Re: Cladospeak: Bonnan errata and corrections

[chris brochu <cbrochu@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>]

> I have been using definitions from what I feel is a fine book on 
> systematics, "Biological Systematics: Principles and Applications" 
> by Randall T. Schuh, 2000.  According to this book,
>
> Diagnosis = in systematics, a summary statement of attributes that 
> allows recognition of a taxon and separation of that taxon from one 
> or more taxa.
>
> Definition = an enumeration of the apomorphies for a taxon
>
> Description = in systematics, a detailed written statement of the 
> attributes possessed by a given taxon
>
> Synapomorphy = shared, derived, group-defining (not diagnosing) trait


Schuh's book is very good, but his definition of "definition" is 
somewhat different from that used by many (perhaps most) in the 
phylogenetics community. Some of us would apply his definition of 
"definition" to "diagnosis," and would
"define" on ancestry and descent.

Rowe's 1986 paper on the subject (Syst. Zool., 36:208-211) explains 
the definitions some of us use.

This does not  detract from Matt's original point at all.


chris

--
------------------------
Christopher A. Brochu
Assistant Professor
Department of Geoscience
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242

christopher-brochu@uiowa.edu
319-353-1808 phone
319-335-1821 fax