Journal Article
Supporting Spartina : Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus
Alejandro Bortolus; Paul Adam; Janine B. Adams; Malika L. Ainouche; Debra Ayres; Mark D. Bertness; Tjeerd J. Bouma; John F. Bruno; Isabel Caçador; James T. Carlton; Jesus M. Castillo; Cesar S. B. Costa; Anthony J. Davy; Linda Deegan; Bernardo Duarte; Enrique Figueroa; Joel Gerwein; Alan J. Gray; Edwin D. Grosholz; Sally D. Hacker; A. Randall Hughes; Enrique Mateos‐Naranjo; Irving A. Mendelssohn; James T. Morris; Adolfo F. Muñoz‐Rodríguez; Francisco J. J. Nieva; Lisa A. Levin; Bo Li; Wenwen Liu; Steven C. Pennings; Andrea Pickart; Susana Redondo‐Gómez; David M. Richardson; Armel Salmon; Evangelina Schwindt; Brian R. Silliman; Erik E. Sotka; Clive Stace; Mark Sytsma; Stijn Temmerman; R. Eugene Turner; Ivan Valiela; Michael P. Weinstein; Judith S. Weis
Ecology · Vol. 100, Issue 11 · 2019
Abstract
In 2014, a DNA‐based phylogenetic study confirming the paraphyly of the grass subtribe Sporobolinae proposed the creation of a large monophyletic genus Sporobolus , including (among others) species previously included in the genera Spartina , Calamovilfa , and Sporobolus. Spartina species have contributed substantially (and continue contributing) to our knowledge in multiple disciplines, including ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biogeography, experimental ecology, biological invasions, environmental management, restoration ecology, history, economics, and sociology. There is no rationale so compelling to subsume the name Spartina as a subgenus that could rival the striking, global iconic history and use of the name Spartina for over 200 yr. We do not agree with the subjective arguments underlying the proposal to change Spartina to Sporobolus . We understand the importance of both the objective phylogenetic insights and of the subjective formalized nomenclature and hope that by opening this debate we will encourage positive feedback that will strengthen taxonomic decisions with an interdisciplinary perspective. We consider that the strongly distinct, monophyletic clade Spartina should simply and efficiently be treated as the genus Spartina .