Of “Host Forms” and Host Races : Terminological Issues in Ecological Speciation

Author

Funk, Daniel J.

Source

International Journal of Ecology

Issue

Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-8, 8 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2012-01-11

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

8

Main Subjects

Natural & Life Sciences (Multidisciplinary)
Biology

Abstract EN

Successful communication and accurate inferences in science depend on the common understanding and consistent usage of the terms we apply to concepts of interest.

Likewise, new terminology is required when important concepts have gone unnamed.

Here, I focus on terminological issues about biological variation and ecological speciation, especially in herbivorous insects but also more generally.

I call for the more restricted use of concepts that have sometimes been misapplied, and thus caution against synonymizing ecological speciation with sympatric speciation and the unwarranted invocation of “host races” to describe herbivorous insect differentiation.

I also call for the qualified application of terms for different kinds of biological variation and for host range when confronting uncertainty.

Among other “missing terms” introduced here is “host form,” a generic term describing any case of host-associated differences for which current evidence does not allow diagnosis of the specific kind of variation.

Embracing the use of host form should free host race from its current overapplication.

Finally, I present a case study in which Neochlamisus leaf beetle populations previously described as host forms are hereby declared to be host races, based on accumulated evidence supporting each of the associated criteria.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Funk, Daniel J.. 2012. Of “Host Forms” and Host Races : Terminological Issues in Ecological Speciation. International Journal of Ecology،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-477098

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Funk, Daniel J.. Of “Host Forms” and Host Races : Terminological Issues in Ecological Speciation. International Journal of Ecology No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-477098

American Medical Association (AMA)

Funk, Daniel J.. Of “Host Forms” and Host Races : Terminological Issues in Ecological Speciation. International Journal of Ecology. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-477098

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-477098