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Opinion: the species problem, can we achieve a universal concept?
1Grup d'Oceanografia Interdisciplinar, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Mallorca, Spain. rossello-mora@uib.es
Systematic and Applied Microbiology
|October 8, 2003
Summary
A universal species concept remains elusive, particularly for microbiologists. While over 22 concepts exist, a pragmatic, pluralistic approach is currently favored for species comparisons across diverse taxonomies.
Area of Science:
- Taxonomy and Systematics
- Microbiology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The 'species problem' highlights the lack of a universal species concept.
- Microbiologists often criticize existing species concepts as too conservative for prokaryotes.
- Comparisons across different taxonomies are hindered by the reductionistic and monistic use of taxonomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the challenges in establishing a universal species concept.
- To analyze existing species concepts and their applicability.
- To propose a pragmatic approach to species definition in taxonomy.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of over 22 devised species concepts.
- Examination of the philosophical underpinnings of taxonomic approaches.
- Comparative analysis of species concepts across different biological groups.
Main Results:
- No single universal species concept is currently considered pragmatic.
- Existing concepts face criticism for their limitations, especially concerning prokaryotes.
- The reductionistic and monistic application of taxonomy is identified as a root cause of the problem.
Conclusions:
- A universal species concept may be theoretically possible but not practically achievable at present.
- A pluralistic approach to species concepts is recommended for current use.
- Acknowledging the difficulty in comparing species across diverse taxonomies is essential.