Exam II review Questions

Biology 211 Fall 2004

Exam II Review Questions

Go over this before the review session, Nov. 10, 2004

1. 
   Why don’t all organisms occur everywhere? In other words, what factors cause range limitation?
   

2. 
   Compare and contrast the following approaches to biogeography: (1) traditional evolutionary, (2) phylogenetic, and (3) Vicariance. Include differences related to centers of origin and the role of dispersal.
   

3. 
   What is vicariance biogeography and why is it of value in understand both the geographical distribution of organisms and their interdependence, as for example between parasites and hosts?
   

4. 
   The following diagrams show the distribution pattern and phylogenies for species in two groups of organisms. Does this information tend to support or refute a hypothesis that common events shaped the evolution of these two groups? Explain your answer.
   
5. 
   If you want to publish a new botanical name, such as a new name for a species for which there is no available name according to the rules of nomenclature, what requirements must you meet today?
   

6. 
   Given the following synonymy based on a taxon’s circumscription:
   

Ranunculus cymbalaria Pursh, 1814

Oxygraphis cymbalaria (Pursh) Prantl. 1894

Cyrtorhyncha cymbalaria (Pursh) Britt. 1923

Halerpestes cymbalaria (Pursh) Greene 1935

Ranunculus nanus Fisch. 1824 nomen nudum (published without a description)

Ranunculus Chamissonis Schlecht. var. americanus DC. 1824

Ranunculus kamchaticus DC. 1828

Ficaria glacialis Fisch. ex DC. 1832

What is the correct name (including author citation) according to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature under each of the following conditions:

a) The taxon is a species in the genus Oxygraphis.

b) The taxon is a species in the genus Adonis and there is another taxon that includes in its synonymy the name Adonis cymbalaria Wilson 1997.

c) The taxon is a variety in the species Ranunculus hispidus Michx.

d) The taxon is a subspecies in the species Ranunculus hispidus Michx.

e) Under the conditions of d), what is the name of the subspecies that includes the type specimen of Ranunculus hispidus Michx. within its circumscription?

f) The taxon is the only species in a genus.

[Hint 1: Because there is only one species in the genus, this taxon is the circumscription for both a genus and species; you must first determine the name of the genus and then the name of the species.
Hint 2: The genus name Ranunculus does not occur in this list of synonyms because the type species name of Ranunculus does not occur in this list, so the name of this genus cannot be Ranunculus.]

7. 
   Describe the type method and how it is used in botanical nomenclature at the ranks of species, genus and family. Why is the type method valuable in eliminating subjective interpretation in the application of names?
   

8. 
   What are the arguments in favor of a new system of nomenclature that has “rankless” names? What determines the hierarchy of names in such a system? Are you convinced by these arguments? Why or why not?