vanishing taxonomists reference?

[Barry M. OConnor]

At 11:57 AM -0500 3/21/01, Amelie H. Scheltema wrote:
>Here are some data that I find useful in talking about the decline in
>taxonomists--numbers not easily obtained...

Amelie's data on marine invertebrate taxonomists was sobering.  Here's some
data from my recent PEET proposal submission in systematic Acarology:

"In addition to tracking total species diversity, I have also been tracking
the decline in systematic expertise over the years.  The period 1982-1989
saw 77 individuals in the United States and Canada publish descriptive or
revisionary papers in acarine systematics (reviewed in OConnor, 1990).  In
that 1990 review, I predicted a sharp drop in expertise due to the
demographics of the population, a prediction which has held true.  The
number of publishing acarine systematists in North America dropped
precipitously to 40 for the period 1990-1995, and further declined to 32 in
the period 1995-2000.  Of the 32 active workers in the last period, 11 are
now retired and one has died, leaving only 20.  Of that 20, only 9 have
academic positions in doctoral degree granting institutions.  This last
figure contrasts with 41 acarine systematists in such positions in 1982, a
decline of 78% in individuals available for training future generations of
systematic acarologists at this level."



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So many mites, so little time!
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Barry M. OConnor
Professor & Curator             phone: (734) 763-4354
Museum of Zoology               FAX: (734) 763-4080
University of Michigan          e-mail: bmoc at umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079  USA