[Taxacom] The Evenhuis Nirvana

[Ken Kinman]

     Well, there is really no such thing as nirvana in the real world, so we 
have to compromise and do the best we can.  I agree that you should wait on 
more material concerning doubts 3 and 4.  As for doubts 1 and 2, perhaps it 
would be better to go ahead and describe them and even name them, and if 
they get synonymized in the future, so be it.  In any case, your 
descriptions and other data may well accelerate the discovery of those 
females (doubt 1) and possible intermediate populations (doubt 2).  As for 
doubts 3 and 4, finding a partner already living in Victoria might be the 
next best alternative to moving there yourself.  Networking and teamwork is 
sometimes the only real alternative in an increasing competitive world.

     As for Neal's Fiji "deadbeats", perhaps it would be best to analyze 
their publication records beforehand, and then simply not invite them on 
such expeditions.  That would nip much of the problem in the bud.  Perhaps 
that's overly simplistic, but past performance (recent performance in 
particular) is probably a much better indicator than what they promise to do 
(reliance more on what they have done than what they say in their proposals 
that they will do).  Not that "publish or perish" is the only criterion, but 
Neal's observations clearly indicate that there are indeed deadbeats who 
have probably advanced well beyond their own capabilities by taking credit 
for the work of subordinates and other colleagues.  Such deadbeats will take 
advantage of such opportunities, and their past performance should usually 
indicate whether they will actually live up to their promises.
    -----Ken Kinman
**********************************
>From: "Bob Mesibov" <mesibov at southcom.com.au>
>To: "TAXACOM" <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
>Subject: [Taxacom] The Evenhuis Nirvana
>Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 16:38:22 +1000
>
>After reading Neal Evenuis' commentary
>
>Evenhuis, N.L. 2007. Helping Solve the “Other” Taxonomic Impediment:
>Completing the Eight Steps to Total Enlightenment and Taxonomic Nirvana.
>Zootaxa 1407: 3–12
>
>I wondered if he was expecting a small explosion, possibly on TAXACOM. 
>There
>could be indignation, maybe some heartfelt "What's to be done?" responses,
>and no doubt a few "If you think _that's_ bad, let me tell you about..."
>stories.
>
>However, Neal's cautionary tale from Fiji seems to have a complicating
>factor, namely that the taxonomists involved were fly-in, once-only
>visitors.
>
>Sure, there are many, many instances of successful taxonomic workings-up
>following one-off expeditions sent from country A to country B. There are
>also lots of cases where specialists from A have repeatedly visited B 
>(e.g.,
>an institution in A "adopts" B) over a long period, thus building up a
>fairly solid picture of the B biota.
>
>It seems to me, though, that the best known regional biotas have been 
>worked
>up over many years by specialists resident in the region. This is not only 
>a
>good argument for training local taxonomists, it also hints at a
>little-recognised taxonomic impediment: doubt.
>
>Doubt 1. My one-off visit only netted me one male of this possibly new
>species. I could describe it, but I really should look at a female first.
>Doubt 2. My one-off visit yielded two very similar forms from spot X and
>spot Y, 20 km apart. If I could go back and sample in between, I can work
>out whether these are two allopatric or parapatric species, or just two
>variants on a cline.
>Doubt 3. My one-off visit turned up a fascinating juvenile (or 
>pre-flowering
>stage) that might be a new species. If I went back 6 months later, I might
>find the adult (or flowering stage).
>Doubt 4. My one-off visit only bagged a horribly mangled specimen of a 
>great
>new species. I need a better specimen (or specimens) for a description.
>
>Other TAXACOMers will no doubt have similar stories, but here's mine. The
>Four Doubts have stopped me from publishing new species from the Australian
>state of Victoria, which is separated from my home state of Tasmania by
>several hundred kilometres of ocean. Over 35 years' residence in Tasmania,
>I've had the time to chip away at all Four Doubts with regard to the local
>fauna. If I could move to Victoria and live there for 10 years or so, the
>Victorian doubts would likewise disappear and the taxonomic papers would
>flow. I can't move, so Nirvana is unattainable. Such is life.
>---
>Dr Robert Mesibov
>Honorary Research Associate, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
>and School of Zoology, University of Tasmania

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