Everything about Nomenclature Codes totally explained
The
Nomenclature Codes (or "the
Codes of nomenclature") are the rulebooks that govern biological nomenclature.
After the successful introduction of two-part names for species by
Linnaeus it became ever more apparent that a detailed body of rules was necessary to govern scientific names. From the mid-nineteenth century onwards there were several initiatives to arrive at worldwide-accepted sets of rules. In the course of time these became the present Nomenclature Codes governing the naming of
Differences between Codes
Starting point
The starting point, that's the time from which these
Codes are in effect (usually retroactively), varies from group to group, and sometimes from rank to rank. In
botany the starting point will often be 1753, in
zoology 1758. On the other hand
bacteriology started anew, making a clean sweep in 1980, although maintaining the original authors and dates of publication.
Workings
There are also differences in the way
Codes work. For example, the
ICBN (the plant
Code) forbids
tautonyms, while the
ICZN, (the animal
Code) allows them.
Terminology
These
Codes differ in terminology, and there's a long-term project to "harmonize" this. For instance, the
ICBN uses "valid" in "valid publication of a name" (= the act of publishing a formal name), with "establishing a name" as the
ICZN equivalent. The
ICZN uses "valid" in "valid name" (="correct name"), with "correct name" as the
ICBN equivalent. Harmonization is making very limited progress.
Types
The codes differ in terms of what kinds of
types are permissible. The bacteriological code generally requires living type cultures. The botanical code requires dried specimens (typically in an
herbarium), or sometimes drawings. There has been ongoing debate regarding which kind of type is more useful in a case like
cyanobacteria. The zoological code generally requires a dead preserved animal, but sometimes allows a living type.
Other codes
A more radical approach is to replace all existing
Codes by a
BioCode, basically a synthesis of the existing
Codes. The BioCode draft has received little attention since 1997; its originally planned implementation date of January 1, 2000, has passed unnoticed. However, a 2004 paper concerning the
cyanobacteria does advocate a future adoption of a BioCode and interim steps consisting of reducing the differences between the codes.
Another code in development is the
PhyloCode, which regulates
phylogenetic nomenclature rather than
Linnaean nomenclature (that is, it requires
phylogenetic definitions for every name, and doesn't contain mandatory ranks). Implementation is tentatively scheduled for sometime before 2010.
The formal names of cultivated plants are governed by the
ICNCP. This code operates within the limits set by the
ICBN, but uses different basic principles.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Nomenclature Codes'.
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