Taxonomy and nomenclature in palaeopalynology: basic principles, current challenges and future perspectives

Effective communication of taxonomic concepts is crucial to meaningful application in all biological sciences, and thus the development following best practices taxonomy formulation clear practical rules nomenclature underpin a wide range scientific studies. The International Code Nomenclature for algae, fungi plants (the Code), currently Shenzhen 2018, provides these rules. Although early versions were designed mainly with extant mind, has been increasingly used fossil and, recent decades, organic-walled microfossils, study which called palaeopalynology, or simply palynology. However, embodied do not fully reflect needs this discipline; between applications, especially palynology, have tended diverge from plants. Differences present specific challenges. We therefore review as it applies clarifying procedures recommending approaches based on practices, example, designation use nomenclatural types. types leads stability precise communication, lost degraded are problematic because they remove basis understanding taxon. Such problems addressed using examples older European literature type specimens missing degraded. A three most important conventions presenting palynological information, synonymies, diagnoses/descriptions illustrations, concludes recommendations practices. Palynology continues play an role biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironmental analyses, evolutionary studies, contributing our past climates ocean systems. To contribute full potential such applied consistent concepts, founded upon nomenclature, essential.