October 18, 2005
Jack Coate & Julien Louys
Department of Anatomy
School of Medical Sciences
University of New South Wales
Sydney, NSW, 2052
Australia
+61 2 9385 3676
What's your philosophy? Evolutionary Systematics or Phylogenetics, or something else…
Dear researchers and students,
In an attempt to better gauge the current consensus as to the methods of biological classification (extinct and extant flora or fauna) we are undertaking an international survey. To achieve this objective we ask for your participation. If you could please answer the following short questions, it would be greatly appreciated. Your response will enable us to report on the existing paradigms prevalent in modern biological research, conservation and classification.
Please send us your response by email. If you prefer, a postal address is given above. This survey is completely voluntary and anonymous. A reply is indicative of informed consent. Please note, data from this survey may be published. Any emails received from recipients will be kept on file; however at no time will these addresses be disseminated, and any information received will be used for the purposes of this survey only. This survey was distributed to the public on Oct. 18, 2005 and responses will be accepted until Nov. 30, 2005. Complaints concerning this survey may be directed to the Ethics Secretariat, at the University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia (phone +612 93854234, fax +612 93856648 and email [log in to unmask]).
To increase our sample size, we kindly ask all recipients and participants to please forward this questionnaire to any other person and/or party who may be interested.
Thank you for your attention and participation.
Sincerely, Jack Coate & Julien Louys
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Do you consider yourself to be a(n)?
a) Phylogeneticist
b) Evolutionary Systematist
c) Neither of the above
Answer: _______ If c), please list method ___________
2. Given only three choices, which definition of a species (extinct or extant) would you most likely agree with?
a) Biological Species Concept
b) Phylogenetic Species Concept
c) Evolutionary Species Concept
d) None of the above
Answer: ____ If d), please list definition and/or reference ______________
3. Do you think your choice for the above question can be used with extant organisms as well as the fossil record? Yes/No/Unsure ________
4. Do you think the level of classification of taxa should be dependant on their temporal span? Yes/No/Unsure ________
5. Is the use of the above method of classification (Re. Question 1) necessary in your day-to-day research? Yes or No ________
6. Do you think these methods of classification are mutually exclusive? Yes or No _________
7. Please state your field of research: (e.g. wildlife biology, genetics, wildlife conservation, botany, paleontology, anthropology, etc.) ______________
8. If you instruct and train any students, which method do you recognize and apply? Or, if you are a student, which methods are employed? _____________
9. What country are you working in and/or where are you based (optional)? ______________
10. Would you like to receive the results from this survey? Yes or No_________