Taxonomen

Taxonomen, or taxonomists, are scientists who study the diversity of life by naming, describing, and classifying organisms into hierarchical groups such as species, genera, and families. They aim to reflect evolutionary relationships and to provide stable, usable nomenclature. Core tasks include describing new species, revising existing classifications, curating type specimens in museums or herbaria, and publishing taxonomic revisions. They also work to maintain and apply nomenclature codes that govern the naming of organisms.

Methodologically, taxonomists rely on a combination of morphology, anatomy, and increasingly molecular data. They use imaging, measurements, and comparisons of physical traits, as well as genetic sequencing and phylogenomic analyses, to infer relationships. Field collection, specimen preservation, and careful documentation complement work conducted in herbaria, museums, and digital databases. Computational tools and cladistic methods help build phylogenies and test competing classifications.

Taxonomy adheres to formal nomenclature codes: the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals, the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN, formerly ICBN/ICNafp) for non-animal groups, and the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (ICNB) for prokaryotes. Principles such as priority and the designation of type specimens guide the establishment and correctness of names. Taxonomy and systematics are related but distinct: taxonomy focuses on naming and grouping, while systematics emphasizes evolutionary relationships and history.

Impact and applications include biodiversity inventories, conservation planning, environmental assessment, ecology, and biogeography. Challenges include cryptic species, incomplete data, taxonomic inflation, and limited access to specimens. Advances in digital databases, DNA barcoding, and open data practices aim to improve reproducibility and collaboration across the field.