Title: Biological Systematics
1Biological Systematics
- Consider the discussion in terms of
- Systematics broadly
- Systematics (including taxonomy) is the study of
relationships of organisms, characters,
distributions, evolution, classification - Systematics is fundamental to all biological
science endeavors, but need to sell the message -
should be easy! - Knowledge underpins applied areas
- Biosecurity
- Biodiversity conservation
- Resource management and ecology etc
2Biosecurity and TradeKarnal bunt (Tilletia
indica) quarantine emergency, March 2004
- Wheat exports to Pakistan rejected because of
(alleged) Karnal bunt presence in shipments - Karnal bunt not known to occur in Australia
- Spore look-a-likes
- Tilletia walkeri ryegrass Australia
- Tilletia horrida rice not in Australia
- Tilletia ehrhartae Ehrharta Australia
- Tilletia rugispora Paspalum not in Australia
3National Diagnostic protocol
- Samples surveyed from every port wheat store in
Australia - national diagnostic protocol in place - Did find T. indica-like spores in 60 of samples
- But not T. indica based on herbarium comparison
- Fungus determined as T. ehrhartae
- Reassurance of trading partners that Australian
trade is science-based - Resumption of 4billion wheat export trade
4- The Problem
- Need to boost systematic
- skill base, career structure outputs
- ABRS Survey 2003 echoed previous reports
- 53 of respondents (taxonomists) were aged 45
years - Main factors impacting taxonomic workforce
identified - Lack of career opportunities
- Lack of funding
- Limited opportunities for young people
- Lack of security of tenure
5- Where do universities fit in the picture?
- Systematists work in universities as
researchers, teachers and keepers of collections - Decline in emphasis and appointments over
decades - - 50 decline 1976-1991 in 20 leading UK univs
(Select Committee, House of Lords 1991 report) - - Aging cohort and loss of expertise
- But has the tide turned for systematics??
- Taxonomy is on the thresh-hold of a
renaissance - (House of Lords 2002 - the threat to the science
underpinning conservation) - Systematics (molecular phylogenetics science)
strong in USA
67m
Research income
- Australian University environment today
- Universities driven by recruiting scientists who
bring in big research dollars, publications, high
impact scores - Research quality Framework (RQF) driving choices
and appointments - Taxonomy does not attract large grants limited
funding opportunities for research projects,
research fellowships, student project support
7- Research funding sources and levels
- ARC Discovery c. 20 success rate overall does
not support taxonomy but may support phylogeny
(molecular systematics), biogeography, evolution - ARC Linkage c. 50 success rate 100 for plant
systematics at U Melbourne Botany RBGMelbourne - Success relates to
- Clear project, strong track record
- Strong partner support and involvement
- Cash and in-kind contributions
8- Research funding sources and levels
- ABRS declining and limited funds _at_ 2.4 m in
2007 (Compare 2 m per annum for 1 Centre of
Excellence) - CERF 11 substantial environmental grants 5
fellowships (c. 200 relevant applications 8
success rate) 1 taxonomy hub no taxonomy
grants/fellowships - Foundations provide important but small funds
(Hermon Slade ABRS ASBS Eichler student
awards) - International linkage opportunities (e.g. NSF)
9- Strategies for turning the tide in universities
- Strategy 1 Attracting students
- Emphasise systematics not just taxonomy.
Systematics is attractive to students offer
context-based teaching and provide generic skills
that enhance employment prospects and flexibility - Involve experts from herbaria etc (e.g. RBG
Melbourne fungal experts), and field visits to
emphasise potential employment, broad skills
(e.g. IT and bioinformatics)
10- Example
- Melbourne undergraduate courses
- Year 1 Biology of Australian flora and fauna
- Year 2 Flora of Victoria Plant Biodiversity
- Year 3 Field Botany Plant Systematics
Evolution - Marine Botany Volunteer herbarium program
- Melbourne Postgraduate training
- 4th year honours to be phased out
- Moving to MSc with more coursework, e.g packaged
- with conservation biology tools for
- understanding/managing biodiversity etc -
less costly, - professional training
- PhD research-based more expensive
11- Turning the tide in universities
- Strategy 2
- Get systematists on staff
- Consider joint appointments (Perth, Adelaide,
Cairns) formal linkages (Melbourne) - Convince colleagues (ecologists etc) they need us
- Must attract research funds publish
- Create a critical mass with postdocs linkages
12Strategy 3 Bigger grant scheme for
systematics - More than taxonomy tools, more
than ABRS can currently support - Cannot expect
universities to put in 50 cash, but
infrastructure available, e.g. for molecular
work - Compare NSF systematics panel, big
research projects (tree of life, comparative
biology), influential participants, profile of
phylogenetic systematics currently high - Do not
restrict grants only to narrow priority areas
but support excellence
13- Strategy 4
- Enhance career pathways
- - Fully funded fellowship program (postdocs and
senior fellowships to allow for gt3 years)
prestigious, based on excellence - raises profile -
- - As the new generation of experts, postdocs
train students, increase systematics output - Long-term goal?
- Consider an endowment fund for fellowships
- Future Fund? ?Through the Academy