Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Epitypification and neotypification: guidelines with appropriate and inappropriate examples

View Altmetrics

Ariyawansa, H. A., Hawksworth, D. L., Hyde, K. D., Jones, E. B. G., Maharachchikumbura, S. S. N., Manamgoda, D. S., Thambugala, K. M., Udayanga, D., Camporesi, E., Daranagama, A., Jayawardena, R., Liu, J.-K., McKenzie, E. H. C., Phookamsak, R., Senanayake, I. C., Shivas, R. G., Tian, Q. and Xu, J.-C. (2014) Epitypification and neotypification: guidelines with appropriate and inappropriate examples. Fungal Diversity, 69 (1). pp. 57-91. ISSN 1878-9129

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-014-0315-4

Publisher URL:

Abstract

A review of phylogenetic studies carried out together with morphological ones shows that a major problem with most early studies is that they concentrated on techniques and used material or strains of fungi that in most cases were not carefully reference, and in a worrying number of cases wrongly named. Most classical species, particularly of microfungi, are not represented by adequate type material, or other authoritatively identified cultures or specimens, that can serve as DNA sources for phylogenetic study, or for developing robust identification systems. Natural classifications of fungi therefore suffer from the lack of reference strains in resultant phylogenetic trees. In some cases, epitypification and neotypification can solve this problem and these tools are increasingly used to resolve taxonomic confusion and stabilize the understanding of species, genera, families, or orders of fungi. This manuscript discusses epitypification and neotypification, describes how to epitypify or neotypify species and examines the importance of this process. A set of guidelines for epitypification is presented. Examples where taxa have been epitypified are presented and the benefits and problems of epitypification are discussed. As examples of epitypification, or to provide reference specimens, a new epitype is designated for Paraphaeosphaeria michotii and reference specimens are provided for Astrosphaeriella stellata, A. bakeriana, Phaeosphaeria elongata, Ophiobolus cirsii, and O. erythrosporus. In this way we demonstrate how to epitypify taxa and its importance, and also illustrate the value of proposing reference specimens if epitypification is not advisable. Although we provided guidelines for epitypification, the decision to epitypify or not lies with the author, who should have experience of the fungus concerned. This responsibility is to be taken seriously, as once a later typification is made, it may not be possible to undo that, particularly in the case of epitypes, without using the lengthy and tedious formal conservation and rejection processes.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Biosecurity Queensland
Keywords:Epitype Generic types Molecular data Nomenclature Systematics Taxonomy Typification
Subjects:Science > Botany
Science > Botany > Genetics
Live Archive:13 Apr 2022 07:48
Last Modified:13 Apr 2022 07:48

Repository Staff Only: item control page