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Lien AM, Banki O, Barik SK, Buckeridge JS, Christidis L, Cigliano MM, Conix S, Costello MJ, Hobern D, Kirk PM, Kroh A, Montgomery N, Nikolaeva S, Orrell TM, Pyle RL, Raz L, Thiele K, Thomson SA, van Dijk PP, Wambiji N, Whalen A, Zachos FE, Zhang ZQ, Garnett ST. Widespread support for a global species list with a formal governance system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306899120. [PMID: 37903262 PMCID: PMC10636331 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306899120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Taxonomic data are a scientific common. Unlike nomenclature, which has strong governance institutions, there are currently no generally accepted governance institutions for the compilation of taxonomic data into an accepted global list. This gap results in challenges for conservation, ecological research, policymaking, international trade, and other areas of scientific and societal importance. Consensus on a global list and its management requires effective governance and standards, including agreed mechanisms for choosing among competing taxonomies and partial lists. However, governance frameworks are currently lacking, and a call for governance in 2017 generated critical responses. Any governance system to which compliance is voluntary requires a high level of legitimacy and credibility among those by and for whom it is created. Legitimacy and credibility, in turn, require adequate and credible consultation. Here, we report on the results of a global survey of taxonomists, scientists from other disciplines, and users of taxonomy designed to assess views and test ideas for a new system of taxonomic list governance. We found a surprisingly high degree of agreement on the need for a global list of accepted species and their names, and consistent views on what such a list should provide to users and how it should be governed. The survey suggests that consensus on a mechanism to create, manage, and govern a single widely accepted list of all the world's species is achievable. This finding was unexpected given past controversies about the merits of list governance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Lien
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ85721
| | - Olaf Banki
- Species 2000, Naturalis, Leiden2300 RA, Netherlands
| | - Saroj K. Barik
- Department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong793022, India
| | - John S. Buckeridge
- Earth and Oceanic Systems Group, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC3001, Australia
| | - Les Christidis
- Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW2450, Australia
| | - María Marta Cigliano
- Museo de La Plata, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La PlataB1900FWA, Argentina
| | - Stijn Conix
- Institut Supérieur de Philosophie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve1348, Belgium
| | - Mark John Costello
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord Universitet, Bodø8049, Norway
| | - Donald Hobern
- Atlas of Living Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT2601, Australia
| | - Paul M. Kirk
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, LondonTW9 3AB, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Kroh
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna1010, Austria
| | - Narelle Montgomery
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, CanberraACT2600, Australia
- Sessional Committee, Scientific Council, Convention in the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Bonn53113, Germany
| | - Svetlana Nikolaeva
- Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum, LondonSW7 5BD, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Molluscs, Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow117647, Russia
- Research Laboratory of Stratigraphy of Oil-and-Gas Bearing Reservoirs, Kazan Federal University, Kazan420008, Russia
| | - Thomas M. Orrell
- Informatics and Data Science Center, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC20013
| | | | - Lauren Raz
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá111321, Colombia
| | - Kevin Thiele
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, CanberraACT2600, Australia
| | - Scott A. Thomson
- Centro de Estudos dos Quelônios da Amazônia, Manaus69055-010, Brazil
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, DarwinNT0909, Australia
| | | | - Nina Wambiji
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa80100, Kenya
| | - Anthony Whalen
- National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CanberraACT2601, Australia
| | - Frank E. Zachos
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna1010, Austria
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna1030, Austria
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein9301, South Africa
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhang
- New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research, St Johns, Auckland1072, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland1010, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephen T. Garnett
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, DarwinNT0909, Australia
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Conix S, Garnett ST, Thiele KR, Christidis L, van Dijk PP, Bánki OS, Barik SK, Buckeridge JS, Costello MJ, Hobern D, Kirk PM, Lien A, Nikolaeva S, Pyle RL, Thomson SA, Zhang ZQ, Zachos FE. Towards a global list of accepted species III. Independence and stakeholder inclusion. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00496-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Abstract
Lists of species underpin many fields of human endeavour, but there are currently no universally accepted principles for deciding which biological species should be accepted when there are alternative taxonomic treatments (and, by extension, which scientific names should be applied to those species). As improvements in information technology make it easier to communicate, access, and aggregate biodiversity information, there is a need for a framework that helps taxonomists and the users of taxonomy decide which taxa and names should be used by society whilst continuing to encourage taxonomic research that leads to new species discoveries, new knowledge of species relationships, and the refinement of existing species concepts. Here, we present 10 principles that can underpin such a governance framework, namely (i) the species list must be based on science and free from nontaxonomic considerations and interference, (ii) governance of the species list must aim for community support and use, (iii) all decisions about list composition must be transparent, (iv) the governance of validated lists of species is separate from the governance of the names of taxa, (v) governance of lists of accepted species must not constrain academic freedom, (vi) the set of criteria considered sufficient to recognise species boundaries may appropriately vary between different taxonomic groups but should be consistent when possible, (vii) a global list must balance conflicting needs for currency and stability by having archived versions, (viii) contributors need appropriate recognition, (ix) list content should be traceable, and (x) a global listing process needs both to encompass global diversity and to accommodate local knowledge of that diversity. We conclude by outlining issues that must be resolved if such a system of taxonomic list governance and a unified list of accepted scientific names generated are to be universally adopted. Currently there are no rules on compiling lists of accepted names of species, meaning that many people use a variety of competing lists, which results in confusion and inefficiencies. This Perspective article provides principles for developing global lists of species that are needed if such lists are to be accepted by both taxonomists and users of taxonomy.
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