scholarly journals Multiplicity of Research Programs in the Biological Systematics: a Case for Scientific Pluralism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Pavlinov
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Specific Combination ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
Scientific Pluralism ◽  
Scientific Significance ◽  
Biological Systematics ◽  
Faceted Classification ◽  
Evo Devo

Biological diversity (BD) explored by the biological systematics is a complexly organized natural phenomenon and can be partitioned in several aspects defined with references to various causal factors structuring biota. These BD aspects are studied by particular research programs based on specific taxonomic theories (TT). They provide in total a framework for comprehending the structure of the biological systematics and its multi-aspect relations to other fields of biology. General principles of individualizing BD aspects and construing TT as quasi-axiomatics are briefly considered. It stressed that each TT is characterized by a specific combination of interrelated ontological and epistemological premises most adequate to the BD aspect a TT deals with. The following contemporary research programs in systematics are recognized and characterized in brief: phenetic, rational (with several subprograms), numerical, typological (with several subprograms), biosystematic, biomorphic, phylogenetic (with several subprograms), evo-devo. From a scientific pluralism perspective, all these research programs related to particular naturally defined BD aspects are of the same biological and scientific significance and no one of them can pretend to take a privileged position. They elaborate “locally” natural classifications that can be united by a kind of generalized faceted classification.

scholarly journals Multiplicity of Research Programs in the Biological Systematics: A Case for Scientific Pluralism

Philosophies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Igor Y. Pavlinov
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Specific Combination ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
Scientific Pluralism ◽  
Scientific Significance ◽  
Biological Systematics ◽  
Faceted Classification ◽  
Evo Devo

Biological diversity (BD) explored by biological systematics is a complex yet organized natural phenomenon and can be partitioned into several aspects, defined naturally with reference to various causal factors structuring biota. These BD aspects are studied by particular research programs based on specific taxonomic theories (TTs). They provide, in total, a framework for comprehending the structure of biological systematics and its multi-aspect relations to other fields of biology. General principles of individualizing BD aspects and construing TTs as quasi-axiomatics are briefly considered. It is stressed that each TT is characterized by a specific combination of interrelated ontological and epistemological premises most adequate to the BD aspect a TT deals with. The following contemporary research programs in systematics are recognized and characterized in brief: phenetic, rational (with several subprograms), numerical, typological (with several subprograms), biosystematic, biomorphic, phylogenetic (with several subprograms), and evo-devo. From a scientific pluralism perspective, all of these research programs, if related to naturally defined particular BD aspects, are of the same biological and scientific significance. They elaborate “locally” natural classifications that can be united by a generalized faceted classification.

scholarly journals The Structure of Jhum (Traditional Shifting Cultivation System): Prospect or Threat to Climate

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 16-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaushik Bhagawati ◽  
Goutom Bhagawati ◽  
Ranjan Das ◽  
Rupankar Bhagawati ◽  
S.V. Ngachanngachan
Keyword(s):  
Shifting Cultivation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Cultivation System ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Life Styles

The knowledge behind the culture and beliefs of indigenous community needs to be harnessed and should be used to complement the modern technologies and policies for better and sustainable use of biological resources and increase resilience of the sector associated. The main objective of the current research was to study Jhum (Traditional Shifting Cultivation System) and the cycles and culture associated with it. The study was done in northeast Himalayan region of India and phenomenological approach was used. The research reveals that Jhum is the component of traditional agro-ecosystem encompassing diverse set of knowledge and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional life-styles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources for their livelihood. The cycle associated with the system reflects the synergy of practices with the natural phenomenon and indicators. Contrary to common modern belief, Jhum is carbon sink, maintain soil health, preserve biological diversity and sustain local climate. Forest clearing during Jhum is not deforestation but forest modification allowing forest regrowth during sufficiently long fallow. Fundamentally, Jhum as a system is an integrated approach to establish agro-ecosystem in the difficult terrains of tropical hill regions that involve forest, soil, biodiversity and livestock management through their culture, tradition and rituals that coevolved with associated ecosystem. Instead of being threat to climate or environment, the system can provide deeper insight into the many different aspects of sustainable and climate resilient development; and the interrelated role of local peoples and their cultures.

The economic value of plant systematics in Canadian agriculture

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 1537-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Small
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Germ Plasm ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Plant Systematics ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Biological Systematics ◽  
Economic Necessity ◽  
Do So

Agriculture is like a house, resting on a foundation of biological systematics. That foundation is seriously deteriorating, in part because of lack of appreciation of its vital roles and economic relevance. Support for biological sciences is concentrating in seemingly lucrative disciplines, without much realization that the financial benefits often can not be realized without the materials and information provided by systematics. A variety of considerations supports the economic wisdom of investing in systematics research in Canada, most particularly on behalf of the agricultural sector, and suggest that failure to do so could lead to serious, even catastrophic, consequences. In particular, the present scarcity of expertise for identification of vanishing invaluable wild crop germ plasm may permanently penalize both agriculture and society. While it is essential that systematists retain their fundamental orientation to the clarification and cataloging of biological diversity, emphasis on the useful roles played and products produced is both an economic necessity and a social responsibility. Key words: plant, systematics, taxonomy, agriculture, economic.

Concluding Remarks: Social Justice Requires Biocritical Inquiry

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence D. Keel
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Racial Difference ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
The Social

Our debate here, among social constructionists, has pivoted precisely on the fact that social constructionists are suspicious of claims about race and genetics for reasons that are much larger than science—issues tied to the limits of language and epistemology, the influence of cultural factors on knowledge production, and the economic realities that order social life. Unjust social and political systems necessarily alter the biological lives of marginalized groups and populations. Therefore legacies of discrimination, pernicious policy decisions, and economic inequality must be framed as causal factors in the emergence of health disparities and human biodiversity more generally. Social justice requires what I term a “biocritical inquiry,” which reverses the orthodox practice of situating genes as the base, foundation, and unmoved movers of human health, behavior, and perceived racial difference. Instead, biocritical inquiry synthesizes scientific research and critical forms of humanistic inquiry that denaturalize genetic differences, revealing the social inequalities and historical legacies of violence, conflict, and discrimination that are inseparable from human biological diversity.

scholarly journals Biological Systematics in the Evo-Devo era

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Minelli
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Evolutionary Developmental Biology ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Saltational Evolution ◽  
Biological Systematics ◽  
Developmental Modulation ◽  
Evo Devo ◽  
Whole Life Cycle ◽  
Sympatric Morphs

Evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) suggests a distinction between modular and systemic variation. In the case of modular change, the conservation of the overall structure helps recognizing affinities, while a single, fast evolving module is likely to produce a bonanza for the taxonomist, while systemic changes produce strongly deviating morphologies that cause problems in tracing homologies. Similarly, changes affecting the whole life cycle are more challenging than those limited to one stage. Developmental modularity is a precondition for heterochrony. Analyzing a matrix of morphological data for paedomorphic taxa requires special care. It is, however, possible to extract phylogenetic signal from heterochronic patterns. The taxonomist should pay attention to the intricacies of the genotype→phenotype map. When using genetic data to infer phylogeny, a comparison of gene sequences is just a first step. To bridge the gap between genes and morphology we should consider the spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression, and their regulation. Minor genetic change can have major phenotypic effects, sometimes suggesting saltational evolution. Evo-devo is also relevant in respect to speciation: changes in developmental schedules are often implicated in the divergence between sympatric morphs, and a developmental modulation of ‘temporal phenotypes’ appears to be responsible for many cases of speciation.

scholarly journals EDITORIAL : How embarrassing can it get? Or: Taxonomy undermined

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Sven O. Kullander
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Ernst Mayr ◽  
Scientific Enterprise ◽  
Text Book ◽  
Classical Text ◽  
Higher Taxa ◽  
Biological Systematics ◽  
Over 40 Years

Whereas biological systematics and taxonomy are probably about the same kind of scientific enterprise, they were separated by Ernst Mayr in his classical text book, and taxonomy became cemented as a subset of systematics. A little over 40 years have passed since these definitions were expressed, and the work in which they appeared has become obsolete with the appearance of new technology and new philosophy about what are the fundamental aspects of species and higher taxa, especially with the development of phylogenetic systematics and facility of studying factors of inheritance at molecular level. Nevertheless, biological systematics remains the fundamental powerful scientific domain for understanding and expressing biological diversity, and keeps its definitions.

Letters. Biological diversity

1983 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-160
Author(s):  
David Whitman
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity

An Application of the HFACS Method to Aviation Accidents in Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Munene
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Flight Training ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Aviation Accidents ◽  
Factors Analysis ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Decision Errors

Abstract. The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) methodology was applied to accident reports from three African countries: Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. In all, 55 of 72 finalized reports for accidents occurring between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed. In most of the accidents, one or more human factors contributed to the accident. Skill-based errors (56.4%), the physical environment (36.4%), and violations (20%) were the most common causal factors in the accidents. Decision errors comprised 18.2%, while perceptual errors and crew resource management accounted for 10.9%. The results were consistent with previous industry observations: Over 70% of aviation accidents have human factor causes. Adverse weather was seen to be a common secondary casual factor. Changes in flight training and risk management methods may alleviate the high number of accidents in Africa.

Causal Factors of Gulf War Illness

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine N. Nguyen ◽  
Kendal C. Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Gulf War ◽  
Gulf War Illness ◽  
Causal Factors
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