[Tcs-lc] concepts of Higher taxa

[Paul Kirk]

I disagree; publication of a new species always changes the circumscription of the genus! Since at least one components which define the genus when the new species is described (the new species) have changed
 
Consider these hypothetical examples:
 
Genus Aus Smith SEC. [everyone up to now] has species with flowers that are red or yellow; a new species by Jones has blue flowers thus genus Aus Smith SEC. Jones has a new circumscription.
 
Genus Aus Smith SEC. [everyone up to now] has sequence data represented by GenBank acc. numbers 1234, 1238, 1239 ...; a new species by Jones have sequence data represented by GenBank acc number 2375 thus genus Aus Smith SEC. Jones has a new circumscription.
 
I am not sure how anyone can say the cicumscription of the genus has not changed, unless we are using different definitions (concepts) of the words we use to communicate - often a problem as we all know too well ;-)
 
pAUL
 
> 2) I also believe that it is erroneous to consider that the pubication 
> of new species constitutes an expansion of of the existing concepts of 
> the higher taxon to which they are stated to belong. 

In my view, it may or may not.  Whether or not the publication of a new species within a genus expands the genus concept in which it was placed (relative, e.g., to the concept intended by the original creation of the genus name) depends on subjective judgement. In most cases, I suspect that it does not (should not) alter the genus circumscription.

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