22 Questions
What is the primary focus of microtaxonomy?
Classifying and categorizing organisms at the species level
What is the lowest rank in the biological hierarchy?
Species
In the plant kingdom, what are the possible subranks below the species level?
Subspecies, varieties, and forms
What is the main difference between subspecies and varieties in plant systematics?
Subspecies and varieties differ in the extent of differentiation and taxonomic criteria
What is the primary goal of infraspecific categorization?
To provide insights into practical applications and best practices
What is the term for the study of the subtle variations, morphological traits, and genetic differences among individuals or populations within a species?
Microtaxonomy
What is the earliest used botanical category below the species level?
Variety
Who recognized subspecies in botany?
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon
What is the term used by Linnaeus to describe a plant changed by accidental causes?
Variety
In which year did Linnaeus first recognize variations?
1751
Who is credited with recognizing subspecies in zoology?
Henry Bates
What is the correct order of infraspecific ranks from most general to most specific?
Subspecies, Variety, Form
Who first used the term 'form' in botany?
Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel
What is the primary reason for the classification of a plant into a variety according to Linnaeus?
Climate and soil
Who is credited with using the rank of subspecies in botanical literature for the first time?
Friedrich Ehrhart
What was the outcome of Christiaan Hendrik Persoon's use of the term subspecies?
It resulted in frequent difficulties in deciding whether or not names are to be accepted as being at subspecific rank
In what year did Christiaan Hendrik Persoon validly publish names of subspecies in his Synopsis Methodica Fungorum?
1801
Who is credited with the first usage of the term 'forma' or 'form' in botanical literature?
Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel
What was Asa Gray's reference to the term 'forma' or 'form' in the second edition of his Manual?
Lesser varieties
Why do some plant taxonomists not use the category 'forma' in a formal scheme of classification?
Because it is not a useful function of biological classification
What is the main reason why Friedrich Ehrhart's definition and usage of subspecies were overlooked or ignored by subsequent botanists?
Because they were not widely published
What was the significance of Christiaan Hendrik Persoon's Synopsis Plantarum (1805-1807) in the context of subspecies?
It was not the first publication to use the term subspecies, but it was a significant work in botanical literature
Study Notes
Microtaxonomy
- Focuses on the classification and categorization of organisms at the species level
- Involves the study of subtle variations, morphological traits, genetic differences, and ecological adaptations among individuals or populations within a species
Infraspecific Ranks
- Subspecies, variety, and form are subranks under the species level in the biological hierarchy
- Subspecies: used in both animal and plant kingdoms
- Variety: used in plant kingdom
- Form: used in plant kingdom
History of Infraspecific Categorization
- Carolus Linnaeus (1751) recognized varieties in botany
- Friedrich Ehrhart (1780-1789) used the rank of subspecies in botanical literature
- Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1805) used the term subspecies in his Synopsis Plantarum
- Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel (1843) used the term form or forma
- Henry Bates (1861) recognized subspecies in zoology
This quiz covers microtaxonomy, a branch of taxonomy that focuses on the classification and categorization of organisms at the species level, including the study of subtle variations, morphological traits, genetic differences, and ecological adaptations.
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