Alpha taxonomy

Alpha taxonomy

.

There are seven major levels of taxonomic groupings in traditional Linnaean taxonomy: Kingdom, Phylum or Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species (each of which may have several super- or subgroupings). Alpha taxonomy, however, focuses more on the species end of that spectrum (e.g., classifying organisms [specimens] into species groups, and classifying those into genera, rather than determining the higher-level relationships between families or orders).

For a long time the term "taxonomy" was unambiguous, but over time it has gained several other meanings and thus became potentially confusing. To some extent it is being replaced, in its original (and narrow) meaning, by "alpha taxonomy". As such, alpha taxonomy deals mostly with real organisms: species and lower ranking taxa. Higher ranking taxa (including clades and grades) mostly are the province of systematics.

The relationship between "taxonomy" and "systematics" is a potential source of confusion. These words have a similar history: over time these have been used as synonyms, as overlapping or as completely complementary.
* In today's usage, Taxonomy (as a science) deals with finding, describing and naming organisms. This science is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include Natural History Museums, Herbaria and Botanical Gardens.
* Systematics (as a science) deals with the relationships between taxa, especially at the higher levels. These days systematics is greatly influenced by data derived from DNA from nuclei, mitochondria and chloroplasts. This is sometimes known as molecular systematics which is becoming increasingly more common, perhaps at the expense of traditional taxonomy (Wheeler, 2004).

ee also

*Alternative taxonomical classification
*Biological classification
*Cladistics
*Evolutionary tree
*Important publications in taxonomy
*Integrated Taxonomic Information System
*Systematics
*Taxon

References

* Wheeler, Q. D. (2004). Taxonomic triage and the poverty of Phylogeny. "Phil. Trans. Roy Soc. London, Biology" 359: 571-583.

External links

* [http://www.ubio.org/ uBio Taxonomic Name Reconciliation]
* [http://www.itis.gov/ Integrated Taxonomic Information System] - [http://itis.gbif.net/pls/itisca/taxaget?p_ifx=plglt Generalized N. American server] [http://siit.conabio.gob.mx/pls/itisca/taxaget?p_ifx=itismx&p_lang=es Mexico Server] [http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/itisca/taxaget?p_ifx=cbif Canada Server]
* [http://tolweb.org Tree of Life]
* [http://www.biolib.cz/index.php?text=main&lang=EN&rlang=EN BioLib]
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/ NCBI Taxonomy]
* [http://research.amnh.org/informatics/taxlit Taxonomy & Informatics] An AMNH & NSF Project
* [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/taxonomy Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: definition- taxonomy] Ü
* [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7083/abs/nature04402.html The Nature of Plant Species] - article on a study by University Bloomington scientists
* [http://www.vliz.be/vmdcdata/aphia/aphia.php?p=search Aphia: North Sea flora and fauna taxonomic register]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • alpha taxonomy — That level of taxonomy involved with the characterization and naming of species; see beta taxonomy …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • alpha-taxonomy —   Descriptive taxonomy, based exclusively on morphological parameters …   Expanded glossary of Cycad terms

  • alpha taxonomy — noun The science of finding, describing, classifying and naming living things …   Wiktionary

  • Taxonomy — is the practice and science of classification. The word comes from the Greek Polytonic|τάξις , taxis (meaning order , arrangement ) and Polytonic|νόμος , nomos ( law or science ). Taxonomies, or taxonomic schemes, are composed of taxonomic units… …   Wikipedia

  • taxonomy — noun a) The science of finding, describing, classifying and naming organisms. b) The classification in a hierarchical system. Syn: alpha taxonomy …   Wiktionary

  • Alpha diversity — (α diversity) is the biodiversity within a particular area, community or ecosystem, and is usually expressed as the species richness of the area.[1] This can be measured by counting the number of taxa (distinct groups of organisms) within the… …   Wikipedia

  • gamma taxonomy — Taxonomy that uses all available biological information ranging from intraspecific population studies to the study of speciation, evolutionary rates and trends; systematics; see alpha taxonomy, beta taxonomy …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • beta taxonomy — A level of taxonomy involving the arrangment of species into a natural system of lower and higher taxa; see alpha taxonomy, gamma taxonomy …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • Spider taxonomy — is the alpha taxonomy of the spiders, members of the Araneae order of the arthropod class Arachnida with about 40,000 described species. However there are likely many species that have escaped the human eye to this day, and many specimens stored… …   Wikipedia

  • Euscorpius alpha — Euscorpius alpha …   Википедия

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”