[Taxacom] Fwd: Woodpeckers, primates, as well as the Wallace Line gauntlet

[John Grehan]

Jason,

You are correct that the panbiogeographic method assumes neither
vicariance nor dispersal. But the result of the global analyses is that
track patterns do not support means of dispersal (theorized
dispersability) from imagined centers of origin as the key to the origin
of distribution and differentiation. 

Using chance dispersal as an imagined explanation leads nowhere as it
fails to predict biogeographic patterns or geological correlations.
Whether this is 'open minded' or not one can decide for one's self - if
it matters to anyone. I wonder if its more open minded than the reaction
one gets periodically that the successes of panbiogeography in making
tectonic correlations or geological predictions was just meaningless
blind luck. Only in evolutionary theory does this philosophy of science
seem to be acceptable.

It is an irony that molecular papers over the last decade have focused
more and more on presenting maps of distribution for their taxa,
something that was often lacking or poorly presented in many (but not
all) morphologically based studies.

John Grehan

-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
[mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Jason Mate
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 5:25 PM
To: Taxacom
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Fwd: Woodpeckers, primates, as well as the
Wallace Line gauntlet



>  
> As usual, I'm in complete agreement with everything you've written.
Using chance (dispersal) to explain a pattern is just nihilism and leads
nowhere. On the positive side, have a look at the Mol. Phylogen. Evol.
website. 13 of the 46 forthcoming papers (28%) have chosen to put maps
in their graphic abstracts - their most interesting result was a
geographic pattern! At the rate these patterns are now accumulating, I
can't see the concept of chance dispersal lasting much longer. Once it's
dropped, a real science of biogeography may develop. 

Yup, Panbiogeography is an open-minded endeavour indeed where neither
vicariance nor dispersal is assumed. Or am I misreading? ;)
 		 	   		  
_______________________________________________

Taxacom Mailing List
Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/mailman/listinfo/taxacom

The Taxacom archive going back to 1992 may be searched with either of
these methods:

(1) by visiting http://taxacom.markmail.org

(2) a Google search specified as:
site:mailman.nhm.ku.edu/pipermail/taxacom  your search terms here