Abstract Detail

Floristics & Taxonomy

Koenig, Nicholas [1], Link-Perez, Melanie [2].

Literature Review of Species Concepts view of Species Concepts Referenced in New Pteridophyte Species Described Since 1989.

Taxonomy is the field of science responsible for giving names to all living organisms.
These names are given based on the data available or discovered, and the foundational
knowledge about related organisms. All fields of science are theory-laden with testable
hypotheses made atop, and taxonomy is no exception. However, trends in descriptions of
new species point towards an implicit citation of the underlying theories (species
concepts) and hypotheses (proposed species) rather than explicit statements that are
common for other fields of science. Therefore, to assess the status of pteridophyte
taxonomy, we conducted a literature review of all new pteridophyte species described
since 1989 to holistically observe changes in how researchers carry out taxonomic
investigations. Of the 130 articles reviewed, we found only nine (6.9%) explicitly cited a
species concept and only twelve (9.2%) made an explicit taxonomic hypothesis. The
morphological species concept was the most common (130 articles; 100%), followed by
the evolutionary species concept (34 articles; 26.2%), then lastly the biological species
concept (11.5%) based on the data types presented in the articles. We hope our review
contributes to the strengthening of taxonomy and future outlooks of the entire field by
encouraging taxonomists to explicitly cite the species concept(s) being prescribed to as well as the taxonomic hypothesis asserted. We believe these changes could allow for a
broader audience to comprehend the field as well as provide a clearer path for future
researchers to add to the existing field of knowledge.

Related Links:
Honors Thesis

1 - University of Cambridge, Geography Department, UK
2 - University Of Tampa, FL, United States

Keywords:
taxonomic concepts
pteridophyte
Literature Review
Taxonomy .

Presentation Type: Poster
Number:
Abstract ID:806
Candidate for Awards:None