Received 4 April 2013; revision received 31 May 2013; accepted 4 June 2013 | BRYAN C. CARSTENS, TARA A. PELLETIER, NOAH M. REID and JORDAN D. SATLER
The article discusses the challenges and approaches in species delimitation, emphasizing the need for a wide range of methods to ensure robust and conservative inferences. Species delimitation aims to identify species-level biological diversity, but the parameter space relevant to this process is vast and complex. Existing methods make simplifying assumptions, and their effectiveness can vary depending on the system being studied. The authors argue that researchers should apply multiple species delimitation analyses to their data and trust in results that are congruent across methods. Incongruence in results can indicate violations of assumptions or limitations in the methods used. They highlight the importance of considering both genetic and nongenetic data, integrating various sources of information, and being cautious in interpreting results. The article also emphasizes the need for clear goals and definitions in species delimitation studies to ensure that the findings are meaningful and contribute to biodiversity conservation.The article discusses the challenges and approaches in species delimitation, emphasizing the need for a wide range of methods to ensure robust and conservative inferences. Species delimitation aims to identify species-level biological diversity, but the parameter space relevant to this process is vast and complex. Existing methods make simplifying assumptions, and their effectiveness can vary depending on the system being studied. The authors argue that researchers should apply multiple species delimitation analyses to their data and trust in results that are congruent across methods. Incongruence in results can indicate violations of assumptions or limitations in the methods used. They highlight the importance of considering both genetic and nongenetic data, integrating various sources of information, and being cautious in interpreting results. The article also emphasizes the need for clear goals and definitions in species delimitation studies to ensure that the findings are meaningful and contribute to biodiversity conservation.