I am afraid that there are several misconception's in Jim's message.
There is absolutely no requirement to name all nodes. I don't know
anybody involved in the creation of Phylogenetic Nomenclature, or its
codification, who has ever, anywhere, written such a thing. The quote
Nixon and Carpenter use to bolster their claim that the PhyloCode will
implement naming all nodes is a gross misrepresentation. Also, the use of
the simplistic notion 'NP' for node pointing as a defining phylogenetic
taxonomy is a travesty. There will be stem-based, node-based and
apomorphy-based definitions possible under the PhyloCode. Nixon and
Carpenter's argument cannot stand up if they recognize that apomorphy-
based definitions of names will be a part of the new system, so they
ignore it.
As for chaos and lack of stability, in my opinion phylogenetic taxonomy
will be more stable and have less chaos than the present Linnean
taxonomic nightmare we have to endure. Phylogenetic Nomenclature is
more rigorous, more explicit and less ambiguous that the current system.
It will make people think about what they are doing when they name taxa,
instead of the current atheoretical, subjective hotchpotch of rules.
For those interested in a clear presentation of the forthcoming
PhyloCode go to the website:
http://www.ohiou.edu/phylocode/
Also, see the Taxacom archives where Phil Cantino has addressed many
of the criticisms and misunderstandings.
http://biodiversity.bio.uno.edu/mail_archives/taxacom/
[http://www.usobi.org/archives/taxacom.html is the current archive host
site - GBR]
The paper by Nixon and Carpenter is an interesting one and is
definitely worth reading. It is fascinating how people who use
'tree-thinking' insist on supporting a taxonomic system that is so
incompatible with it.
*********************************
Greg Rouse
School of Biological Sciences A08
University of Sydney
N.S.W. 2006
Australia
gregr at bio.usyd.edu.au
Tel. (02) 9351 5571
Fax (02) 9351 4119
International: 61 2 replaces 02
http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/papers/gregr/
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