Taxonomy descriptive

HYBRID. Plant resulting from a cross between parents that are genetically unlike more commonly, in descriptive taxonomy, the offspring of two different species or their infraspecific units... 

Many users of taxonomic information simply want to be able to identify specimens accurately as belonging to recognizable species. While having a name associated with each species is crucial for communication and information storage and retrieval, names are ultimately only as useful and informative as the hypotheses associated with them are tested and corroborated. Through the neglect of descriptive taxonomy, such hypotheses remain infrequently tested or untested and the scientific... 

How much worse must information become before we accept the responsibility to support descriptive taxonomy This worsening state of information credibility threatens our ability to verify identifications, store and retrieve new observations, precisely communicate findings among biologists, or confidently describe new species as they are found. Further, it increases the likelihood of economic losses resulting directly from taxonomic mistakes (e.g. Miller and Rossman, 1995). Must we wait until spectacularly costly mistakes are made before we take action to assure the quality and growth of taxonomic information ... 

It is a question of when rather than if such avoidable mistakes will happen they are a logical consequence of the neglect of descriptive taxonomy. Museums in particular will have some explaining to do. Why were non-collections-based, university-style research programmes pursued at the expense of taxonomy when the world needed improved understanding of taxonomic diversity We... 

Most of the technical requirements for this futuristic world of descriptive taxonomy exist already but have not been made available or specially modified to meet the needs of taxonomy. 

Taxonomy s digital revolution will directly benefit far more people and communities than taxonomists themselves. While the core of this revolution should address the infrastructure needs of a transformed descriptive taxonomy, it is equally important that the fruits of a highly productive... 

Descriptive Taxonomy The Foundation of Biodiversity Research, eds M. F. Watson, C. H. C. Lyal and C. A. Pendiy. Published by Cambridge University Press. 

In his wide-ranging article, Wheeler (2004) has identified the opportunities for floristic projects offered by high-speed internet access and emerging digital technologies. These web-based opporhmlties for a revolutionised descriptive taxonomy include ... 

Descriptive taxonomy might be able to further influence conservation by aiding in the issue of reclassifying Data Deficient (DD) species on the Red List. The DD category is applied to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a full assessment of conservation status to be made, hi reality, there are three reasons why a species might be classifled as DD ... 

For this final reason, there is a clear role for descriptive taxonomy in clarifying these species dilemmas. With 5590 species classified on the Red List as DD (lUCN, 2009), the problem is not insubstantial. 

Descriptive Taxonomy The Foundation of Biodiversity Research, eds M. F. Watson,... 

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