I suspect taxonomists consider their science more rigorous than some of the
other biological sciences, particularly ecology. After all, isn't a species
an absolute thing to be definitively described and classified, whilst an
ecoregion is a loosey-goosey entity with a definition more or less
I am seeking a postdoctoral assistant to join my new group at the University
of Konstanz in Germany. My group will focus on questions related to invasive
plants, rare plants, responses of plants to global change, phenotypic
plasticity and adaptation, and pollination and reproduction. The
Maybe taxonomists should stick to labeling species with objective rigor
instead of labeling other scientists with snobby scorn.
Maybe this is really just a defensive attitude since for so many years
they were looked down on by other branches of biology - including
ecologists - as being just stamp
Wayne, I think you just ran into an odd situation. The folks I have known who
do botanical taxonomy definitely are not like the fellow you heard speak.
Interesting your remark about stamp collecting. That was Isaac Asimov's term
for what those who study the diversity of the natural world do,
I used to remind students of Davy Crockett's maxim, Be sure you're right, then
go ahead. I would follow that with, in science we go with, Be 95% sure
you're right, then go ahead. But then I'd remind them that a collective of
95% sure decisions adds up to dead certain. Whenever I was
The idea that there is a moment when one species evolves into another is
interesting. Does the evolutionary lineage of species consist of sharp
transitions, or more more gradual changes from one species to another?
In ecological biogeography, the change in the relative dominance of species
Warren/Ecolog:
I have argued that taxonomy is not fuzzy enough, so I guess that
hyper-disqualifies me as a taxonomist. That does not mean that I don't
believe in taxonomy. On the contrary, I am glad there are taxonomists to
endure all that drudgery so I don't have to worry my fuzzy head about
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Based on my studies in invasive species, I would say the question of
whether there are sharp transitions, or more gradual changes, should be
rephrased. You allude to it in your explanation, but it appears there
are both. I think the relevant question is -- under what conditions
does one or
