Wendt 2015 (Conference Paper) Bromeliaceae

Species delimitation in Bromeliaceae

Author(s):—T. Wendt in Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. (2015) An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66.

Publication:— (2015).

Abstract:—Science has two major goals: to enhance human knowledge and to solve practical problems. One key issue oftenchallenges a quick and easy achievement of such noble goals: the scientist?s subjectivity, i.e., his own perspectiveon the phenomena he observes. There are several concepts already developed to define what a species is. Despitethe numerous concepts proposed, species cannot be precisely defined. The different definitions of species emergedfrom the different objectives and purposes related to the different lines of research of its proponents. Thus, nosingle definition will be satisfactory enough to meet all kinds of organisms or processes. In essence, the majorityof the species definitions can be grouped into three broad categories: (1) biological species concept based onreproductive isolation; (2) evolutionary and phylogenetic species concepts based on evolutionary units revealedby phylogenetic analysis; and (3) morphological species concept based on phenotypic or genotypic distinction.Despite the apparent limitation of the morphological species concept, this has been one of the most employed,especially in taxonomic revisions and floristic surveys. This is due to the fact that, in practice, usually one doesnot have information available on reproductive behavior or evolutionary processes, which are required for theapplication of other concepts. Species concepts are based on the rejection of the possibility of natural hybridization,because their theories assume that different species are reproductively isolated, and/or that new lineages cannot havepolyphyletic origins. It is common to find bromeliad assemblages with similar floral characteristics, overlappingflowering periods, and sharing pollinators. These situations favor hybridization, which could be seen as a transientphase of evolution, during sympatric speciation. The role of subjectivity in scientific interpretation of speciesdelimitation is confined by the bounds imposed by the scientific method and by the knowledge available. Thus,despite methodological soundness, science in this case remains subjective. This does not place taxonomic scienceinto a vague or loose realm, instead it turns it into an open forum where the predominant concepts or theories oftoday can be invalidated tomorrow and, possibly, even rescued and revalidated the day after tomorrow. In thisdynamic lie both the strength and the beauty of taxonomic science. Several new bromeliad species are describedeach year, and nomenclatural extinction and resurrection will continue to occur during the process of taxonomicrevisions, sometimes in heated discussions. Science is not a matter of right or wrong. There is good and thereis poor science and the quality can often be assessed by the quality of the journals where science is published.

Keywords:—Bromeliaceae; Species Concept; Species Delimitation.