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Type: Articles
Published: 2011-06-28
Page range: 47–50
Abstract views: 26
PDF downloaded: 2

Is accurate taxon identification important for molecular studies? Several cases of faux pas in pentatomoid bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)

Department of Biosystematics, Opole University, 45-052 Opole, Oleska 22, Poland
Department of Biosystematics, Opole University, 45-052 Opole, Oleska 22, Poland
Hemiptera Heteroptera Cydnidae Dinidoridae Thyreocoridae molecular studies taxonomy species identification

Abstract

Recently, DNA has become a major source for phylogenetic inference. Although, in entomology, morphology-based methods of taxon identification and the use of morphological data for phylogenetic analyses remain prevalent, the value of these types of studies (often called “traditional”) are depreciated from time to time. It is obvious, that wrong taxon identification may affect results of any taxonomic study. Here we examine evidence that not only the modern “molecular” taxonomists, but even the so-called “traditional” taxonomists, may be casual and irresponsible in taxa identification, when they do their phylogenomic research. We also argue that a researcher’s responsibility for proper taxon identification and its naming is actually much higher in molecular studies than in any others.

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