way I could not be able to do:
" 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. 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)."
 This is the message a wanted somehow to convey - and yes, the suggestion of David to present as a case study a small genus is perfect. I have a perfect example with my obscure animals (genus Pseudomonocelis), with cryptic species, adoption of integrative approaches to taxonomy (molecules, morphology, karyology, cross-breeding experiments...), and - of course- stories......
Since I just discovered from the new edition of the programme of the course that I have to lecture for 2 HOURS, stories will be the key....as my search for a type locality of one of the species above in the Baltic which turned out to be enclosed within a Naturist Camp, and I had to pass my bottles from across the fence to a very kind, and mildly amused, middle aged couple who did the samplings (no - no traces of my worms...). As a final request, has any of you some stories (such the one above, searching for type localities designated long ago, in a rapidly changing world.......) which I may use to enliven my talk (and fill the 2-hours time?). You will be credited (unless you prefer anonymity.......:))
again - thank you all!
marco


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