[Taxacom] why Martin Fikacek resign
Michael A. Ivie
mivie at montana.edu
Fri Oct 9 17:17:24 CDT 2015
The discussion with John Noyes had nothing to do with the designation of
a Neotype, it was about when a Neotype is allowed. Apples and Oranges.
Simply, if this is difficult for you, you should leave it to those
better able to handle it. The proof of this is that I have done it
repeatedly, my actions have been cleared pre-publication by multiple
current and past Commissioners, and it was not difficult (exacting, yes,
difficult, no).
Mike
On 10/9/2015 4:12 PM, Stephen Thorpe wrote:
> I hate attention, but I feel obliged to try to carry a debate through to a reasonably satisfactory outcome.
>
> Mike said [quote]They are not difficult for a reasonably intelligent person qualified to be handling nomenclatural maters [sic!] who can read ... [unquote]
>
> Easy to say, as a device of rhetoric, but prove it! We've already seen the very intelligent and excellent taxonomist John Noyes make a statement about neotypes which you quite rightly corrected.
>
> Face it Mike, you are trying to refute something which actually has very little precise meaning (i.e. that designating neotypes is, in some unspecified sense, "difficult"). If you set the unspecified level of difficulty too high, then it is too easy to refute, and if I set it too low, then it is too easy to defend! The argument has become pure rhetoric! Let it go, if you can ...
>
> Stephen
>
> --------------------------------------------
> On Sat, 10/10/15, Michael A. Ivie <mivie at montana.edu> wrote:
>
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] why Martin Fikacek resign
> To: "Stephen Thorpe" <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz>, "taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu" <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
> Received: Saturday, 10 October, 2015, 10:48 AM
>
> [sigh] It is not
> difficult, but you do have to follow the strictures in
> the Code. Think of those strictures more as a
> road map to success than
> difficult
> barriers. They are not difficult for a reasonably
> intelligent
> person qualified to be handling
> nomenclatural maters who can read either
> the Official English or French versions of the
> Code, or one of the
> unofficial translations
> into Chinese (Simplified), Chinese
> (Traditional), Czech, German, Greek, Japanese,
> Russian or Spanish.
>
> Further, the issue of whether it is difficult
> to DESIGNATE a Neotype is
> separate from
> whether or not a Neotype is allowed, which is what John
> and I were discussing. But, that is not hard
> either.
>
> Exceptional (def.)
> adjective, unusual; not typical.
>
> Clear to those who want it to be, perhaps not
> to those who want attention.
>
> Mike
>
> On
> 10/9/2015 3:00 PM, Stephen Thorpe wrote:
> > All of which further proves my point that
> the Code requirements for neotypes are somewhat
> "difficult", or else we wouldn't be having
> such divergent opinions offered from veteran
> entomologists!
> >
> >
> Q.E.D.
> >
> >
> --------------------------------------------
> > On Sat, 10/10/15, Michael A. Ivie <mivie at montana.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > Subject: Re: [Taxacom] why
> Martin Fikacek resign
> > To:
> taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> > Received: Saturday, 10
> October, 2015, 6:47 AM
> >
> > Dear John,
> >
> > That (a
> Neotype) would only be
> > valid if there is some
> confusion about
> > the
> > identity. The Code does not
> allow Neotypes in cases where
> > there is
> > no confusion about what
> the
> > species is. In this
> case there is nothing
> > known that is even close to
> it, so its identity
> > is not
> confused. The
> > authors
> covered that
> > well in the
> description.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > On
> > 10/9/2015 3:30 AM, John Noyes
> wrote:
> > >
> > Hi,
> > >
> > > It seems that
> > in this case it should be
> possible to designate a neotype
> > from an extant, preserved
> specimen. So muDear ch the better
> > if the neotype is the
> holotype of a previously described
> > species so that the
> "new" species can be treated
> > as a junior synonym [although
> in this particular case that
> > seems unlikely]. It can be
> safely assumed that the
> > photographed holotype no
> longer exists. So long as the
> > specimen designated as
> neotype is pretty damned similar to
> > the one in the photograph and
> all other conditions of
> > designating a neotype are met
> according to the ICZN then I
> > cannot see a problem.
> > >
> > > Maybe that is too
> mischievous??
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > John Noyes
> > > Scientific Associate
> > >
> > Department of Life
> Sciences
> > > Natural
> > History Museum
> > > Cromwell Road
> > > South Kensington
> > >
> > London SW7 5BD
> > > UK
> > >
> > jsn at nhm.ac.uk
> > > Tel.: +44 (0) 207 942
> 5594
> > > Fax.: +44 (0)
> 207 942 5229
> > >
> > > Universal
> > Chalcidoidea Database
> (everything you wanted to know about
> > chalcidoids and more):
> > >
> > www.nhm.ac.uk/chalcidoids
> > >
> > > -----Original
> Message-----
> > > From:
> Taxacom [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu]
> > On Behalf Of Stephen
> Thorpe
> > > Sent: 07
> > October 2015 21:04
> > > To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu;
> > bayshark at exemail.com.au
> > > Cc: penev at pensoft.net
> > > Subject: Re: [Taxacom]
> why Martin Fikacek
> > resign
> > >
> > > I'm
> > sure that people are playing
> right into Lyubo's hands by
> > adding to the publicity about
> this (any publicity is good
> > publicity!) Pensoft are a
> commercial publisher. I have
> > pretty much given up on them
> as well, largely because
> > Biodiversity Data Journal has
> now become little more than a
> > venue for promotional papers,
> miles away from its initially
> > stated philosophy.
> > >
> > >
> > Nevertheless, many of the
> reasons cited against describing
> > new species from photos are
> quite unconvincing. Why is
> > palaeontology considered to
> be science? An impression in
> > rock, or a partly obscured
> amber inclusion are both on a par
> > with a photograph, given that
> you can't see all the
> > relevant characters, you
> can't dissect, and you
> > can't extract DNA (most
> of the time).
> > >
> > > It would be a very
> > bad idea to describe a new
> species of hydrophilid beetle
> > (Martin Fikacek's
> speciality) from photograph(s) of a
> > live specimen, but this may
> not apply equally to other
> > groups of organisms.
> Iterestingly, Fikacek does describe
> > fossil hydrophilids!
> > >
> > > One thing, however, that
> Marshall &
> > Evenhuis
> did misinterpret from the Code relates to
> > "Designation of an
> illustration of a single specimen as
> > a holotype is to be treated
> as designation of the specimen
> > illustrated". This is
> actually quite irrelevant!
> > Designating a specimen as
> holotype via a photograph, is what
> > Marshall & Evenhuis have
> done. This is very different
> > from designating a photograph
> of a specimen as holotype! The
> > above quote from the Code
> simply reduces the latter to the
> > former, but that is
> irrelevant here.
> > >
> > > As for Vratislav's
> P.S.: >If this
> > will
> continue, anybody can create not just new species, but
> > complete new family using
> just Photoshop.<
> > >
> > > Anybody can and
> > always could do effectively
> that anyway. Write a verbal
> > description based on
> fictional characters, maybe add a few
> > fanciful drawings, and
> conveniently claim the holotype to
> > have been subsequently lost.
> Lost holotypes do not
> > invalidate described taxa.
> > >
> > > Stephen
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > --------------------------------------------
> > > On Wed, 7/10/15, bayshark at exemail.com.au
> > <bayshark at exemail.com.au>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Subject:
> [Taxacom] why Martin
> > Fikacek resign
> > > To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> > > Received:
> Wednesday, 7
> > October,
> 2015, 9:44 PM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > https://www.facebook.com/martin.fikacek.7/posts/10206448754731807
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I just
> > resigned for the position of
> editor in ZooKeys for two
> > reasons: by the recent
> publication of a description of a
> > new species based on
> photos ZooKeys evidently decided
> > for the direction of
> "bad science and good
> > publicity" which is the
> direction I cannot support.
> > In addition, they
> recently introduced a new automatic
> > system
> "bullying"
> > > editors,
> which now
> > > makes
> editors basically
> > non-paid
> slaves with very limited decision power. I
> > simply cannot work for such a
> journal anymore. Sorry to
> > everybody, and thanks for
> years of author-editor
> > cooperation.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > My
> > letter to editors is attached
> below:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dear
> editors,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I was
> > really shocked when I
> discovered the paper entitled
> > "New species without
> dead bodies: a case for
> > photobased descriptions,
> illustrated by a striking new
> > species of Marleyimyia Hesse
> (Diptera,
> > > Bombyliidae)
> from South
> > > Africa"
> published few
> > days ago in
> ZooKeys. The paper is exremely dangerous for
> > several aspects:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > (1) It
> misuses the weak parts
> > of
> the Code which were originally designed to keep some
> > very old names valid, which
> were described in historical
> > publications mostly in 18th
> century. In difference to what
> > the authors are writing in
> the paper, this Article was not
> > designed to solve the
> situation with lost holotypes, but
> > to keep valid the names which
> were really based only on
> > illustrations in times when
> no rules were given as it
> > concerns the quality of
> taxonomic descriptions. Using the
> > same Article for today is
> really ridiculous attempt to
> > use this Article to cheat
> the system. Moreover, note the
> > word "illustration"
> in the text of the Article
> > (i.e. NOT a
> > > photograph!!!)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > (2) It
> > makes a very dangerous
> precedence for future generations.
> > Now everybody may try to
> describe a new big insect
> > (cetonid beetle, wasp,
> > > butterfly)
> based just on the
> > photographs. I am sure good
> entomologists will not do
> > that, or would at least do
> that only once all needed
> > characters are really
> visible. Unfortunately the
> > entomology is full of crazy
> individuals focused only in
> > describing new taxa and
> producing new names, no need to
> > give examples as everybody
> knows some of them. These
> > individuals were
> difficult to deal with even until now,
> > basically producing chaos
> in taxonomy of particular
> > group and partly causing that
> taxonomy is often considered
> > as non-scientific. You now
> opened a brand new way for
> > these people how to do
> even worse work!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > (3) In
> > my opinion neither the
> authors of the above paper, nor the
> > editorial board is
> evidently not aware of the reason why
> > voucher specimen
> (holotype) is needed when a species is
> > describe. It is not because
> the author should have it
> > easy to illustrate all needed
> characters. It it because
> > only the specimen itself
> form a firm base for the name.
> > All taxonomic work,
> identification of next specimens
> > found etc. is in fact
> testing the hypothesis that the
> > specimens in your hand are
> conspecific with the
> > holotype. To test that
> hypothesis, you may re-examine
> > the holotype, extract new
> characters which were not stated
> > or illustrated in the
> original description etc. Testing
> > the hypothesis and providing
> the way how to falsify it
> > is what makes taxonomy a
> science! In case of the new South
> > African species, nothing of
> this is possible - nobody will
> > ever be able to test the
> hypothesis that the specimens
> > in hand are conspecific
> with the holotype (and no other
> > characters will be ever known
> than those illustrated on
> > the photos). This basically
> moves this paper (and taxonomy
> > in
> > > general)
> REALLY
> > > OUT OF
> SCIENCE. Hence, this
> > is a
> step backward, not an innovative way as you present
> > it.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I
> > appreciate the effort of
> Pensoft and ZooKeys to try
> > innovative ways of
> taxonomic publishing. However, I would
> > expect that you would think
> about your steps and
> > decision properly, evaluating
> the possible risks of such
> > steps for the future of
> taxonomy. I did not notice
> > anything like that in
> your actions and decisions within
> > last months, including the
> publication of the above
> > paper. Editorial board is
> never consulted in such cases,
> > and if the editors provide
> their critique, this is rarely
> > followed.
> > > In
> opposite,
> > > you
> recently introduced a
> > system of
> "bullying" the editors.
> > > I
> understand all
> > > these
> actions in the way that
> > editors are just workers
> you use FOR FREE (we are not
> > paid for that), but never as
> partners with whom
> > problematic things should
> be discussed.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > To sum
> > up - by publishing the
> photo-based description of
> > Marleyimyia, ZooKeys moves
> into the position of journals
> > trying to break up the
> good practices in taxonomy for
> > the sake of publicity. Its
> not only "the border of
> > taxonomic malpractice",
> it is in fact the "border
> > of non-science". I do
> not want to provide my time
> > to the journal going in this
> really dangerous direction.
> > That is why I am resigning
> immediatelly from the editorial
> > board of ZooKeys.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks for
> understanding!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > With
> > best regards
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Martin
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Vratislav
> > >
> > > (name)
> > Vratislav Richard Eugene
> Maria John Baptist
> > >
> > > (surname)
> of Bejšák (read
> > as a
> > > Bayshark)-Colloredo-Mansfeld
> > >
> > > website:
> > www.coleoptera.org
> > >
> > > address:
> P.O.Box 3335 ,
> > Redfern,
> NSW 2016 AUSTRALIA
> > >
> > > phone : +61
> 0420602040
> > > http://www.facebook.com/bayshark
> > > alternate
> email: bayshark at ymail.com
> > > (to
> iPhone)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Taxacom
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> > >
> > > Celebrating
> 28 years of
> > Taxacom in
> 2015.
> > >
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> >
> > --
> > __________________________________________________
> >
> > Michael
> A. Ivie, Ph.D.,
> > F.R.E.S.
> >
> > Montana
> Entomology
> > Collection
> > Marsh Labs, Room 50
> > 1911 West Lincoln Street
> > NW
> > corner of Lincoln and
> S.19th
> > Montana State
> > University
> > Bozeman, MT 59717
> > USA
> >
> > (406)
> > 994-4610 (voice)
> > (406) 994-6029 (FAX)
> > mivie at montana.edu
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Taxacom Mailing List
> > Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> > http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
> > The Taxacom Archive back to
> 1992 may be
> > searched at:
> http://taxacom.markmail.org
> >
> > Celebrating 28 years of
> > Taxacom in 2015.
> >
> >
>
> --
> __________________________________________________
>
> Michael A. Ivie, Ph.D.,
> F.R.E.S.
>
> Montana Entomology
> Collection
> Marsh Labs, Room 50
> 1911 West Lincoln Street
> NW
> corner of Lincoln and S.19th
> Montana State
> University
> Bozeman, MT 59717
> USA
>
> (406)
> 994-4610 (voice)
> (406) 994-6029 (FAX)
> mivie at montana.edu
>
>
>
--
__________________________________________________
Michael A. Ivie, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
Montana Entomology Collection
Marsh Labs, Room 50
1911 West Lincoln Street
NW corner of Lincoln and S.19th
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
USA
(406) 994-4610 (voice)
(406) 994-6029 (FAX)
mivie at montana.edu
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