Towards aGlobal Names Architecture

The Future of Indexing Scientific Names

Towards aGlobal Names Architecture

The Future of Indexing Scientific Names

Richard L. PyleBishop Museum, Honolulu /

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Sherborn SymposiumLondon, 28 October 2011

Richard L. PyleBishop Museum, Honolulu /

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Sherborn SymposiumLondon, 28 October 2011

“Hence, in determining whether a form should be ranked as a species or a variety, the opinion of naturalists having sound judgment and wide experience seems the only guide to follow.”

“Hence, in determining whether a form should be ranked as a species or a variety, the opinion of naturalists having sound judgment and wide experience seems the only guide to follow.”

“We must, however, in many cases, decide by a majority of naturalists, for few well-marked and well-known varieties can be named which have not been ranked as species by at least some competent judges.”

“We must, however, in many cases, decide by a majority of naturalists, for few well-marked and well-known varieties can be named which have not been ranked as species by at least some competent judges.”

- Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species- Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species

- Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species- Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species

“A species is what a community of taxonomists says it is.”“A species is what a community of taxonomists says it is.”- Richard Pyle, PhD- Richard Pyle, PhD

“A species is what a taxonomist says it is.”“A species is what a taxonomist says it is.”- Richard Pyle, Graduate Student, 1994- Richard Pyle, Graduate Student, 1994

Biology Department, Indiana UniversityBiology Department, Indiana University

4,398 Species4,398 Species 429,829 “Names”429,829 “Names”

1,509,491 Names1,509,491 Names1,370,276 Species1,370,276 Species

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Species Accumulation Curve – TheoreticalSpecies Accumulation Curve – Theoretical

Predicted Total SpeciesPredicted Total Species

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50005000

1000010000

1500015000

2000020000

2500025000

3000030000

3500035000

1750s1750s 1800s1800s 1850s1850s 1900s1900s 1950s1950s 2000s2000s

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20002000

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30003000

35003500

40004000

45004500

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Data from Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes, May 2009.Data from Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes, May 2009.

Species Accumulation Curve – All FishesSpecies Accumulation Curve – All Fishes

Predicted Total Species?Predicted Total Species?

YearYear

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(Mill

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1010

1515

2020

17501750 18001800 18501850 19001900 19501950 20002000

Something NeedsTo Happen HereSomething NeedsTo Happen Here

20502050

Total Global BiodiversityTotal Global Biodiversity

© Isabella Kirkland© Isabella Kirkland

“DESCENDANT”“DESCENDANT”

© Isabella Kirkland© Isabella Kirkland

“GONE”“GONE”

YearYear

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Something NeedsTo Happen HereSomething NeedsTo Happen Here

20502050

??

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Total Global BiodiversityTotal Global Biodiversity

BPBM 40861, Chromis abyssus HOLOTYPEBelau; off Ngemelis Island (7.13791°N, 134.2218°E)-110 meters27 April 2007

BPBM 40861, Chromis abyssus HOLOTYPEBelau; off Ngemelis Island (7.13791°N, 134.2218°E)-110 meters27 April 2007

ToL

GenBank

HymenopteraNameServer

BDWB

CalPhotos

TAXONOMY

A Global Names ArchitectureA Global Names Architecture

WWSD?WWSD?(What Would Sherborn Do?)(What Would Sherborn Do?)

From the Epilogue, Section 2, Part 29, pp. vi-vii:“Now my work is finished, it may well be to glance at the

difficulties met with during compilation.”

From the Epilogue, Section 2, Part 29, pp. vi-vii:“Now my work is finished, it may well be to glance at the

difficulties met with during compilation.”

“This want of every book and every edition has been a serious hindrance and loss of time to me while working for over forty years in the British Museum (Natural History) and though I have acquired over a thousand volumes for the libraries, gaps still remain to be filled.”

“This want of every book and every edition has been a serious hindrance and loss of time to me while working for over forty years in the British Museum (Natural History) and though I have acquired over a thousand volumes for the libraries, gaps still remain to be filled.”

“On the whole one has met with a generous response, but the amused smile, real apathy, or the remark ‘we have no money’ … have been encountered.”

“On the whole one has met with a generous response, but the amused smile, real apathy, or the remark ‘we have no money’ … have been encountered.”

WWSD?WWSD?(What Would Sherborn Do?)(What Would Sherborn Do?)

From the Epilogue, Section 2, Part 29, pp. vi-vii:“And now that rotography has superseded photography as

regards cost, a rare tract can be reproduced in a few hours and placed on its proper shelf in any Library for a few shillings.””

From the Epilogue, Section 2, Part 29, pp. vi-vii:“And now that rotography has superseded photography as

regards cost, a rare tract can be reproduced in a few hours and placed on its proper shelf in any Library for a few shillings.””

“In conclusion I may add that the whole of my papers, Books of Reference and apparatus will remain at the Museum for my continuator and I trust that arrangements will be made for the permanent indexing of even current literature as the only true method of economizing the time of the working zoologist.”

“In conclusion I may add that the whole of my papers, Books of Reference and apparatus will remain at the Museum for my continuator and I trust that arrangements will be made for the permanent indexing of even current literature as the only true method of economizing the time of the working zoologist.”

- C. Davies Sherborn, London, March, 1932- C. Davies Sherborn, London, March, 1932