Although this message is not directly relevant to ecological consultancy, the analysis of Christidis & Boles (2008) presented below was posted by Mike Carter on the Birding-aus Discussion Forum this afternoon. It may be of interest to consultants who are also twitchers:

Deryk,

The mainstream ornithological/scientific literature  and the current legislation accepted the naming of birds by Christidis & Boles (1994). Therefore, they are likely to accept the names in the updated list (Christidis & Boles 2008). How long it will take for the names to be changed by the TSC and EPBC Acts (and other relevant acts elsewhere in Australia) is anyone's guess.

I am using the bird names from the new list in my consultancy reports, but also make reference to the old names as they are currently listed under the schedules of threatened species legislation. For instance, if I'm referring to the Eastern Osprey I would say something like:

"The Osprey (Pandion halieatus), listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of theTSC Act, has been renamed by Christidis & Boles (2008) as the Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus) in recognition that there are three, rather than one species, of Osprey in the world. The renaming of this species has not changed its Vulnerable status under the TSC Act."

This may sound a bit clumsy, but I think it is necessary to make these points  - at least until the legislation catches up -to avoid confusion by anyone reading consultancy reports (especially when reports are made available to a general audience). Anyway, that's just my personal approach; others may have alternative ones.

Stephen et al.

If the legilsation has not caught up with the new names, what naming would you recommend we use in our reports? Particularly in any appendicies that are produced as part of a literature review? In my reports I include the following

·         Cogger (2000) (used for teh identfiication of reptiles and frogs);

·         Simpson and Day (1999) (birds);

·         Strahan (1995) (mammals);

·         Churchill (1998) (insectivorous bats); and

·         Triggs (1996) (identification of scats, tracks and markings).

The naming of those species recorded or known to occur within the region follows the nomenclature presented within either these texts or as listed on the EPBC and TSC Acts.

Comments appreciated.

Deryk

Thanks Stephen - sounds like a lot were overdue for updating!

Members should be aware that Christidis & Boles (2008) have produced the long-awaited new taxonomic list for Australian birds. Of particular note is the renaming of several bird species that are listed as threatened under the TSC and/or EPBC Acts.  These are the changes that I detected:

The scientific name of the Flesh-footed Shearwater has changed to Ardenna carneipes (formerly Puffinus carneipes). This is in recognition that there are now three instead of two genera of shearwaters (Puffinus, Calonectris and Ardenna). In Australian waters, the species that make up the Ardenna group are the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater and Short-tailed Shearwater.

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) has been renamed as the Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus) in recognition that there are three species of osprey in the world.

The Bush-hen (Amaurornis olivacea) has been renamed as the Pale-vented Bush-hen (Amaurornis moluccana) in recognition that the Australian species is genetically distinct from the species in the Philippines.

The Pied Oystercatcher has been renamed the Australian Pied Oystercatcher. It's scientific name (Haematopus longirostris) has remained unchanged.

The scientific names of the Little Tern and Sooty Tern have changed to Sternula albifrons (formerly Sterna albifrons) and Onchyprion fuscata (formerly Sterna fuscata), respectively, because the genus Sterna has been broken into three separate genera: the brown-backed terns (Onchyprion), little terns (Sternula) and other terns (Sterna).

The Grey Noddy (Procelsterna albivitta) has been lumped with  the Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea).

The scientific name of the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo is now Lophochroa leadbeateri (formerly Cacatua leadbeateri) because the genus Cacatua has been broken into three separate genera: Cacatua (corellas and white cockatoos), Eolophus (Galah) and Lophochroa (Major Mitchell's Cockatoo).

The scientific name of the Eastern Grass Owl is now Tyto longimembris (formerly T. capensis), separating it from the Eastern Grass Owl of southern Africa.

The scientific name of the Shy Heathwren has changed to Hylacola cauta (formerly Calamanthus cautus) as a result of moving both heathwren species (Chestnut-rumped and Shy Heathwrens) out of the genus Calamanthus (fieldwrens).

The scientific name of the Speckled Warbler has changed to Cthonicola sagittata (formerly Pyrrholaemus sagittatus), removing it from the same genus as the Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus).

The scientific name of the Regent Honeyeater is now Anthochaera phrygia (formerly Xanthomyza phrygia). This is because the Regent Honeyeater has been grouped with the wattlebirds (Anthochaera spp.). The authors decided against renaming this species the Regent Wattlebird.

The scientific name of the White-eared Monarch has changed to Carterornis leucotis (formerly Monarcha leucotis), normally a Pacific Island species that has been removed from the Monarcha genus whose taxa are normally found in PNG and Australia.

The above-mentioned changes would not change the listed status of bird species under the schedules of the TSC and EPBC Acts. I'm sure that the administrators of these acts will catch up with the name changes in due course.

Reference:

Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood).