Where do species names come from? What is a binomial name? What does it mean? Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus species Author, date A B C D species D Genus A B C Family 1
Conus geographus Linnaeus, 1758 Conus geographus Linnaeus Conus geographus L. Conus geographus How to name a species Step 1: Find something new Be an expert! Marine Invertebrate Zoology Entomology Palaeontology Diverse and understudied groups 2
How to name a species Step 2: Preserve it Preserve a representative sample of the population samples for present and future study often, you will not name what you find juveniles? adults? male? female? How to name a species Step 3: Research Is it really new? Marge Thorough and exhaustive research through publications, periodicals, journals, monographs, books, etc. Universities and Museum Collections What about foreign publications? So you have a new... es? Step 4: More Research Description & Analysis Looking closely Anatomy DNA Dissection Additional fieldwork 3
How to name a species Step 5: More Research Writing & Communication Collaboration Borrowing specimens How to name a species Step 6: Evolution Phylogenetic Analysis Where does it fit on the tree? Defining characters How to name a species Step 7: More Research Check your results Look at the sister taxa Examine descriptions / specimens What level of novelty (a new genus??) 4
Revisionary work Phylogeny and classification Examine specimens Sample from specimens Build a tree Check old trees and re-build old classifications This is systematic biology It depends on museum collections NSF 2003 at least 10 million $$ So you re sure you have a new species Step 8: Names Choosing a name Relevant NEW (i.e. not a flower) Genus names are always nouns Species names may be either nouns or adjectives Gender agreement Who am I? The principle of priority A species (or genus) is named - e.g., Unitas malacologia Sigwart, 2006 - Diagnosis (descriptive, character-based) - Holotype is erected (NMINH 2003.666.1) Author s name forever associated with epithet - But this can be amended by later work - e.g., in Dyke 2007: Fragmentia malacologia (Sigwart, 2006) SYNONYMS (museum collections preserve) 5
How to name a species Step 9: Type specimens One to represent them all HOLOTYPE / SYNTYPES [whole] / [together] fully adult intact a typical, representative, average specimen PARATYPES [along side] to demonstrate some of the variability of the species All type specimens are housed in Museums Holotype : NMINH 2006.33.1 Different types of types Holotype - Single definitive reference specimen of a species - Definition of a genus dependant on its type species Paratypes - Additional material described in original paper - Specimens referred to species - Usually sent to different museum for safe keeping/ better access Only recently defined (last 100 years) Syntypes, Neotypes, Lectotypes Including figured specimens How to name a species Step 10: Publishing! Description Phylogenetic Analysis Citation of locality & field data Unique designation of type material museum numbers peer-reviewed publication 6
What is the Linnaean System? Carl von Linné (Linnaeus 1735-1777) Two-part binomial (e.g. Homo sapiens) Principle of priority Hierarchical categories (e.g. genus, family ) Current botanical and zoological Codes - > two million species named Clear and defined formula for classification Universal to all fields of biology and beyond The International Commission Mission: The International Commission is dedicated to achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals The International Commission Vision: The International Commission, acting in the capacity of advisor and arbiter, assists the zoological community through generation and dissemination of information on the correct use of the scientific names of animals. 7
The International Commission Vision: The International Commission, acting in the capacity of advisor and arbiter, assists the zoological community through generation and dissemination of information on the correct use of the scientific names of animals. This includes the publication of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature containing applications to, and rulings by, the Commission. The International Commission Mandates: example Decision IV/1/8: Institutions, supported by Parties and international donors, should coordinate their efforts to establish and maintain effective mechanisms for the stable naming of biological taxa The International Commission Mandates: Each edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is adopted by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) 8
The International Commission Mandates: Each edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is adopted by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) IUBS is itself a member of ICSU, the International Council for Science adopted by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS - ICSU) 9
4th edition - 1999 10
The International Commission Present Role: To revise and publish the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature To consider and rule on specific cases of nomenclatural uncertainty in zoology 11
Where a problem is discovered concerning the naming of animals, applicants present an argument, a Case which is published in BZN Counter arguments or support ( Comments ) are published subsequently The Commission votes on the application and a decision, called an Opinion, is then published The International Commission Future Role: Amend, revise and simplify the Code Provide web-based user-friendly guide to the Code flow charts, FAQs All Cases, Comments and Opinions to move to web ICZN to act as custodian of ZooBank populating it & adding data on Code-compliance ICZN to act as coordinator for peer review of web (zoo-) taxonomy 12
The International Commission The Commission s Work is essential wherever Identification Authentication Verification Quality control are required to a legal standard The International Commission The Commission s Work directly affects: Biodiversity studies Farming, Fisheries and Horticulture Medical and Veterinary Research Palaeontology and Biostratigraphy Entomology Conservation 13