Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 246-260 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |
| Volume | 134 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 26 May 2021 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2021 |
Abstract
Infraspecific taxa (subspecies, races and varieties) are often seen as real entities in nature and recognized as biologically meaningful groups. But because infraspecific taxa by definition are subdivisions of species, their status depends entirely on the status of 'their' species. This makes the status of infraspecific taxa crucially dependent on the way species are considered and thus on the various species concepts that have been advanced as answers to the 'species problem'. Accordingly, there is a profound lack of clarity regarding the following questions. What are infraspecific taxa? What is their biological meaning? Are they real entities or merely instrumental units? When should an infraspecific group be ranked and named as an infraspecific taxon? In this paper, we aim to contribute to greater clarity about these issues by examining which types of infraspecific groups are biologically meaningful in light of the main results from the species debate.
Keywords
- infraspecific taxa, philosophy of biology, realism, species problem, subspecies, subspecies pluralism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. 134, No. 1, 01.09.2021, p. 246-260.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Classification below the species level
T2 - when are infraspecific groups biologically meaningful?
AU - Reydon, Thomas A. C.
AU - Kunz, Werner
PY - 2021/9/1
Y1 - 2021/9/1
N2 - Infraspecific taxa (subspecies, races and varieties) are often seen as real entities in nature and recognized as biologically meaningful groups. But because infraspecific taxa by definition are subdivisions of species, their status depends entirely on the status of 'their' species. This makes the status of infraspecific taxa crucially dependent on the way species are considered and thus on the various species concepts that have been advanced as answers to the 'species problem'. Accordingly, there is a profound lack of clarity regarding the following questions. What are infraspecific taxa? What is their biological meaning? Are they real entities or merely instrumental units? When should an infraspecific group be ranked and named as an infraspecific taxon? In this paper, we aim to contribute to greater clarity about these issues by examining which types of infraspecific groups are biologically meaningful in light of the main results from the species debate.
AB - Infraspecific taxa (subspecies, races and varieties) are often seen as real entities in nature and recognized as biologically meaningful groups. But because infraspecific taxa by definition are subdivisions of species, their status depends entirely on the status of 'their' species. This makes the status of infraspecific taxa crucially dependent on the way species are considered and thus on the various species concepts that have been advanced as answers to the 'species problem'. Accordingly, there is a profound lack of clarity regarding the following questions. What are infraspecific taxa? What is their biological meaning? Are they real entities or merely instrumental units? When should an infraspecific group be ranked and named as an infraspecific taxon? In this paper, we aim to contribute to greater clarity about these issues by examining which types of infraspecific groups are biologically meaningful in light of the main results from the species debate.
KW - infraspecific taxa
KW - philosophy of biology
KW - realism
KW - species problem
KW - subspecies
KW - subspecies pluralism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114343705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/biolinnean/blab067
DO - 10.1093/biolinnean/blab067
M3 - Article
VL - 134
SP - 246
EP - 260
JO - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
JF - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
SN - 0024-4066
IS - 1
ER -