New Taxonomy

David M. Williams is a diatom systematist–taxonomist. His research is divided between empirical studies on the systematics and biogeography of diatoms and theoretical studies related to advances in systematic theory, especially as it relates to cladistics. In addition to his work on diatom phylogeny, systematics, and biogeography, he has focused on the role fossils have in determining evolutionary relationships in diatoms.Quentin D. Wheeler is an insect taxonomist, author, columnist, and podcaster. He was professor of entomology in Cornell University, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Arizona State University, Keeper and Head of Entomology at the Natural History Museum in London, Director of the Division of Environmental Biology of the U.S. National Science Foundation, and President of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

• 1. Introduction—Toward a New Taxonomy: Means, Motives and Opportunities. 2. Norman Platnick, the Development of Cladistics, ‘Integrative’ Taxonomy and Modern Monography. 3. Minimalist Species Descriptions: Are They the Answer? And if so, What Was the Question?. 4. The Old, the New, and Lots of People: How Taxonomy Will Thrive. 5. Databases: Juggling Nomenclature and Taxonomy. 6. Zootaxonomy in the Century of Extinctions: Time is for Field Work and Collections. 7. Bringing Taxonomy Back into the Spotlight. 8. Systematics and Biogeography, Ontology and Vicariance. 9. Nomenclatural Problems in Zoological Taxonomy. 10. The Survival of Taxonomy and the Digitization of Natural History Collections. 11. Taxonomy Positive. 12. A Single Authoritative List of the World’s Species – Background and Road Map. 13. Species Descriptions Go Digital. 14. Saving Systematics: Identity, Traditions and Great Expectations