Integrative Taxonomy: A Multisource Approach to Exploring Biodiversity

Abstract

Good alpha taxonomy is central to biology. On the basis of a survey of arthropod studies that used multiple disciplines for species delimitation, we evaluated the performance of single disciplines. All included disciplines had a considerable failure rate. Rigor in species delimitation can thus be increased when several disciplines chosen for complementarity are used. We present a flexible procedure and stopping rule for integrative taxonomy that uses the information from different disciplines separately. Disagreement among disciplines over the number and demarcation of species is resolved by elucidating and invoking evolutionary explanations for disagreement. With the identification of further promising study organisms and of new questions for in-depth analysis, evolutionary biology should profit from integrative taxonomy. An important rationale is clarity in researcher bias in the decision-making process. The success of integrative taxonomy will further increase through methodological progress, taxonomic training of evolutionary biologists, and balanced resource allocation.

Integrating ecology and genetics to address Acari invasions

“…The approach is, however, applicable to live specimens, and analysis of dead ones should relay on integrative taxonomy (Schlick-Steiner et al 2010). As in other fields, acarology has benefited from molecular methods which have contributed to progress in the discovery and recognition of a large number of mites and ticks.…”

Assessing species boundaries and the phylogenetic position of the rare Szechwan ratsnake, Euprepiophis perlaceus (Serpentes: Colubridae), using coalescent-based methods

“…molecular, morphological, ecological, and behavioral) for taxonomy is expected to reduce subjectivity in delimiting taxa (Dayrat, 2005;Leaché et al, 2009;Padial et al, 2010;Schlick-Steiner et al, 2010;Yeates et al, 2011). However, in situations where cryptic species with indistinct morphological and ecological properties are present, integrative methods will not yield a clear result since different types of data may yield discordant conclusions (Fujita et al, 2012;Wiens and Penkrot, 2002).…”

A Coleção Malacológica Professor Maury Pinto De Oliveira

“…Dessa forma, surgiu o conceito de taxonomia integrativa, como uma abordagem plural para a tarefa da descrição e conhecimento da biodiversidade (DAYRAT, 2005;PADIAL et al, 2010;SCHILICK-STEINER et al, 2010). SCHILICK-STEINER, et al (2010), realizaram uma revisão sobre as disciplinas utilizadas para delimitar espécies de artrópodes.…”

“…Dessa forma, surgiu o conceito de taxonomia integrativa, como uma abordagem plural para a tarefa da descrição e conhecimento da biodiversidade (DAYRAT, 2005;PADIAL et al, 2010;SCHILICK-STEINER et al, 2010). SCHILICK-STEINER, et al (2010), realizaram uma revisão sobre as disciplinas utilizadas para delimitar espécies de artrópodes. Os autores listaram 11 abordagens metodológicas: 1 morfologia, 2 biologia molecular envolvendo DNA mitocondrial, 3 biologia molecular envolvendo DNA nuclear, 4 ecologia, 5 enzimas, 6 comportamento, 7 compatibilidade reprodutiva, 8 história de vida, 9 química, 10 análise do genoma total e a 11 citogenética.…”