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| PhyloCode | |
|---|---|
| Name | Phylogenetic Nomenclature Code |
| Acronym | PN (commonly called "PhyloCode") |
| Jurisdiction | International |
| Established | 1990s–2000s (developmental period) |
| Subject | Biological nomenclature for clades |
PhyloCode The Phylogenetic Nomenclature Code is a proposed system for naming clades based on phylogeny, intended as an alternative to traditional rank-based systems. It aims to provide explicit definitions tied to common ancestors and descendants for names of monophyletic groups, seeking clarity for Charles Darwin, Ernst Mayr, Thomas Henry Huxley, Willi Hennig, and later phylogeneticists. Advocates and critics include figures associated with International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, Society for Systematic Biology, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, and various universities such as Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Cambridge, and University of Oxford.
The code was developed to formalize naming conventions for clades recognized in works by Willi Hennig, Ernst Haeckel, and contemporary authors in journals like Systematic Biology, Cladistics (journal), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Nature. It specifies node-based, stem-based, and apomorphy-based definitions that aim to be compatible with phylogenetic trees produced by methods linked to Will H. J. van der Heijden, Joseph Felsenstein, David A. Baum, Mark A. Ragan, and tools such as PAUP*, MrBayes, RAxML, and BEAST. The project has been discussed at meetings of organizations including International Botanical Congress, International Mycological Association, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, and Society for the Study of Evolution.
The code centers on phylogenetic definitions: node-based, stem-based, and apomorphy-based, reflecting concepts from Willi Hennig and elaborated by contributors like Reginald H. Cowan, Kevin de Queiroz, Philip D. Cantino, and Kevin A. Smith. It emphasizes monophyly in the sense of Ernst Mayr's evolutionary lineage discussions and uses explicit type-specifier practices influencing authors from Stanford University, Yale University, University of Chicago, and University of Michigan. Definitions are intended to be stable across changing hypotheses, referencing exemplar taxa such as Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Canis lupus, Gallus gallus, and Arabidopsis thaliana when used as specifiers in published clade names.
Origins trace to debates following publications by Willi Hennig and subsequent systematists in the late 20th century; formal proposals emerged through meetings including those held by International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature affiliates and workshops at institutions like Smithsonian Institution and Royal Society. Key milestones involve workshops and publications by authors affiliated with University of Kansas, University of Florida, University of British Columbia, and societies such as American Society of Mammalogists and Paleontological Society. Prominent proponents and critics from Museum of Comparative Zoology, Natural History Museum, London, and California Academy of Sciences shaped successive drafts leading to the version debated in the early 2000s.
The code outlines registration mechanisms, name lists, and definitions implemented via editorial bodies analogous to International Botanical Congress committees and registries similar to initiatives at Index Fungorum, ZooBank, and International Plant Names Index. It proposes governance by a nomenclature committee comprising members from institutions such as Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Smithsonian Institution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, and National Center for Biotechnology Information. Implementation scenarios discussed at workshops involved integration with databases like TreeBASE, GenBank, and platforms used by Encyclopedia of Life, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Reactions have ranged from endorsement by advocates within Systematic Biology and parts of Cladistics (journal) to resistance from proponents of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Debates involved institutions including Royal Society, National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and professional societies such as International Commission on Stratigraphy. Critics raised concerns about disruption to existing literature curated by Biodiversity Heritage Library and museums like American Museum of Natural History, Natural History Museum, London, and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Legal, curatorial, and pedagogical implications were discussed at conferences hosted by Smithsonian Institution, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Field Museum of Natural History.
Unlike the rank-based framework codified by Carl Linnaeus and maintained by International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, the phylogenetic approach refrains from mandatory ranks such as those used in works associated with Linnaeus and institutions like Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. This contrast was examined in symposia featuring scholars from Harvard University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Toronto, often referencing historical treatments by Georges Cuvier, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, and Alexander von Humboldt.
Adoption has been limited and uneven: some clade names defined in line with the code appear in publications from Systematic Biology, PLOS Biology, and Zootaxa, while many taxonomic databases and institutions such as ZooBank, Index Fungorum, GBIF, and major museums continue to rely primarily on the Linnaean codes. Workshops at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Smithsonian Institution, and meetings of International Botanical Congress and International Mycological Association continue to address reconciliation, with contributions from researchers at University of California, Davis, Cornell University, University of Illinois, and University of Pennsylvania.
Category:Biological nomenclature