Names, taxa and databases: some aspects of diatom nomenclature

Abstract

The relationship among diatom names, taxa and the various databases available is explored from a nomenclatural point of view. An example using the names in Entomoneis and Amphiprora are discussed in this context. The key point is that there need not be a connection between the name of a validly described species and its actual existence as a biological entity. Interpreting the names found in current databases as if they were all names of real biological entities may yield incorrect conclusions when documenting various aspects of diatom diversity.