An Assignment In Taxonomy

[Dean Powell]

I am currently studying Ornithology and have a written assignment to complete.

My task is to write a critical evaluation of a recent or ongoing controversy in taxonomy - a recent decision or continuing argument.

I would be grateful if there is anyone out there who could give me recent decisions made or information about continuing arguments in taxonomy.

I can then look at the different areas and decide which one I will research and critically evaluate.

Thanks

Dean

[cuckooroller]

Dean
Personally, the one argument that immediately comes to mind for its' wideranging ramifications in so many different spheres, is that regarding BSC -vs- PSC.

[Dean Powell]

Dean
Personally, the one argument that immediately comes to mind for its' wideranging ramifications in so many different spheres, is that regarding BSC -vs- PSC.

Hi Steve,

I wandered if you could expand on this please.

Thanks

Dean

[Steve Lister]

Hi Steve,

I wandered if you could expand on this please.

Thanks

Dean

Different Steve but anyway.....

PSC is the Phylogenetic Species Concept, and BSC is Biological Species Concept. Using the PSC makes a lot of subspecies into species. There are also other species concepts, and a thorough evaluation of some of them could be a great subject. Quie involved though. It would certainly impress the course tutors if you did it properly.

Steve

PS Is the disc any good for you?

[mrpjdavis]

My task is to write a critical evaluation of a recent or ongoing controversy in taxonomy - a recent decision or continuing argument.


You could also consider the taxonomy of crossbills (whether Scotttish Crossbill is a valid species) - lots of info on this site.

Pete

[Xenospiza]

Species or not, it's a rather futile discussion. Higher-level taxonomy is much more interesting: especially the relationships within the Neoaves. Are falcons, hawks and American vultures related? Hoatzins, cuckoos and turacos? Really lots of controversy between morphology and genetics – and here no one has any second interests like conservation, armchair ticks, or having his name added to a new species...

But if you want to look at species, then it might be interesting to look at voice as a means to delimit taxa... a recent article on an isolated population of some Amazonian Anttrush might set off some lively debate!

[cuckooroller]

Species or not, it's a rather futile discussion. Higher-level taxonomy is much more interesting: especially the relationships within the Neoaves. Are falcons, hawks and American vultures related? Hoatzins, cuckoos and turacos? Really lots of controversy between morphology and genetics – and here no one has any second interests like conservation, armchair ticks, or having his name added to a new species...

But if you want to look at species, then it might be interesting to look at voice as a means to delimit taxa... a recent article on an isolated population of some Amazonian Anttrush might set off some lively debate!


JH,
Quite true. One that has always interested me - Sapayoa!

[Xenospiza]

Maybe Sapayoa and Donacobius could make a nice story of how (assumed) biogeography hid the true taxonomy of these enigmatic South American birds?

— yet another level of taxonomy to consider!

[Dean Powell]

Hi all,

Thanks for your suggestions.

The assignment is 1500 words and is pitched at the following level eg; have birds evolved from dinosaurs or the branch of reptiles that eventually led to crocodiles; or is the red grouse a seperate species from the willow grouse; or is the Scottish Crossbill a seperate species or a sub-species of the Parrot Crossbill.

I have to critically evaluate a recent decision or continuing argument. I want to do something different to the above examples.

keep your ideas coming.

Thanks

Dean

Oh and Steve the CD is great. I looked at it today. I am thinking of a way to repay you B (: Cheers.

[Mike Feely]

Dean

Here's a couple of ideas: the Yellow Wagtail complex; Species limits in Northern Hemisphere large white headed gulls (!); are sylvia warblers warblers at all and if not where does this leave Sylviidae?; Cotingas, Mannikins & the "Shiffornis" group; why are there 2 ancient crows in Africa when the majority of the family originated in Australia?; Barbets vs Toucans.

Some to think about - http://montereybay.com/creagrus/list.html is an interesting website with lots of info condensed into a readable format.

Mike

[Dean Powell]

Dean

Here's a couple of ideas: the Yellow Wagtail complex; Species limits in Northern Hemisphere large white headed gulls (!); are sylvia warblers warblers at all and if not where does this leave Sylviidae?; Cotingas, Mannikins & the "Shiffornis" group; why are there 2 ancient crows in Africa when the majority of the family originated in Australia?; Barbets vs Toucans.

Some to think about - http://montereybay.com/creagrus/list.html is an interesting website with lots of info condensed into a readable format.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your information and the link.

Do you have any more information on the 2 crows you mention. This sounds really interesting. The warbler issue also sounds like a possibility.
Cheers

Dean :scribe:

[Mike Feely]

The two crows are Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) & Stresemann's Bush-Crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni).

I have a paper somewhere which mentions these as oddities within the Corvid evolutinary radiation - i'll try to find it & send you a copy (might have to be tomorrow now though, if thats ok). PM me your email.

Mike

[Dean Powell]

The two crows are Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) & Stresemann's Bush-Crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni).

I have a paper somewhere which mentions these as oddities within the Corvid evolutinary radiation - i'll try to find it & send you a copy (might have to be tomorrow now though, if thats ok). PM me your email.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I have sent PM to you. l look forward to receiving a copy. No rush as I have a few weeks to do essay. However when I get copy I can do some research around this. This sound like a really interesting area for study.

Dean

[njlarsen]

An example that is a little closer to the Crossbill study could be the Redpoll split of a few years ago (mainly refuted in many peoples minds); hooded vs carrion crow in Europe, are they two species with a narrow stable zone of hybridization or two races with a clinal variation? Similarly, is green heron the same species as striated heron, or are they two (look for example at http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds/indexidessays), and where does that leave the Galapagos form? We recently discussed Barn Owl worldwide and in the Caribbean in a different thread.

One advantage of a story like the Crow story is that it ties in with the species concepts, because some people interpret the data differently partly due to different approach to what a species is (that is at least my impression, without having gone to much of the primary litterature).

Cheers
Niels

[Dean Powell]

An example that is a little closer to the Crossbill study could be the Redpoll split of a few years ago (mainly refuted in many peoples minds); hooded vs carrion crow in Europe, are they two species with a narrow stable zone of hybridization or two races with a clinal variation? Similarly, is green heron the same species as striated heron, or are they two (look for example at http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds/indexidessays), and where does that leave the Galapagos form? We recently discussed Barn Owl worldwide and in the Caribbean in a different thread.

One advantage of a story like the Crow story is that it ties in with the species concepts, because some people interpret the data differently partly due to different approach to what a species is (that is at least my impression, without having gone to much of the primary litterature).

Cheers
Niels

Hi Niels,

Thanks for for your help and taking time out to respond. You have given me some additional ideas.

I will now go and have a look at the link you have provided

Cheers

Dean :scribe:

[griffin]

The assignment is 1500 words and is pitched at the following level eg; have birds evolved from dinosaurs or the branch of reptiles that eventually led to crocodiles; or is the red grouse a seperate species from the willow grouse; or is the Scottish Crossbill a seperate species or a sub-species of the Parrot Crossbill.

I have to critically evaluate a recent decision or continuing argument. I want to do something different to the above examples.



Good luck ! Can't see how you can do anything meaningful on any of the above in only 1500 words - a PhD maybe ! Typical of term papers set by lecturers ( which I had to do too).

BOU DO consider Red Grouse and Scottish Crossbill as separate species, though I guess there are arguments against. BTW Scottish xbill is more likely related to Common Crossbill that Parrot. Your first problem is to define what the Scottish Crossbill is now and what it used to be (identified as ) - the two are not necessarily the same and that is the paradox. Griscom even considered Parrot to be a sub-species of Common.

Linz

[RJElse]

Hi Dean

Good luck with the project, whichever topic you choose.

Out of interest, where is it you are studying ornithology?


Ric