Taxonomy

What is taxonomy?

•Lawrence (1951) in his “Taxonomy of Vascular Plants” stated that: it is a science that includes identification, nomenclature and classification of objects.

•Usually restricted to objects of biological origin; when limited to plants it is called systematic botany.

Lawrence further stated that;

1. identification: is the determination of a plant or taxon as being identical with or similar to another and already known element. In some instances, the plant may be found to be new to science.

Loading…

•2. Nomenclature: is concerned with the determination of the correct scientific name of a known plant according to a nomenclature system; that is, it may have a handle by which it can be referred. This naming is regulated by internationally accepted rules laid down in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.

•3. Classification: is the placing of a plant (or group of plants) in groups or taxon which are referred to various categories according to a particular plan or sequence; e.g. every species is classified as a member of a particular genus, every genus belongs to a particular family etc.

• Classification (process): Individuals are grouped into taxa, these are each ranked at a particular category in the hierarchy resulting in a classification (product) in which all are placed; i.e., a systems of names for all life on earth.

Systematics

•Systematics is the study of diversification and relationships of life forms (exist/extinct). Today’s systematics generally makes extensive use of molecular biology and computer programs to study organisms.

•Taxonomy- putting in order

•Systematics- putting together

Loading…

Relationship of Taxonomy to Systematics

•The relationship of taxonomy to systematics is somewhat like that of theoretical physics to the whole field of physics.

•Taxonomy includes classification and nomenclature but systematics includes both taxonomy and evolution. In simple terms, actually there are two parts of systematic.

•The first part, taxonomy, is concerned with describing and naming the different kinds of organisms, whether exist or extinct.

•This science is supported by institutions holding collection of organisms which are curated with relevant data.

Relationship of Taxonomy to Systematics

• The second part of systematics, evolution, is concerned with understanding just how all these kinds of animals arose in the first place and what processes are at work today to maintain or change them.

•Systematics uses taxonomy as a means to understand organisms.

•Theoretically the term taxonomy and systematic could be synonyms, in practice, however, differences in uses are obvious and a systematist and a taxonomist can conduct different analyses.

**THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TAXONOMY AND SYSTEMATIC S \n ** \n

•1. Taxonomy is the most important branch of systematic and thus systematics is a broader area than taxonomy.

•2. Taxonomy is concerned with nomenclature, description, classification and identification of a species, but systematics is important to provide layout for all those taxonomic functions.

•3. Evolutionary history of a species is studied under systematics but not in taxonomy.

•4. The environmental factors are directly related with systematics but in taxonomy it is indirectly related.

•5. Taxonomy is subjected to change in course of time, but systematics is not changed if it was properly done.

Biological Nomenclature

•We can appreciate the role and value of taxonomy based on the three elements involved i.e. identification, nomenclature and classification.

•We take for granted that we refer to one another by names, e.g. Nathan Chinapen or Susan Seacharan and therefore we have a reference point for relating information to a source. Our names are given to us in a structured way. For example, in many countries our father’s surname and our first name is chosen for us by our parents. Similarly, many everyday objects have compound names which immediately enable us to distinguish between different kinds of similar objects, e.g. when referring to spoons we speak of egg-spoon, tea-spoon………….