Book contents
- Cryptic Species
- The Systematics Association Special Volume Series
- Cryptic Species
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Cryptic Species
- 3 Species Circumscription in Cryptic Clades
- 4 Multilevel Organismal Diversity in an Ontogenetic Framework as a Solution for the Species Concept
- 5 Diagnosability and Cryptic Nodes in Angiosperms
- 6 Connecting Micro- and Macro-Evolutionary Research
- 7 Coexisting Cryptic Species as a Model System in Integrative Taxonomy
- 8 The Implications of Coalescent Conspecific Genetic Samples in Plants
- 9 Guerrilla Taxonomy and Discriminating Cryptic Species
- 10 Cryptic Lineages among Seychelles Herpetofauna
- 11 Cryptic Diversity in European Terrestrial Flatworms of the Genus Microplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae)
- Index
- Systematics Association Special Volumes
- References
4 - Multilevel Organismal Diversity in an Ontogenetic Framework as a Solution for the Species Concept
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
- Cryptic Species
- The Systematics Association Special Volume Series
- Cryptic Species
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Cryptic Species
- 3 Species Circumscription in Cryptic Clades
- 4 Multilevel Organismal Diversity in an Ontogenetic Framework as a Solution for the Species Concept
- 5 Diagnosability and Cryptic Nodes in Angiosperms
- 6 Connecting Micro- and Macro-Evolutionary Research
- 7 Coexisting Cryptic Species as a Model System in Integrative Taxonomy
- 8 The Implications of Coalescent Conspecific Genetic Samples in Plants
- 9 Guerrilla Taxonomy and Discriminating Cryptic Species
- 10 Cryptic Lineages among Seychelles Herpetofauna
- 11 Cryptic Diversity in European Terrestrial Flatworms of the Genus Microplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae)
- Index
- Systematics Association Special Volumes
- References
Summary
The concept of ‘species’ is a persistent biological problem. In discussions about the species phenomenon, the ‘cryptic species’ concept currently prevails. We propose that the ‘cryptic species’ concept as it is currently understood strongly emphasizes the distinctions between morphological and molecular levels and obscures multiple other biological levels and the organism itself. Therefore we suggest, instead of the term ‘species’, a multilevel organismal diversity concept (MOD) as an alternative that is well-supported by numerous data. We also highlight the central role of ontogeny in a broad sense (one that encompasses all major properties and traits of an organism as well as both genetic and epigenetic traits) for the future development of taxonomy and phylogenetics. Potential consequences of a new understanding of the species phenomenon for biological nomenclature are outlined. A general scheme for the future development of organism studies within the framework of MOD is presented.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Cryptic SpeciesMorphological Stasis, Circumscription, and Hidden Diversity, pp. 78 - 129Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
References
- 4
- Cited by