TY - JOUR
T1 - Supporting Spartina
T2 - Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus
AU - Bortolus, Alejandro
AU - Adam, Paul
AU - Adams, Janine B.
AU - Ainouche, Malika L.
AU - Ayres, Debra
AU - Bertness, Mark D.
AU - Bouma, Tjeerd J.
AU - Bruno, John F.
AU - Caçador, Isabel
AU - Carlton, James T.
AU - Castillo, Jesus M.
AU - Costa, Cesar S.B.
AU - Davy, Anthony J.
AU - Deegan, Linda
AU - Duarte, Bernardo
AU - Figueroa, Enrique
AU - Gerwein, Joel
AU - Gray, Alan J.
AU - Grosholz, Edwin D.
AU - Hacker, Sally D.
AU - Hughes, A. Randall
AU - Mateos-Naranjo, Enrique
AU - Mendelssohn, Irving A.
AU - Morris, James T.
AU - Muñoz-Rodríguez, Adolfo F.
AU - Nieva, Francisco J.J.
AU - Levin, Lisa A.
AU - Li, Bo
AU - Liu, Wenwen
AU - Pennings, Steven C.
AU - Pickart, Andrea
AU - Redondo-Gómez, Susana
AU - Richardson, David M.
AU - Salmon, Armel
AU - Schwindt, Evangelina
AU - Silliman, Brian R.
AU - Sotka, Erik E.
AU - Stace, Clive
AU - Sytsma, Mark
AU - Temmerman, Stijn
AU - Turner, R. Eugene
AU - Valiela, Ivan
AU - Weinstein, Michael P.
AU - Weis, Judith S.
PY - 2019/11/1
Y1 - 2019/11/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - botanical nomenclature
KW - coastal ecology
KW - cordgrass
KW - integrative analysis
KW - interdisciplinary decisions
KW - salt marsh
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85074034244
U2 - 10.1002/ecy.2863
DO - 10.1002/ecy.2863
M3 - Article
C2 - 31398280
AN - SCOPUS:85074034244
SN - 0012-9658
VL - 100
JO - Ecology
JF - Ecology
IS - 11
M1 - e02863
ER -