info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus
Fecha
2019-11Registro en:
Bortolus, Alejandro; Adam, Paul; Adams, Janine B.; Ainouche, Malika L.; Ayres, Debra; et al.; Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus; Ecological Society of America; Ecology; 100; 11; 11-2019; 1-11
0012-9658
1939-9170
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Autor
Bortolus, Alejandro
Adam, Paul
Adams, Janine B.
Ainouche, Malika L.
Ayres, Debra
Bertness, Mark D.
Bouma, Tjeerd J.
Bruno, John F.
Caçador, Isabel
Carlton, James T.
Castillo, Jesus M.
Costa, Cesar S. B.
Davy, Anthony J.
Deegan, Linda
Duarte, Bernardo
Figueroa, Enrique
Gerwein, Joel
Gray, Alan J.
Grosholz, Edwin D.
Hacker, Sally D.
Hughes, A. Randall
Mateos Naranjo, Enrique
Mendelssohn, Irving A.
Morris, James T.
Muñoz-Rodríguez, Adolfo F.
Nieva, Francisco J. J.
Levin, Lisa A.
Li, Bo
Liu, Wenwen
Pennings, Steven C.
Schwindt, Evangelina
Resumen
In 2014, a DNA-based phylogenetic study confirming the paraphyly of the grass subtribe Sporobolinae proposed the creation of a large monophyletic genus Sporobolus, including (among others) species previously included in the genera Spartina, Calamovilfa, and Sporobolus. Spartina species have contributed substantially (and continue contributing) to our knowledge in multiple disciplines, including ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biogeography, experimental ecology, biological invasions, environmental management, restoration ecology, history, economics, and sociology. There is no rationale so compelling to subsume the name Spartina as a subgenus that could rival the striking, global iconic history and use of the name Spartina for over 200 yr. We do not agree with the subjective arguments underlying the proposal to change Spartina to Sporobolus. We understand the importance of both the objective phylogenetic insights and of the subjective formalized nomenclature and hope that by opening this debate we will encourage positive feedback that will strengthen taxonomic decisions with an interdisciplinary perspective. We consider that the strongly distinct, monophyletic clade Spartina should simply and efficiently be treated as the genus Spartina.