Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus

Bortolus, Alejandro, Adam, Paul, Adams, Janine, Ainouche, Malika, Ayres, Debra, Bertness, Mark D, Bouma, Tjeerd J., Bruno, John F., Caçador, Isabel, Carlton, James D., Castillo, Jesus M., Costa, Cesar S.B., Davy, Anthony John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7658-7106, Deegan, Linda, Duarte, Bernardo, Figueroa, Enrique, Gerwein, Joel, Gray, Alan J., Grosholz, Edwin D., Hacker, Sally D., Hughes, A. Randall, Mateos-Naranjo, Enrique, Mendelssohn, Irving A., Morris, James T., Muñoz-Rodríguez, Adolfo F., Nieva, Francisco J.J., Levin, Lisa A., Li, Bo, Lieu, Wenwen, Pennings, Steven C., Pickart, Andrea, Redondo-Gómez, Susana, Richardson, David M., Salmon, Armel, Schwindt, Evangelina, Silliman, Brian R., Sotka, Erik E., Stace, Clive, Sytsma, Mark, Temmerman, Stijn, Turner, R. Eugene, Valiela, Ivan, Weinstein, Michael P. and Weis, Judith S. (2019) Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus. Ecology, 100 (11). ISSN 0012-9658

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Abstract

In 2014 a DNA-based phylogenetic study confirming the paraphyly of the grass subtribe Sporobolinae proposed the creation of a large monophyletic genus Sporobolus, including (among others) species previously included in the genera Spartina, Calamovilfa, and Sporobolus. Spartina species have contributed substantially (and continue contributing) to our knowledge in multiple disciplines, including ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biogeography, experimental ecology, environmental management, restoration ecology, history, economics, and sociology. There is no rationale so compelling to subsume the name Spartina as a subgenus that could rival the striking, global iconic history and use of the name Spartina for over 200 years. We do not agree with the arguments underlying the proposal to change Spartina to Sporobolus. We understand the importance of taxonomy and of formalized nomenclature and hope that by opening this debate we will encourage positive feedback that will strengthen taxonomic decisions with an interdisciplinary perspective. We consider the strongly distinct, monophyletic clade Spartina should simply and efficiently be treated as the genus Spartina.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	botanical nomenclature,interdisciplinary decisions,cordgrass,salt marsh,coastal ecology
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	08 Aug 2019 00:06
Last Modified:	13 May 2023 02:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/71909
DOI:	10.1002/ecy.2863

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