Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Sangster G., Hazevoet C.J., Van Den Berg A.B., Kees-Roselaar C.S. & Sluys R. (1999) Dutch avifaunal list: Species concepts, taxonomic instability, and taxonomic changes in 1977-1998. ARDEA 87 (1): 139-165
The Dutch avifaunal list is revised based on the principles of phylogenetic theory and methodology. A phylogenetic approach to species-level taxa is adopted. In contrast to the 'Biological Species Concept', this approach is compatible with the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships, recognises species on the basis of historical patterns and views species as products of history. Two basic rules are applied for the recognition of higher taxa: (1) higher taxa are named clades and represent monophyletic groups of species or less inclusive clades, and (2) phylogenetic knowledge should be expressed as accurately as possible by taxonomy. Systematics is viewed as a historical science in which phylogenies are hypotheses of historical relationships. Taxonomies should reflect the best supported hypotheses of relationships and are subject to further modification as knowledge of relationships grows


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