Supporting systematics

[Amelie H. Scheltema]

Dear Winston,

Here is the introduction to the PEET program announcement of NSF.

The accelerating loss of biological diversity in the world, through habitat
destruction, pollution, and ecosystem fragmentation, has been accompanied by a
loss
of taxonomic experts who are trained to discover, identify, describe, and
classify the world's organismal diversity. Retirement of taxonomic
specialists, shifts in
academic recruitment and staffing, and reductions in graduate training have
conjoined to impede biodiversity research and conservation, particularly on
large but
poorly known groups such as bacteria, fungi, protists, and numerous marine and
terrestrial invertebrates. Vast numbers of species in understudied "invisible"

groups constitute critical elements of food chains and ecosystems, both
aquatic and terrestrial, but the high proportion of unrecognized species in
these groups
limits research and progress in many areas of biology and conservation. The
problem of diminishing taxonomic expertise was highlighted by the National
Science Board in their 1989 report on the "Loss of Biological Diversity: A
Global Crisis Requiring International Solutions" (NSB 89-171) which inspired
NSF in 1994 to initiate the first PEET Special Competition, to support
research on the taxonomy of poorly known groups of organisms, to train new
taxonomic
experts, and to encourage development and use of web-accessible taxonomic
resources and products. The Special Competition continues NSF support for this

activity.

The web pag is http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2000/nsf00140/nsf00140.htm#INTRO

An earlier Introduction to the previous program announcement (1996) is:

For the next generation of astronomers, the stars will still be there; for the
next generation of biologists, the subjects of their study may not be. The
loss of
biological diversity - of species and their genetic heritage, of communities
and habitats, both aquatic and terrestrial - is accelerating in many parts of
the
world. That loss, exacerbated by our incomplete knowledge of the Earth's
biota, impedes stewardship, limits management, and imperils conservation of
biological resources. Two components of this global problem have been
emphasized in all recent reports. First, fewer systematists (taxonomists) are
being
trained in museums and universities as education is reduced in evolutionary
and organismal biology. Second, knowledge is rudimentary for microbes,
protists, fungi, and invertebrates, groups in which vast numbers of
undescribed species are predicted for habitats still poorly explored on Earth.

The loss of biological diversity has been accompanied by a loss in the
expertise necessary for identifying and inventorying the biota of the Earth.
Retirement
of taxonomic specialists, shifts in academic recruitment and staffing, and
reductions in graduate training all conspire to diminish the knowledge that is

needed to answer what the National Science Board has labeled a global crisis
("Loss of Biological Diversity: A Global Crisis Requiring International
Solutions," NSB 89-171). The rate of "extinction" among professional
taxonomists led a National Science Foundation (NSF) task force to call for
enhanced training in taxon-specific expertise ("Adapting to the Future: Report
of the BBS Task Force Looking to the 21st Century," NSF 91-69). The
President’s Committee of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST) has
vigorously endorsed this research and training emphasis in its 1998 report
"Teaming with Life: Investing in Science to Understand and Use America’s
Living Capital" (available on the PCAST homepage at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OSTP/Environment/html/teamingcover.html).

Exacerbating the loss of expertise is the poor state of knowledge of many
aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Vast numbers of species in understudied,
"invisible" groups constitute critical elements of food chains and ecosystems;
the high proportion of unrecognized species in these groups limits research
and progress in many areas of the biological sciences. Taxonomic expertise is
needed to identify and classify the world's biological resources and to
organize this knowledge in accessible databases in order to ensure stewardship
and rational use.

Hope this helps!

All the best,

Amelie





Winston Ponder wrote:

> I am looking for some excellent examples of strong, clear, concise
> statements supporting systematics and taxonomy that provide convincing
> arguments relevant to politicians as well as fellow scientists. Examples on
> the web would be particularly welcome.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Winston Ponder
> Australian Museum
> 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
> Phone 2 9320 6120 Fax 2 9320 6050
> Email winstonp at austmus.gov.au
> wponder at mail.usyd.edu.au

--
Amélie H. Scheltema
Department of Biology
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  MS #34
Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
ascheltema at whoi.edu
Tel.: Int +1 508-289-2337
FAX: Int +1 508-457-2134