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Quantitative evaluation reveals taxonomic over-splitting in extinct marine invertebrates: implications in conserving biodiversity

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Till date, morphology in general was characterized qualitatively to support the traditional classification system. This study for the first time uses an integrated approach to explore the appropriateness of traditional classification by superposing quantitative characters on qualitative classification using advanced mathematical techniques. Here, a quantitative method was applied that calculates changes in body shape by digitizing the inferred ecological niche and functional attributes of relevant morphological traits. Subsequently, absolute values were assigned to structural–functional traits of extinct atrypids to determine their taxonomy at a higher resolution. Investigating phenotypic diversity in these once abundant Paleozoic brachiopods from deep time is important for predicting future marine biodiversity of their closest living relatives and in conserving the marine ecosystem at large. Results show taxonomic over-splitting, a possible consequence of qualitative taxonomy. This study highlights the necessity of revisiting prior taxonomy by incorporating quantified traits and elicits the hazards of proposing classification based on qualitative traits alone. Perhaps, this study can be a starting point to improve the biological classification system in places where it must be based on morphology alone.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the following research Grants; Bose–Dunbar–Schuchert Grant (Yale Peabody Museum), Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund (American Museum of Natural History), and Galloway Horowitz Research Grant-in-Aid (Indiana University). The authors would like to thank David Polly (Indiana University, Bloomington) for his valuable suggestions in applications of morphometric techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences and Geology, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Rituparna Bose

  2. American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA

    Rituparna Bose

  3. Department of Microbiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Arnab De

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  1. Rituparna Bose
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  2. Arnab De
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Correspondence to Rituparna Bose.

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Bose, R., De, A. Quantitative evaluation reveals taxonomic over-splitting in extinct marine invertebrates: implications in conserving biodiversity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 83, 533–537 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0179-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0179-5

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