摘要
The Linnaean system provides ultimate means governing biological nomenclature and classification. With series of modification, this system has admirably served bio-logical sciences for some 250 years. The new PhyloCode, however, advocates the phylogenetic nomenclature that radically alternates the current nomenclatural rules. The new proposals upset many systematic biologists and have provoked hot debate on nomenclatural issues. Binomial no-menclature and hierarchical classification are the key com-ponents of the Linnaean system. Proposed abandonment of these in the PhyloCode is widely criticized for it would not help to promote systematics but create chaos. It is not the Linnaean system but the phylogenetic nomenclature that should be abandoned.
The Linnaean system provides ultimate means governing biological nomenclature and classification. With series of modification, this system has admirably served bio-logical sciences for some 250 years. The new PhyloCode, however, advocates the phylogenetic nomenclature that radically alternates the current nomenclatural rules. The new proposals upset many systematic biologists and have provoked hot debate on nomenclatural issues. Binomial no-menclature and hierarchical classification are the key com-ponents of the Linnaean system. Proposed abandonment of these in the PhyloCode is widely criticized for it would not help to promote systematics but create chaos. It is not the Linnaean system but the phylogenetic nomenclature that should be abandoned.
