Re: Taxon Search

[mike@miketaylor.org.uk (Mike Taylor)]

> Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 15:38:33 +0100 (MET)
> From: David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>
> 
>> I'm not entirely sure I swallow this.
> 
> OK, I should have mentioned that many people use "taxonomy" for
> different things. For example it is a synonym of "systematics" for
> some.
> 
>> Given that any particular naming of a node or a stem is a
>> nomenclatural act, surely the choice of which nodes and stems to
>> name is a subjective one requiring knowledge of the relevant
>> groups,
> 
> Sure.
> 
>> and making those choices is therefore a taxonomic procedure?
> 
> No, why?
> 
> ("Knowledge of the relevant groups" is part of phylogenetics.)

Then I am at a loss to understand what you _do_ consider to be
taxonomy, other than the assignment of ranks.  Basically, you seem to
be defining taxonomy as "those things that we do not do in
phylogenetic nomenclature".  Under _that_ description, then I agree
with you that phylogenetic nomenclature is not taxonomy :-)

 _/|_    ___________________________________________________________________
/o ) \/  Mike Taylor  <mike@miketaylor.org.uk>  http://www.miketaylor.org.uk
)_v__/\  "Was it Kierkegaard or Dick van Patten who said, 'If you label
         me, you negate me'?" -- Mike Myers, "Wayne's World"