The Dark Side of Taxonomic Sufficiency (TS)

Benthic invertebrates possess a number of characteristics which makes them attractive tools for monitoring pollution. This proposition has been expressed by many for a long time. Many indices, coefficients and analytic approaches have been used to measure the response of marine benthic invertebrates to contaminants. Moreover, benthic invertebrates are frequently used as `bioindicatorsʹ. Accurate taxonomic analysis must be available for the use of indicator species to be effective (Grant et al., 1995). The Capitella capitata sibling species complex is an example of how new information emerges about different ecophysiological responses of `siblingsʹ, and the exclusion of rare species has seriously violated results from general ecological observations and theory, leading to unacceptable losses of ecological information; the emerging practice of taxononmic sufficiency in monitoring marine benthic populations exacerbates such concerns.