ARS | Publication request: Are taxonomists required to bend to the will of bioinformatics? A response to Johnson (Skaphion 2:49)

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: March 6, 2009
Publication Date: March 10, 2009
Citation: Buffington, M.L. 2009. Are taxonomists required to bend to the will of bioinformatics? A response to Johnson (Skaphion 2:49). Popular Publication. 2:49.

Technical Abstract: Author names on the end of a species epithet are essential to stable taxonomy. These names are absolutely required in the case of homonymy, but they are also useful for obtaining original descriptions, locating type depositories, and determining the quality of a species concept. In this paper I argue against those taxonomists that feel the author name of a species is fruitless and outdated.