First a comment about your survey: I don't think that the
classification list is the best place to send it. Try Taxacom
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I am confident that the people who subscribe to that list will
explain in detail why the phrases you employ in your survey are
insufficiently defined.
On 19 Oct 2005, at 20:40, jack coate wrote:
October 18, 2005
Jack Coate & Julien Louys
Department of Anatomy
School of Medical Sciences
University of New South Wales
Sydney, NSW, 2052
Australia
+61 2 9385 3676
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
What's your philosophy? Evolutionary Systematics or Phylogenetics,
or something else…
Dear researchers and students,
In an attempt to better gauge the current consensus as to the
methods of biological classification (extinct and extant flora or
fauna) we are undertaking an international survey. To achieve this
objective we ask for your participation. If you could please answer
the following short questions, it would be greatly appreciated.
Your response will enable us to report on the existing paradigms
prevalent in modern biological research, conservation and
classification.
Please send us your response by email. If you prefer, a postal
address is given above. This survey is completely voluntary and
anonymous. A reply is indicative of informed consent. Please note,
data from this survey may be published. Any emails received from
recipients will be kept on file; however at no time will these
addresses be disseminated, and any information received will be
used for the purposes of this survey only. This survey was
distributed to the public on Oct. 18, 2005 and responses will be
accepted until Nov. 30, 2005. Complaints concerning this survey may
be directed to the Ethics Secretariat, at the University of New
South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia (phone +612 93854234, fax
+612 93856648 and email [EMAIL PROTECTED]).
To increase our sample size, we kindly ask all recipients and
participants to please forward this questionnaire to any other
person and/or party who may be interested.
Thank you for your attention and participation.
Sincerely, Jack Coate & Julien Louys
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Do you consider yourself to be a(n)?
a) Phylogeneticist
b) Evolutionary Systematist
c) Neither of the above
both. Also a student of development. Part of the discipline called
evo-devo.
2. Given only three choices, which definition of a species (extinct
or extant) would you most likely agree with?
a) Biological Species Concept
b) Phylogenetic Species Concept
c) Evolutionary Species Concept
d) None of the above
Answer: ____ If d), please list definition and/or reference
______________
a. The other two possibilities are defined in different ways by
different people.
3. Do you think your choice for the above question can be used with
extant organisms as well as the fossil record? Yes/No/Unsure ________
extant only
4. Do you think the level of classification of taxa should be
dependant on their temporal span? Yes/No/Unsure ________
no
5. Is the use of the above method of classification (Re. Question
1) necessary in your day-to-day research? Yes or No ________
yes
6. Do you think these methods of classification are mutually
exclusive? Yes or No _________
no
7. Please state your field of research: (e.g. wildlife biology,
genetics, wildlife conservation, botany, paleontology,
anthropology, etc.) ______________
botany
8. If you instruct and train any students, which method do you
recognize and apply? Or, if you are a student, which methods are
employed? _____________
Neither. Logic is the only method.
9. What country are you working in and/or where are you based
(optional)? ______________
Canada
10. Would you like to receive the results from this survey? Yes or
No_________
No
