[Taxacom] Taxonomy in Europe in the 21st century

[Richard Zander]

Well, genetic clusters indicate isolation, but not necessarily different species. The fact of exemplars of the same taxon being distant on a molecular cladogram (e.g. "massive homoplasy") is evidence of stasis in evolution, maybe through stabilizing selection. A molecular split necessarily representing one or more speciation events is more a slogan than theory based on evidence. 

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Richard H. Zander 
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-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Torbjørn Ekrem
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 4:39 AM
To: TAXACOM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Taxonomy in Europe in the 21st century

If a DNA barcode project on midges in Norway reveals that there are 100 genetic clusters that we are unable to put a name on and possibly represents new species, is that not a decent argument to fund taxonomy on this particular group?

Torbjørn

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