[Zoobank-list] general principles of the ZooBank

[Клюге Никита]

Dear all, who participate in discussion around the ZooBank,

The main problem of the present version of the ZooBank, is that its compilers do not believe that idea, for the sake of which the ICZN exists. I need to remember them, that this idea is to "ensure that the name of each taxon is unique and distinct". If the Code is really able to ensure this, we must use it for this purpose; if the Code fulfils this task not completely, we must correct the Code; but if somebody thinks that the Code is useless for this purpose, it is non-understandable, what does such person want from the Code and from the ICZN.

In the ZooBank, individuality of each taxon name is ensured by a special combination of numbers and letters, named "Life Sciences Identifier", which is regarded to be the "globally unique identifier for this data item". In order to create a globally unique identifier for each species, generic and family name, zoologists had to elaborate a very composite Code; this work took two centuries and is far from its finish; the Code is permanently verified by all zoologists of the World by using many millions names, that helps to understand its advantages and shortcomings. Now somebody decides to do the same work with the LSID, and hopes to do it alone and very quickly. The idea to make identifiers consisted of numbers, is not new. Linnaeus, when worked on his "Species Plantarum", tried to do the same, but understood, what this was not a good way, and created the better identifiers system - the binary nomenclature. The LSID is much less powerful, than the numbers which Linnaeus tried to use; such LSID can be used for a small, private, temporary database only. 

The Code, in its modern condition, allows to identify each species name, if use its "girl's surname" (i.e., primary binomen) and allows to identify each genus- and family-group name, if use its universal form. For details, see the text in http://www.insecta.bio.pu.ru/z/Eph-spp/XII-Int-Conf-Eph.htm about the database "Ephemeroptera of the World". This database is the first one, which can exist unlimitedly long time. If we want to create a permanent ZooBank, we must base it on the same principles. Using really unique taxa names based on the Code, we can accumulate data from many databases created by many people in the world, instead of the modern situation, when numerous small groups (such as GBIF, ITIS, uBio and many others) make numerous separated incomplete databases, repeating one another.  

The database ZooBank should include all nomenclatural acts (new names, type designations, suppressions of names) and provide a space for references about any non-nomenclatural acts (various opinions about subjective synonymy, binomens, systematic position, status, redescriptions, etc.). If use general principles elaborated by me for the "Ephemeroptera of the World", this can be really done, and will not take big financial support (the "Ephemeroptera of the World", which is much larger than the present prototype ZooBank, have been done without any finances at all). 

Concerning the discussion about "Registration", I suggest the following way:

1) We must elaborate principles of the comprehensive and permanent electronic catalogue, which would allow to create a really useful ZooBank (see above).

2) Using these principles, we must create such ZooBank, which would include all recently existed nomenclatural acts (or at least all nomenclatural acts published till the last year).

3) If this work will be done (probably, it will take several years), we can return to the discussion about "Registration"; if we will be unable to do this work, we have no rights to speak about any registration. 

This is the single possible way, because (1) old names create much more nomenclatural problems, than newly published names (even status of many names from Linnaeus 1758 is still unclear!); (2) if ICZN is unable to create a really working database, where names could be registered, it is useless to discuss relationship between registration and availability. 

 

Nikita Kluge

http://www.insecta.bio.pu.ru/kluge-en.htm