Editor's Summary
15 March 2007
Linnaeus's legacy
The 300th anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus is being celebrated in 2007. This week's Nature joins the fun. Highlights include a look at the current state of phylogenomics, the politics of the Endangered Species Act and an assessment of the role of amateur taxonomists (from page 246). Two Commentary pieces (pages 259 & 261) discuss the problems of keeping the Linnaean taxonomic legacy on track despite the rapid developments elsewhere in the life sciences and challenges to the way new species names are communicated. Staffan Müller-Wille (page 268) explains how the risqué concepts laid out in Systema Naturae may have contributed to the popularity of taxonomy as a hobby. And as a reminder that Linnaeus's writ still runs in the world of biological research, a strong Linnaean theme can be detected in the papers on pages 279 and 312. And, if you look hard enough, elsewhere perhaps. Cover art by Jovan Djordjevic after Jean Haagen's copy of Kraft's 1774 portrait, by permission of the Linnean Society of London.
Commentary: Linnaeus in the information age
As we celebrate the visionary genius of Carl Linnaeus, it is time to analyse how professional taxonomy interfaces with the rest of biology and beyond. Where next for Linnaeus's heirs, asks H. C. J. Godfray?
doi:10.1038/446259a
Commentary: Spreading the word
Keeping track of new species names is a growing challenge for modern taxonomists. Sandra Knapp, Andrew Polaszek and Mark Watson make the case for electronic publication of scientific names.
doi:10.1038/446261a
Essay: Plant taxonomy: The love of plants
Carl Linnaeus's use of erotic language to describe plants ultimately helped him to recruit a global network of specimen collectors.
doi:10.1038/446268a