[Zoobank-list] Re: GBIF GUID Workshop Report

[Faunaplan at aol.com]

Dear Richard,
thanks for your detailed answer!

>From my "little people's" perspective it's a bit difficult to make out: is 
the future role of ZooBank alraedy clear enough? - at least to an extent that we 
can see it's potential contribution in the mechanism of assigning GUIDs? 
GUIDs are needed for the exchange of biodiversity data, but ZooBank will be 
limited to the "realm of nomenclature" and will not issue something like 
approved lists of valid names (taxonomic concepts), right?
So, don't we need more than ZooBank to assist in the issuance of GUIDs? Even 
something like "one master list" of valid names?

Actually, the ZooRec does record more than the "realm of nomenclature" as it 
includes subjective synonyms, changes in generic combinations, up- and 
downgradings, etc. So, isn't the good old traditional Zoological Record equally 
indispensable for the issuance of GUIDs?

Yet, the Zoological Record too doesn't provide authoritative "master lists" 
of valid names which could provide a sound basis for GUIDs. Currently, such 
lists are only available for certain taxa compiled by initiatives like FishBase, 
the EMBL reptile database, Frost's amphibian database, etc. etc.
These three together: 
- ZooBank (providing the guarantee for Code-compliant names)
- ZooRec (keeping us updated in both the nomenclatural AND taxonomic realms)
- Expert teams of taxomomists (integrating nomenclature and taxonomic 
concepts into "one standard list for all") 
would seem to me the basis needed in the mechanism to assign GUIDs. 

... well, maybe just a "little people's" perspective...

Best wishes,
Wolfgang
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Wolfgang Lorenz, Tutzing, Germany

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