Proceedings of the N at i o n a l Ta x o n o m y F o r u m

4 – 5 O ctober 2007 Australian Museum, Sydney NSW

P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e N at i o n a l Ta xo n o m y F o r u m

Australian Museum, Sydney 3 – 4 O ctober 2007 Note on Proceedings: This document reflects the Australian taxonomic community’s unanimous concern regarding the urgent need for action and funding. It provides a record of the presentations by invited speakers and reflects the input of participants at the workshop sessions held at the National Taxonomy Forum at the Australian Museum, Sydney on 3–4 October 2007. The document covers the topics, debates and view-points raised and addressed by participants, but is not a verbatim transcript of the actual proceedings. It has been compiled and edited to incorporate additional submissions from taxonomists and user-groups unable to attend the forum in Sydney. It is intended for dissemination among the taxonomic community, user-groups and other interested parties to provide solutions and strategies for the future practice of taxonomy in Australia.

Compiled by Kathryn Hall January 2008 Table of Contents

Foreword . 4

1. National Action Plan: Taxonomy in Australia — The Way  Forward. 6 Proceedings of the the of Proceedings 2. Workshop Sessions . 7 2.1 Taxonomic priorities and research gaps...... 7 2.2 User needs . 12 2.3 Taxonomic impediments and resourcing ...... 14 N

2.4 Barcoding ...... 18 ational 2.5 Atlas of Living Australia ...... 19 T 3. Plenary Session . 21 axonomy

Appendix I: Keynote Addresses. 25 F Who cares? Taxonomy, realpolitik, funding and student orum expectations (B. Smith)...... 26 Australia’s taxonomic impediment: a global perspective and industrializing the taxonomic method (G. Cassis). 28 Systematics — University research and training (P. Ladiges). . . . . 30 Molecular genetic applications and barcoding (A. Lowe). 32 Alpha-taxonomy underpinning land management and conservation planning in Western Australia (K. Thiele)...... 34 Future directions for Taxonomy in Australia (F. Howarth)...... 36

Appendix II: Case Studies in Taxonomy. 39

Appendix III: Proposal for a possible Master of Science — Australian Biodiversity Program. 55

Appendix IV: List of Forum Participants. 57 ord

 w ore orum F F axonomy T Australia has a huge national jurisdiction, encompassing a continental land area of 700,000km2 (approximately 50% larger than Europe), 70,000km of coastline, 8,600,000km2 of continental marine territory and 16,100,000km2 ational

N of oceanic seabed. The Australian jurisdiction includes 80 terrestrial and 60 marine bioregions; all five oceanic climatic zones, extending from the tropics to polar seas, the intertidal to the abyssal plains; and 16 sites that are World Heritage listed. It is therefore not surprising that Australia is one of only 17 nations that are classified as biologically mega-diverse, together containing >70% of all life on earth. It has been estimated that about 80% of Australia’s native species are found nowhere else in the world, but in over 200 Proceedings of the years only about 172,000 species have been described from an estimated 580,000–680,000 species that actually live here (i.e. only 25–30% of the biota has been described to date).

Despite the concerted efforts of the small pool of Australian scientists engaged in the discovery and documentation of our biological diversity [taxonomists] and their international collaborators, our knowledge of the native biota has not escalated in proportion to the growing need for this knowledge. This knowledge is pivotal to effective conservation, management or sustainable use of the biota and the ecosystems they form. Despite repeated Commonwealth Government reviews that explicitly acknowledge the need for taxonomy, its underpinning of much of the other biological sciences, and the continued decline in our taxonomic capabilities, measured against the huge task still remaining to document the biota (the “taxonomic impediment”), little of substance has been done for over two decades. What is at issue is the capacity of the Australian science sector to continue to provide a timely and effective research and identification service.  Proceedings of the the of Proceedings

Taxonomy is clearly a discipline in crisis. A survey of Australian working N taxonomists undertaken by the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) ational during 2003 showed the taxonomic workforce is aging rapidly and is not being replaced. The survey found about half of Australia’s taxonomists are T aged over 45 years, one third are over 60 and one third of the taxonomic axonomy workforce is voluntary. Moreover, four full-time positions are being lost each year, while only 1–1.5 are gained, resulting in a net loss of expertise at the level of 2.5–3 taxonomists annually. Even as the majority of Australia’s F current capacity rests with taxonomists who are approaching retirement, orum students are not being recruited into the science and practice of taxonomy. Thus as the taxonomic workforce continues to age, the rate of loss of expertise is escalating dramatically. ABRS predicts that in just five years, Australia will face the real and tangible crisis of a chronic lack of taxonomic capacity.

Taxonomy, as a discipline and in practice, faces multiple crises, however. Not only does it face the crises of an aging workforce and of diminishing student participation rates, but also the crises of funding reduction and restrictions, and of invisibility. The aim of the National Taxonomy Forum, held at the Australian Museum in Sydney, was to highlight areas of key concern for Australian taxonomy now and into the future. The forum, which included working taxonomists (responsible for documenting plant, animal, prokaryote, protist and fungal diversity), policy makers, public interest and industry groups, and end users, also aimed to search for solutions and strategies. 1 national Action Plan: Taxonomy in Australia — The Way Forward

Key Recommendations iii. Create a cadre of high profile academics at universities to mentor students To achieve a comprehensive national response to revitalising taxonomy, governments and the iv. Postdoctoral research — establish taxonomic community of Australia need to respond funding to provide career pathways for to the national taxonomic crisis now, by: young Australian researchers  Identifying Australia’s taxonomic research and v. Promote and support cooperation delivery priorities between universities, museums and herbaria  Undertaking effective succession-planning and vi. Form a peak advocacy body to lobby  building the public profile of taxonomy all levels of government and industry  Developing new funding models on taxonomy and develop strategies to communicate the value of taxonomy to all levels of government, and the orum F Strategies for Building economic costs of failing to support Taxonomic Capacity taxonomy vii. Promote greater visibility of taxonomy in axonomy T 1.1 identify Australia’s taxonomic the general community research and delivery priorities 1.3 develop new funding models

ational i. Identify species groups that are important N to biodiversity information users i. Commission cost-benefit analysis to assess the contribution of taxonomy ii. Identify species groups in which we are to the economy, development and losing or have lost taxonomic expertise wellbeing iii. Prioritise identified species groups for ii. Promote joint appointments/research research action centres between universities, museums/ iv. Develop identification tools for Australia’s herbaria Proceedings of the fauna and flora iii. Develop funding for field work, research v. Improve service delivery of taxonomic infrastructure, maintaining existing information for users and new collections and digitising and databasing existing material 1.2 undertake effective succession- iv. Develop larger, longer-term grants planning and public profile enabling major national studies of priority development groups i. Secondary school through to v. Seek industry partners to support undergraduate: promote taxonomy/ national high-priority projects systematics, provide opportunities for internships in museums and herbaria ii. University — postgraduate: encourage taxonomy/systematics research training through structured funding of honours stipends, Masters and PhDs, and provide postdoctoral fellowships and support for early career researchers 2 Workshop Sessions

2.1 Taxonomic priorities and The first approach, grouping based on perceived need, is an inward process: a problem is identified research gaps and methods to address it are sought. The This workshop aimed to identify high-level second, taxon-based approach is more outward: priorities, both in terms of important taxonomic studies of individual taxa may address numerous groups and groups that have lost (or are in danger scientific, economic and social problems. There of losing) taxonomic expertise in Australia. Ideas is considerable overlap between the issue-based put forward at each of the sessions may be and taxon-based approaches, and similar taxa were identified in each instance. Notably, the considered in directing national priorities over the identification of Australia’s largely “unseen” micro- next four years.  organisms was recognised as an area for high priority taxonomic study. Soil-dwelling, marine and Key recommendations interstitial organisms were highlighted as important the of Proceedings groups.  urgently stock-take Australia’s national taxonomic capacity 2.1.1 Issue-based approaches to  cross-reference issue-based and taxon- assessing priority candidates for based approaches to prioritise and develop a taxonomic research predictive matrix for all taxa

Using the issue-based approach to identifying key N  prioritise research that specifically documents areas for taxonomic research, taxonomy (and ational Australia’s unknown biota systematics) is perceived as a service discipline. That is, the main rationale for undertaking T

taxonomy is seen to be that it will enable, enhance axonomy Overview or answer. Taxonomy can enable other biological The priorities and gaps workshop was held in studies by providing crucial data for ecological four sessions, with a mix of taxonomic specialists and evolutionary studies. It can enhance accuracy F and users of taxonomic services participating in in biodiversity survey work and has extended orum each workgroup. On more than one occasion, benefit to government and industry in allowing participants expressed the opinion that identifying informed decision-making for projects that may priorities in this forum was probably not possible. have environmental impact. Further, taxonomy However, it was conceded that, given current can provide answers to government and industry funding shortages, it is very necessary to attempt stake-holders, especially in times of crisis or to isolate groups that are of immediate concern threat from peril, through the correct and reliable due to losses of expertise or urgent and emerging identification of agents of indigenous or exotic disease. needs. Workshop participants suggested various issues Discussion of economic, social and political concern to contemporary Australia, which can be categorised The responses received from forum participants broadly into ten themes (Table 1). Each theme is during the workshop fell into two broad categories: discussed in detail below, including examples of 1. groups of organisms clustered by an underlying taxa that address each topic. issue or imperative; and 2. specific taxa identified as needing urgent investigation. These two groups reflect the different approaches of the participants to the task of assessing priorities. Criterion 2 Table 1 Biosecurity Criteria for justifying the selection of Taxonomic studies that research exotic and individual taxa for priority research indigenous organisms, with a focus on those that have disease or invasive pest implications,  Biodiversity should be given high priority. Australia is an island continent home to unique  Biosecurity and biodiverse ecosystems and many of Australia’s  Public Health species are vulnerable to invasive species. Stringent  Animal Health quarantine measures are therefore needed to  Agriculture and/or Aquaculture ensure their protection. In the case of marine pests, we first need to identify which species have  Environmental Protection and/or been introduced, that is, to distinguish between Conservation introduced and undescribed native species.  Areas where Australia has strong However, because of Australia’s geographic capacity/collections isolation, many of Australia’s agricultural activities  Areas where Australia has a gap in remain well-protected from disease agents that  collections cause devastating outbreaks in other countries (see  Biodiscovery or Biotechnology Case Study 1). Further, it is possible that endemic plants and animals may become pests if exported  Other economic or cultural significance to other nations (see Case Study 10). orum

F Criterion 3 Public Health Taxonomic research should be, in part, directed toward the study of groups that have the axonomy T Criterion 1 potential to become agents of disease and a Biodiversity menace to Public Health in Australia. Studies that aim to identify and document Climate change and the increasing ease of human ational

N organisms in largely unexplored habitats or travel have put Public Health firmly on the agenda understudied taxonomic groups should be given for Australians. International travel is becoming priority under the criterion of Biodiversity. cheaper and there are fewer restraints to the passage of people through international ports. The assessment of biodiversity (in this case The transit of people, plants and animals has referring only to the species and the ecosystems implications for Public Health. Further, concerns they form — genetic diversity is addressed about the potential effects of climate change, have

Proceedings of the elsewhere in this forum), is seen by both led to speculation that devastating diseases such as taxonomists and society as having intrinsic malaria could easily become endemic to Australia. importance. However, a large volume of Workshop participants highlighted disease agents, taxonomic work remains to be completed for such as parasitic nematodes and single-celled Australia’s biota (see Case Study 3 and Case parasites, as significant taxa that should be flagged Study 6). There are mega-diverse taxonomic for priority study. Emerging diseases transmittable groups, such as the prokaryotes (bacteria and between humans and animals may come from cynobacteria — 99.9% are presumed unknown), domestic and introduced sources and Case Study 5 and the Acari (mites), of which only 15% of the indicates the relevance of studying native parasite estimated fauna of 20 000 species is known. groups in addition to exotic taxa. It is crucial that Similarly, diverse ecosystems were identified as Australia cultivates and maintains a capacity to deal key environments for future taxonomic surveys. with the taxonomic aspects of disease as it arises. One example of such ecosystems is marine The unpredictable nature of disease emergence systems, where the sediment fauna remain largely means there may be a necessary degree of latency undocumented. Documenting and understanding in that capacity, yet it remains vital none-the-less. the diversity of organisms has value in its own right and this stance is perceived as a non-negotiable moral and ethical imperative. Criterion 4 Study 7 and Case Study 8. In these examples, Animal Health taxonomic research provided critical data, prior As with Public Health, Animal Health was to the expansion of industry into ecologically revealed by workshop participants as an sensitive environments, which will be used to important criterion for the assessment of establish frameworks for sustainable development. priority. Taxonomy can also be crucial to the rehabilitation Increased ease of international travel and of degraded environments. For example, an transportation and concerns about environmental increased taxonomic understanding of soil micro- alteration brought about by climate change also organisms may be able to assist in improving soil underscore the significance of Animal Health to quality. the Australian community. The criterion of Animal Health has strong links with the economic criterion Criterion 7 of Agriculture and/or Aquaculture. Areas where Australia has strong capacity/ collections Criterion 5 Funding should be directed towards existing Agriculture and/or Aquaculture taxonomic workers who have demonstrated The vulnerability of Australia’s agriculture and excellence and additional monies provided for aquaculture industries to high economic losses the curation of associated collections of national  or, worse, decimation, by pest species and significance. disease agents justifies the prioritisation of such Many participants highlighted the need for existing organisms for taxonomic research. and future taxonomic funding to incorporate the of Proceedings As highlighted in Case Study 4, taxonomic accuracy monies for the development and maintenance in the identification of pest species can enhance of collections, in particular those of national the efficacy of strategies for the eradication of significance. In light of the increasing reliance on plant pests. Further, as in Case Study 10, it is DNA-sequence data for taxonomic identification, important that the Australian agricultural sector the need for well-curated and staffed voucher is able to distinguish among endemic, native specimen repositories is becoming ever more N species and exotic, noxious species of weed. critical. Further, it is necessary that collections ational Incorrect identification of species can have severe house physical specimen vouchers in addition consequences and lead to the unnecessary to having the capacity to store whole genomic T embargo of commodity shipments. The agriculture DNA extracts from specimens (Genome Banking axonomy and aquaculture industries also both require that facilities). The proper maintenance of biological Australia has the capacity to correctly identify material in perpetuity is required to support disease agents. As indicated in Case Study 2, and enhance the work of Australia’s existing F rapid and accurate diagnosis can increase survival taxonomists (see Case Study 7). Collection orum outcomes for stock and minimise potential development and maintenance is of particular economic losses due to disease. Increased importance where Australia holds recognised taxonomic accuracy in the identification of pests excellence in taxonomic research. and diseases agents will ameliorate many of the current losses in industry from disease outbreaks Criterion 8 and trade quarantine restrictions. Areas where Australia has a gap in collections Taxonomic groups presently unable to be Criterion 6 investigated because of critical shortages Environmental Protection and/or Conservation of expertise should be demarcated for the Taxonomic research that contributes to recruitment of skilled taxonomists to undertake greater knowledge of Australia’s vulnerable and priority studies. endangered natural heritage should be afforded The loss of taxonomic expertise due to the priority under this criterion. problems of an aging workforce and the lack of At times, there is conflict between the demands funding and employment opportunities has led of industry and the need for environmental to alarming weaknesses in Australia’s taxonomic conservation. Workshop participants contended capacity (see Case Study 2). Participants recognised that taxonomy plays a key role in negotiating that there have been significant losses of specialists satisfactory outcomes. The interplay between in non-coral cnidarians (e.g. jellyfish), marine industry and taxonomy is detailed in Case bivalves and gastropod molluscs, terrestrial gastropods (e.g. snails, slugs), bryozoans (moss the wider Australian community and provide animals), earthworms, flies, beetles, ants, fishes persuasive evidence of the contemporary and most groups of parasites. Further, there is relevance of taxonomy in documenting the unique what was described as a “black hole” in Australia’s biota of Australia. Other groups of organisms may capacity to undertake research on certain taxa, provide important insights into the natural history such as the minor invertebrate phyla. of Australian terrestrial environments (see Case Study 11), and taxonomic study of these groups Criterion 9 was also viewed as a priority. Biodiscovery or Biotechnology Taxonomic studies of groups, particularly marine 2.1.2 Taxon-based approaches to organisms, of importance to bioprospecting or assessing priority candidates for with other potential biotechnology economic taxonomic research benefit should be given priority under this Some workshop participants were uncomfortable criterion. with providing socio-economic imperatives for Biodiscovery (the use of native biological resources the assessment of priority taxa. It was suggested, to identify bioactive compounds for commercial as under the Biodiversity criterion (Criterion 1) purposes, such as the production of pharmaceuticals above, that all taxonomy was inherently significant. 10 and fine chemicals), relies completely on a diverse Some participants argued that the designation of and healthy natural environment. Biodiscovery has priority taxa has the capacity to disenfranchise escalated in Australia over the past two decades, some specialists and to establish false and unfair particularly in the marine environment. Case impediments to taxonomic research. Using the Study 9 emphasises the importance of taxonomy taxon-based approach, it was recommended that orum F in bioprospecting. Sponges and other marine priority be given to taxa that are currently under- organisms that form the sessile marine communities studied or for which Australia has a demonstrated are important sources of bioactive compounds capacity for excellence in research. These that may have application as therapies for human axonomy justifications are in accordance with the criteria of T diseases. Taxonomy plays an essential role to Areas where Australia has strong capacity/collections correctly identify species containing or producing (Criterion 7) and Areas where Australia has a gap bioactive compounds, map their distributions, assess

ational in collections (Criterion 8) detailed above. Table N their prevalence, determine their uniqueness or 2 presents a list of taxa identified by workshop commonality within the Australian biota, provide participants as being taxonomic research priorities. the ability to recollect additional samples for Although all of the listed taxa are compatible with more in-depth screening and analysis, and culture Criteria 1, 7 and 8, additional criteria may be populations in lieu of wild harvest. Further, closely applicable to individual taxonomic groups. related organisms may share biochemical traits and taxonomy and systematics can be used to identify Proceedings of the chemical analogues or additional latent sources of Comparison compounds, via related organisms, with application Forum participants agreed there was a need to in industry. develop a matrix for prioritisation based on issues and taxa. It was recommended that ABRS develop Criterion 10 such a matrix. Other economic or cultural significance Taxonomic studies that may have extended impact into other biological disciplines, that may enhance the reputation of taxonomy or that have other unspecified economic benefits should be ranked as a priority. Participants enumerated examples of taxa that were not able to be classified under the above criteria, but were deemed to be of high priority for research. For example, the identification of new or cryptic species of iconic and conspicuous Australian animals was seen as a priority for research (see Case Study 3). Such studies have resonance with Table 2 List of taxa identified by forum participants as priorities for research in Australia

 Prokaryota (bacteria, cyanobacteria)  Cubozoa (box jellyfishes)  Protista (unicellular eukaryotes)  Hydrozoa (hydroids)  Apicomplexa (parasitic protists)  Platyhelminthes  Ciliata (protists with cilia)  Turbellaria (free-living flatworms)  Flagellata (protists with flagella)  Digenea (flukes)  Monogenea (fish parasites)  Foraminifera (foraminiferans)  Cestoda (tapeworms)  Fungi  Rotifera (rotifers)  Basidiomycota (club fungi)  Nematoda (nematodes, roundworms) particularly those forming lichens and  Bryozoa (moss animals) ectomycorrhizae  Mollusca  Ascomycota (sac fungi) including  Gastropoda (snails, slugs, whelks) Laboulbeniales (fungi parasitic on insects),  Bivalvia (bivalves) and those forming lichens  Arthropoda 11  Plantae  Collembola (springtails)

 Glaucocystophyta  Insecta, especially Isoptera (termites), the of Proceedings (freshwater unicellular algae) Phthiraptera (lice), Hemiptera (bugs,  Cyanidiophyta including aphids, scales and psyllids), (blue-green eukaryotic algae) Diptera (flies, including fruit-flies),  Rhodophyta (red algae) Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies),  Heterokontophyta (brown algae) Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera  Haptophyta (motile golden algae) (wasps, bees and ants) N

 Cryptophyta (unicellular flagellate algae)  Arachnida (spiders, scorpions and ational  Dinophyta (dinoflagellates) allies), especially Acari (mites, ticks)  Euglenophyta (euglenids) and Mygalomorphae (tarantulas, T  Chlorarachniophyta funnel-webbed spiders) axonomy (green web-forming algae)  Crustacea (crabs, shrimps, wood lice, ostracods), especially marine,  Chlorophyta (green algae) groundwater, parasitic and terrestrial  Streptophyta F groups orum  Charophycae  Annelida (stoneworts, freshwater green algae)  Polychaeta (bristle worms)  Bryophyta  Clitellata (leeches and earthworms) (mosses, liverworts, hornworts)  Echinodermata  Psilotophyta (whisk ferns) (starfish, sea urchins sea cucumbers)  Lycopodiophyta (club mosses)  Hemichordata  Equisetophyta (horsetails) (hemichordates, acorn worms)  Polypodiophyta ( true ferns)  Chordata  Magnoliophyta (flowering plants),  Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) especially: Poaceae (grasses), Asteraceae especially the Teleostei (bony fishes) (daisies), Convolvulaceae (bindweeds),  Amphibia (frogs, toads) Acacia and Eucalyptus  Reptilia (reptiles)  Animalia  Mammalia (mammals)  Porifera (sponges)  Cnidaria  Anthozoa (corals, anemones)  Scyphozoa (true jellyfishes) Summary Overview This workshop saw the construction of a list The workshop addressing the taxonomic needs of taxonomic groups that are a priority for of, and priorities for, user-groups was held in research, based on the need to document four sessions and both taxonomic specialists and Australia’s remaining unknown biota. All groups representatives of user-groups attended each were proposed because of significant gaps in session. Participants were asked to identify user taxonomic knowledge and because of their intrinsic groups, to consider the needs of each group and biodiversity value. Discriminating among groups in to devise strategies that may address these needs. this considerable catalogue, however, is difficult. In this workshop, the role of taxonomy as an Workshop participants suggested a series of socio- enabling discipline that provides a “product” in the economic criteria that could be used to assist with form of biodiversity data, which can be applied in ranking taxa for research. The criteria can be cross- various contexts depending on the need of the referenced with taxonomic groups. However, the “consumer” of taxonomic services, was highlighted. capacity for Australia to act, by focussing research efforts on identified high priority taxa, remains hampered by current taxonomic research capacity. Discussion Indeed, maintaining, nurturing and enhancing “Products” and “Consumers” 12 Australia’s existing taxonomic research community The primary outcome from taxonomic research underscored all discussions of the designation of is the identification, circumscription and priority taxa. It is therefore critical, foremost, that documentation of species. Commonly, these Australia establishes a research capacity able to species are hitherto unknown. Through the respond to current priority needs and to future orum completion of taxonomic studies, taxonomists F changes in priority focus. To this end, it was generate data that can be applied to users beyond strongly recommended that ABRS undertake a the discipline of taxonomy. These other uses can comprehensive stock-take of Australia’s current be considered “products” that can be marketed

axonomy national taxonomic capability, incorporating a T by the taxonomic community to users, or searchable database of all working taxonomists, “consumers”. Table 3 lists the “Top 10” products their institutional affiliation, area of practice and from taxonomy and the consumers of these

ational expertise and specific client groups.

N products, as identified by workshop participants.

Taxonomy offers a wide variety of products to 2.2 User needs an equally diverse array of potential consumers. Conservation agencies and industries such as The primary product of taxonomy, perhaps agriculture, fisheries and mining often expect unsurprisingly, is the provision of specialist, accurate taxonomic resources to be available to meet and considered taxonomic opinion in the form of Proceedings of the their demands. Such expectations could become identification services. Identification services are increasingly difficult to meet over the next four used chiefly by industry groups (e.g. in agriculture years because of resource shortages. There is and fisheries), however, they can also be of therefore an urgent need to identify user priorities interest to pathologists, the legal profession, other and needs in terms of taxonomic services so scientists and members of the wider community. that these can be planned for. Participants in this The provision of professional identification services workshop were asked to identify priorities to is closely linked to the development of reliable inform future directions for institutions involved in identification tools, such as keys, which can be taxonomic research. used by interested user-groups to identify biological material “in-house”, without the need for the Key recommendations: direct engagement of a taxonomist. Taxonomy also interacts with other biological and scientific  build user-tailored identification tools for disciplines through the supply of biodiversity data, Australian fauna and flora biological data such as life history information and  improve service delivery of taxonomic ecological observations, distribution data, DNA information sequence data and phylogenetic information, and  seek industry partners to support national high indeed the specimens themselves as in the case of priority projects biodiscovery. Biodiversity data is also used Table 3 Top 10 “Products” created by taxonomists, and “Consumers” of these products as suggested by workshop participants.

Products Consumers 1 Specialist identification services Agriculture and Aquaculture industries 2 Identification tools Mining industry 3 Distribution data Forestry industry 4 Assessments of provenance Government agencies 5 Taxonomic history advice Medical, veterinary, plant and forensic (including synonymies) pathologists, diagnosticians, and legal profession 6 Biological information (life histories Medical, veterinary, plant and forensic ecological data such as diet, habitat) pathologists, diagnosticians, and legal profession 13 7 DNA sequence data Biologists (ecology, evolution,

computational biology) the of Proceedings 8 Biodiversity inventories Other sciences (geology, mathematics) 9 Evolutionary histories and systematic Museums and public media data 10 Philosophy, ethics and art General community (including gardeners,

hobbyists, amateur naturalists, artists) N ational ational T axonomy axonomy biosecurity, the identification and demarcation of protected areas based on biodiversity values, and issues commonly by government agencies to F inform policy decisions, particularly with respect to relating to industry orum development in sensitive environments. Despite these product linkages, however, matching taxonomic product to the specific needs and priorities of user-groups remains a significant obstacle to the effective dissemination of taxonomic knowledge and outputs.

Taxonomy offers a wide variety of products to an equally diverse array of potential consumers. The primary product of taxonomy, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the provision of specialist, accurate and considered taxonomic opinion in the form of identification services. Identification services are used chiefly by industry groups (e.g. in agriculture and fisheries), however, they can also be of interest to pathologists, the legal profession, other scientists and members of the wider community. The provision of professional identification services is closely linked to the development of reliable identification tools, such as keys, which can be used by interested user-groups to identify biological material “in-house”, without the need for the direct engagement of a taxonomist. Taxonomy also interacts with other biological and scientific disciplines through the supply of biodiversity data, biological data such as life history information and ecological observations, distribution data, DNA sequence data and phylogenetic information, and indeed the specimens themselves as in the case of biodiscovery. Biodiversity data is also used commonly by government Summary agencies to inform policy decisions, particularly Participants at this workshop identified the with respect to biosecurity, the identification strong need for taxonomy to provide tailored and demarcation of protected areas based on solutions to interested user groups. Participants biodiversity values, and issues relating to industry identified numerous products that can arise from development in sensitive environments. Despite fundamental taxonomic research and provided a these product linkages, however, matching number of innovative solutions aimed at presenting taxonomic product to the specific needs and these products to consumers in user-friendly, priorities of user-groups remains a significant attractive packages. Translating scientific taxonomic obstacle to the effective dissemination of taxonomic descriptions into formats that are functional and knowledge and outputs. useful for industry, government and lay groups Strategies to meet user-group needs means taxonomists are then positioned to tailor their research in response to specific taxonomic Stemming directly from taxonomists’ primary task requests from user groups. For example, an of describing and identifying biodiversity is the individual researcher may decide to preference provision of identification services to interested the study of one taxon over another because they user groups. Indeed, this work performed by perceive a greater benefit to their known user taxonomists is invaluable to user-groups. The group, such as agriculturalists or mining companies. 14 appended case studies indicate convincingly that without taxonomy, many agricultural and public health problems would continue to plague Australians. However, forum participants suggested 2.3 Taxonomic impediments

orum identification services need to be provided in F and resourcing a format that is affordable, timely and readily The number of practicing taxonomists and comprehended by lay-users. In order to meet systematists is dwindling and there are increasingly this objective, taxonomic information needs to be

axonomy serious shortfalls in the number of graduate and T translated from the jargon-dense and description- rich format of scientific journal publications into undergraduate students able and inclined to take formats that can be easily digested by user groups. their place. This workshop canvassed participants

ational for innovative solutions to resource issues such as N The taxonomists at the forum were able to the scarcity of employed taxonomists, the absence suggest many mechanisms for the dissemination of career paths and the shortage of students. of taxonomic information to users. Chief among these was the development of identification Key recommendations tools. Taxonomists were clear and united that interactive keying tools, delivered by CD-ROMs,  commission cost/benefit analysis to assess the contribution of taxonomy to the Australian

Proceedings of the or intuitive web-based interfaces, are a rapid, cost-effective and efficient means of aiding users economy to identify biological material in-house, without  undertake effective succession-planning to the need for time-consuming and costly reference safeguard Australia’s future taxonomic capacity to specialists. The parallel continued publication through the establishment of stable career of dichotomous keys and pictorial keys in books pathways and field-guides was also seen as imperative.  re-invigorate teaching and course options for For some users, such as island communities or undergraduate and postgraduate students members of the wider community including through cross-institutional interaction between gardeners and amateur naturalists, innovative universities and museums, herbaria, CSIRO book publications (e.g. weather-proof and pictorial  form an independent, professional, advocacy guides) are the most appropriate means of delivery. body Forum participants agreed that the appropriate technology should be used for each user group  promote greater visibility of taxonomy in the and identification tools should be tailored based scientific and lay communities on the specific needs of each group. It was also suggested that the provision of specialist taxonomic identification services could be formalised under user-pays agreement models. Overview and analysis of results. Situations may arise in which taxonomists working for companies A professional facilitator moderated four workshop specialising in bioprospecting, for example, may sessions attended by taxonomists and non- be bound, by confidentiality agreements and specialists aimed at finding solutions to the current patents, not to release taxonomic information impediments to taxonomic research. Participants to the wider scientific community. This is, were asked to put forward new strategies and however, not generally true of the Australian changes that would enhance career prospects experience in biodiscovery, whereby there have for taxonomists and increase the numbers of been a significant number of new and published taxonomy students. The “PEST” approach was taxa derived from biodiscovery collaborations taken, whereby solutions to the problem of a (e.g. tripling the known fauna of Australian sponges decrease in working taxonomists in Australia were over two decades). Usually, the only commercial separated into four areas — Political, Economic, propriety involves protecting any specific Social and Technological. association between a particular biotechnological characteristic of a species for the duration of the Discussion contractual collaboration. Political approaches As outlined by the keynote speakers, and strongly These solutions involved influencing specific reinforced by workshop participants, governments 15 people, including politicians, to assist with and universities are not recognising the importance improving career prospects for taxonomists. State of taxonomy because of the emergence of directed the of Proceedings and Commonwealth overnments and universities research priorities and research performance emerged as the key bodies that need to be indicators. This lack of recognition has created influenced in order to create stable career paths the current disastrous career landscape for for taxonomists. Nearly all taxonomists work in taxonomists. Workshop participants agreed that, these sectors and it is the sustained net loss of as a matter of priority, state and Commonwealth taxonomic researchers from these sectors that has governments and universities need to be lobbied. contributed fundamentally to the absence of real N It was suggested that a taxonomy advocacy group ational career opportunities for taxonomists in Australia. be established to do this. Influencing these sectors to arrest and reverse the

rate of loss of taxonomists is critical to ensuring T

Economic approaches axonomy future careers in taxonomy. Further, if governments Cataloguing biodiversity is often viewed by and universities fail to recognise the significance of governments and society as having immediate a strong and well-resourced taxonomic research social and ethical, rather than economic F capacity, the task of influencing the private sector consequences. However, cataloguing biodiversity orum to invest in taxonomic research becomes very has significant economic outcomes for the nation difficult. in terms of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and, more indirectly, biosecurity. Private industry and individual philanthropic benefactors were also suggested as being able Workshop participants and Forum participants to contribute to the development of careers more generally identified an urgent need to in taxonomy. Companies, from industries such undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the economic as forestry or mining, make use of taxonomic benefits of taxonomy, particularly in terms of information and perhaps they should be savings to industry in terms of rapid pests, weeds encouraged to employ taxonomists on staff or to and disease identification. The recent outbreak of endow research fellowships within universities. horse flu hightlights the national need to rapidly However, some workshop participants felt the identify and respond to serious outbreaks. Other user-pays concept of taxonomists working for recent examples include the identification and private corporations or private benefactors could attempted control of fire ants in Queensland, deny the concept of Australia’s biodiversity as a which has so far cost over $141 million dollars common natural asset. There are considerations (as at 2006). There is, however, difficulty in relating such as autonomy of research agendas, ownership these examples to any economic cost-benefit of intellectual property, sovereignty over biological analysis of the value of taxonomy. There are two and genetic assets, objectivity in the presentation essential issues: a. Generally, taxonomy is an indirect Social approaches contributor to biosecurity, providing species Workshop attendees, taxonomists in particular, descriptions and identification tools. It is agreed that taxonomy is largely invisible, and difficult to cost this service contribution to when it is visible, it is not viewed in a positive light. biosecurity and therefore Australian industry. Members of the general community do not even b. In specified instances where a unknown know what taxonomy is. Taxonomists reported species has been intercepted or identified instances of public misconceptions: is a taxonomist in the country, it is possible to cost the role someone who stuffs dead animals? Others of taxonomy and the saving to industry, but reported that among their scientist colleagues, there is no adequate way of applying this taxonomists are commonly disregarded and dismissed. Their work is considered unimportant, cost as an annual benefit to the Australian boring, old-fashioned and pointless. Enhancing economy. public visibility and overcoming such negative Taxonomy has also been identified as a significant stereotypes was agreed to be a problem that element for Australia’s seafood and fishing industry. taxonomists must urgently address. Correct identification of commercial species and bycatch is of major economic concern, both in The modern practice of taxonomy integrates terms of fisheries management and also meeting field-based collection work, laboratory-based 16 customer expectations for a consistent product on microscopy using traditional microscopes and the plate. In the case of the fishing industry, reliable modern electron microscopes, DNA-based and and consistent identification is worth $30 million biochemical studies and statistical analysis. It is a dollars per annum to the industry, based on truly interdisciplinary science, and taxonomists are industry estimates. scientists adept in numerous and varied cutting- orum

F edge techniques. However, this has not been The role of taxonomy in extraction industries conveyed to the general community, or indeed, scientific colleagues. Workshop participants were and development was also flagged in workshops. unanimous in their view that this multi-faceted,

axonomy Conservation planning in these industries is a T contemporary and vital image is one that needs significant cost, and rapid, accurate identification to be communicated to the public. Strategies for of species is essential. Again, costing this benefit doing this included open days and exhibitions in

ational is difficult, however, it was identified that the museums and herbaria where the public is invited N mining industry is funding molecular systematic into the work spaces of taxonomists. The example work on stygofauna in Western Australia because provided in the Keynote Address by Dr Thiele it was recognised that there was a need to react (Appendix I), and also presented in Case Study 3, proactively to groundwater conservation issues. of public “launches” of newly discovered species Similarly the identification by taxonomists of a takes taxonomy out of the scientific literature and possible rare species as a common native heath to the people. Such launches engender feelings of allowed the Meander Dam and significant state ownership of Australia’s natural heritage among the Proceedings of the investment to proceed. These savings are not community. possible without taxonomy. It was also suggested that taxonomists could Workshop participants suggested there was a participate in science programs in secondary need to commission a study of the contribution schools, demonstrating their work and educating of taxonomy to the Australian economy, assessing children about biodiversity. They could engage in cost-benefit ratios and methods for accural public lectures and increase their interaction with the media through documentaries, docu-dramas like accounting of the benefits flowing from taxonomic Border Security and profile pieces. Cultivation of the research. These findings can then be used by media, however, requires mutuality. Taxonomists researchers and policy makers to argue for the need to understand that if they are boring or need for investment in taxonomy. The case their work seems overly complex, the media will studies provided in Appendix 1 identify a range of not engage with them. Taxonomists must lead examples where taxonomy has provided significant by example and not allow themselves to be the economic or conservation benefit. stereotypes they are currently perceived to be. As one participant said, “self-respect breeds respect”. Taxonomists must believe in their worth as highly skilled and multi-dimensional research professionals, and must convince the community of it too. Technical approaches Workshop participants proposed many innovative changes that can be made in the education sector, chiefly at tertiary and professional levels, to increase the numbers of working taxonomists and enhance recruitment rates of students. Strategies proposed include: programs to revitalise university education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for taxonomy students; programs for end users of taxonomy, such as industry, through vocational training; developing larger and longer-term funding options similar to the National Science Foundation grants discussed by Professor Cassis in his Keynote Address (Appendix I); and on-going professional development for working taxonomists to encourage skill acquisition over entire career spans (see Table 4). It was also suggested that networks of core infrastructure (such as electron microscopy and DNA-analysis facilities, libraries, and collections and database resources) be established through long-term co-operative agreements between universities, museums, herbaria and other research organisations. The infrastructure networks would enable cost-sharing and also increase access to important resources for workers in regional areas, where there is currently limited infrastructure. These networks could be 17 formalised as designated “Taxonomic Research Hubs” (possibly TRubs), or similar, which could be administered like other existing co-operative research models, such as Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs) and Centres of the of Proceedings Excellence (CoEs).

Table 4

Practical strategies for overcoming taxonomic research impediments, with particular reference N to skills shortages, low student numbers and the absence of career paths ational T  fresh approaches to under-graduate teaching aimed at student recruitment: axonomy  incorporating specialist teaching in lectures, practical classes and tutorials led by museum- and herbarium-based taxonomists, including tertiary sector funded cross-appointments at

universities F orum  innovative courses in phylogeny and systematics (such as being offered at UNE)  summer sessions with short research project components in museums and herbaria (internships)  fresh approaches to post-graduate teaching aimed at student recruitment and retention:  expansion of BSc Honours programs into MSc programs by coursework and practice aimed at developing professional taxonomists with appropriate skills to make graduates work-ready (see Appendix III, for example)  Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses to provide workshop-style training for workers from industry  development of programs of on-going professional education for taxonomists to ensure awareness and competence levels in newly emerging technologies, with particular reference to advances in information technology  infrastructure sharing through the establishment of co-operative resource networks to enhance the capacity of regional workers to participate in taxonomic research  formation of a peak advocacy body to enhance the reputation, credibility and professionalism of taxonomy  formation of a professional body acting like the Royal College of Surgeons In parallel to the suggested changes in education Overview and resource sharing, participants proposed that This workshop consisted of a short presentation it is now necessary for taxonomists to establish plus a question and answer session. DNA a peak body representing Australian taxonomy. Barcoding, through the International Barcode of This body could lobby on behalf of the Australian Life Project (iBOL), aims to collect, collate and taxonomic community. Some participants further integrate genetic data from all eukaryotic life-forms proposed the establishment of a professional within a searchable database. This reference bar, similar to the Royal College of Surgeons or collection, based at the University of Guelph, CPA, which could have a role in recognising or Canada, plans to initially gather data from 500,000 accrediting taxonomists. Workshop participants species. iBOL is a truly collaborative, multi-national maintained the establishment of an independent approach to DNA-based taxonomy, running with body would greatly enhance the reputation of a budget estimate of $150 million. However, taxonomy as a profession and provide much- among the taxonomic community, reception of needed recognition and credibility for taxonomic the initiative has been mixed. Some taxonomists research. have received the concept enthusiastically, while others contend the program has the capacity Summary to undermine and make obsolete traditional 18 Baseline information on the identity and distribution morphology-based alpha-taxonomy studies. of Australia’s plants and animals, provided by taxonomists, is vital to Australia’s agriculture, Discussion forestry and fisheries industries, and, more The sessions on DNA barcoding elicited a large orum indirectly, to biosecurity. In this vein, forum F number of comments and questions, both positive participants recommended cost/benefit analysis and negative, from the audience. Approximately to assess the contribution of taxonomy to the 40 participants (half of all participants) raised issues Australian economy and industry. This analysis

axonomy associated with iBOL, affirming that the emerging T would be useful to a peak body in lobbying field of DNA-barcoding is a rich area for taxonomic state and federal governments and universities debate. to invest more heavily in taxonomic research, a ational N task participants identified as key to the future of Forum participants were united in their general taxonomy in Australia. Workshop participants also acknowledgment of DNA sequence data as concluded that enhancing the visibility of taxonomy a valuable source of evidence for taxonomic and taxonomists in the community would be hypotheses. Many taxonomists suggested that an important first step in recruiting and retaining DNA-barcoding is a process already occurring taxonomists. Further, participants asserted that in a fragmented fashion among the research an increased public profile for taxonomy would community. Support and enthusiasm for the Proceedings of the have flow-on effects and make it easier for the iBOL centred on the multi-national collaborative taxonomic community to gather support for approach to the centralisation of barcoding. other, more targeted approaches to increasing the Through the establishment of demonstrable data taxonomic workforce. quality standards, iBOL has the ability to introduce rigour and means of authentication currently lacking in the GenBank/EMBL repository of DNA 2.4 Barcoding sequence data. Forum participants welcomed these Several institutions around the country are safeguards, but cautioned there is also a strong currently proposing to establish an Australian node need for formalised accreditation of the workers of the Barcode of Life. and laboratories undertaking the sequencing. Since DNA-sequencing is rapidly becoming a Presentation by Dr Les Christidis, Chair of the standard technique in taxonomic work and as costs Australia Barcode of Life Steering Committee are lessening at an equal rate, the urgency for Presentations available from: standardisation in practice and quality is intensifying. www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/whats- new/pubs/07-christidis-barcode.ppt The focus of iBOL on the cataloguing of DNA sequence data from existing known taxa was received with both praise and criticism. By developing a searchable database for described funding considerations. Barcoding, as a fresh and taxa, iBOL will enable the accurate identification of captivating new technological approach, therefore specimens through the sequencing of one small, has the capacity to attract and inject vital funds into easily amplified genetic locus. It is anticipated taxonomy. that, in the future, this capacity will enable rapid identification of specimens by non-specialists, extending the reach of taxonomy into the wider Summary scientific community. For example, ecological Overwhelmingly, iBOL was received as a positive studies may overcome many of the current initiative, with the potential to expand the discipline stumbling blocks of taxonomic inaccuracy. of taxonomy and its applications. Further, the Detractors contend this identification role will cachet of molecular biology in garnering funding is diminish the need for morphological taxonomists. a distinction of iBOL taxonomists cannot afford to The strong emphasis within iBOL on vouchering, underestimate. DNA barcoding is not intended as however, ensures that there is still a critical need a substitute for traditional morphology-based alpha- for specialist morphologists (and institutions taxonomic studies. Rather, it is seen as a valuable with a mandate to store vouchers, currently the tool for rapid assessments of identification within state museums) within the barcoding program. an integrated arsenal of methods currently used for Further, although a DNA barcoding approach taxonomy. This enhancement, not replacement, 19 may provide genetic support for the detection of capacity and the focus on the identification of new species, formal morphological description existing known taxa are roles that require greater of newly discovered taxa is still mandatory promotion in order to overcome negative the of Proceedings under International Codes of Nomenclature. preconceptions of iBOL. Proponents of barcoding suggest that by isolating new genotypes, the project may even lead to an increased need for traditional alpha-taxonomic 2.5 Atlas of Living Australia studies. The Atlas of Living Australia is an attempt to make

current electronic biodiversity information publicly N Participation with iBOL requires co-ordination. ational Haphazard and uncooperative attempts to enter available via a single portal on the Internet. into DNA-barcoding will detract from the aims Presentation by Dr Kevin Thiele and Cameron T of the program. Forum participants agreed that Slatyer, members of the Atlas of Living Australia axonomy more communication via the Australian Barcode Management Committee Network was needed to establish consensus among the Australian research community about F the ground-rules for Australia’s participation in Overview orum iBOL. In particular, concerns about the retention This workshop consisted of a short presentation of sovereign rights over the genetic resources of plus a question and answer session. The Atlas of Australia (and other nations) must be able to be Living Australia (ALA) is conceived as a one-stop preserved. Meetings of the Australian Barcode web-based portal for information on Australian Network are planned and aim to resolve the issues biota, with the capacity to interact with domestic surrounding engagement with iBOL in a manner and international biodiversity information and that is both cooperative and collegial and maintains databases. It is an ambitious, but undeniably crucial the autonomy and integrity of Australian research. and powerful, centralised and scientifically verifiable tool for disseminating and collating information Given the scale and scope of iBOL, many forum about Australian biodiversity. participants suggested that DNA barcoding could be viewed as an opportunity to leverage funding. DNA sequencing remains a more Discussion costly research technique than microscopy, and During the two sessions introducing the ALA, it was suggested that these costs be addressed approximately thirty questions and comments in applications for research monies. Further, the were received from the forum participants. The critical importance of reference collections to ALA project was perceived by participants to have DNA barcoding, and indeed all taxonomy, is an potentially wide appeal and utility. The mission set additional cost that needs to be acknowledged in by the ALA, to provide free and universal access to Australian biodiversity data from an authoritative delays with the development of the ALA, and it and credible source, was seen as a valuable and is acknowledged that the project needs strategic laudable ideal. Concern was raised, however, that development and momentum. Forum participants stakeholders and clients have not yet been clearly noted the need to create a unified and clear enunciated. Further, forum participants raised vision and develop an action-plan to see that the concerns about how the ALA would interact with project reaches completion. Communicating other, pre-existing databases of biological data, the utility and broad scope of the ALA will do some of which are already available online. Some much to enhance the project’s momentum. The explanation on whether the ALA would replace continued involvement of interested user groups or make redundant other databasing systems was in discussions of the development of the ALA will sought. Additionally, participants raised the absence bring focus and impetus and establish support for of a clear taxonomic focus, querying which groups this valuable project. would be included in the first roll-out of the ALA. (Postscript: Donald Hobern has since taken up the position of ALA Director and substantial advances Summary have been made.) In the main, the Atlas project has been received 20 with enthusiasm as a potentially powerful harvester and provider of taxonomic data for the Australian biota. However, there have been significant orum F axonomy T ational N Proceedings of the 3 Plenary Session

The final session of the forum commenced with Additional representation could be offered to: presentations from each of the professional  National Farmers’ Federation facilitors summarising the outcomes of the  Australian Fisheries Management Authority workshop sessions. These fed into a more general discussion of issues raised during the forum.  Seafood Services Australia Cameron Slatyer (ABRS) agreed to post the slides  Minerals Council of Australia from the keynote addresses on the ABRS website.  other interested user-groups ABRS and FASTS agreed that a summary of discussions would be written and circulated among Positions on the committee as independent forum participants and other interested parties. It observers would be offered to: is anticipated that taxonomists and end-users will  ABRS have additional concerns and suggestions to raise,  other, as yet undecided, independent parties 21 and the publication of the Forum Proceedings will be a useful platform for future debate and

Long-term, the committee will aim to establish the of Proceedings consultation. Bradley Smith (FASTS) proposed that an independent chair and spokesperson, but a formal document be prepared to deliver cogent Brett Summerell (Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney) strategies aimed at the development of taxonomy agreed to convene and chair the first meeting of in Australia for adoption at state and federal levels. the group. The aim of the advocacy group would The content and design of the strategy document be to represent the consensus interests of the will emerge from the forum discussions and taxonomic community and user-groups. One on-going consultation with the taxonomy and opportunity for the advocacy group to pursue N ational ational user communities. Forum participants agreed to would be to send a delegation to “Science Meets provide a range of case studies demonstrating the Parliament”, due to be held in Canberra in March, importance of taxonomy.

2008. It was suggested that the group establish an T axonomy axonomy internet-based communication forum (e.g. mailing Forum participants reached consensus during the lists and/or websites announcing and reporting on Plenary Session on the formation of an advocacy the activities of the group). Support for the group

group for taxonomy. A title for the group was F

was enthusiastic, and participants were unanimous orum suggested: the “Australian Species Taskforce” in their view that passionate advocacy was urgently (subsequently agreed as “Taxonomy Australasia”, needed and should capitalise on the momentum or TaxA, during the first meeting of this group). achieved through the forum discussions. The group was conceived initially to comprise representatives from the following organisations:  Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria (CHAH)  Council of Heads of Australian Fauna Collections (CHAFC)  Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG)  Society of Australian Systematic Biologists (SASB)  Australian Systematic Botany Society (ASBS)  universities 22 Appendices Appendices 23

CES endi App 24 endices App Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 25

ddresses : I A endix App Keynote Forum’s keynote from the presentations PowerPoint Microsoft Office addresses are available for download from the ABRS website: www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/ntf.html 26 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses S and A F D ( B E ocieties — — ocieties ederation of of ederation radley radley ustralian ustralian irector, irector, xecutive xecutive T echnological echnological S mith mith S cientific cientific FASTS

) and student expectations student and Who cares? cares? Who HASS bothincreased. on science,engineeringand IT/ComputingalldeclinedwhileMedicaland 10%. AsashareofGDP, publicexpenditure(universitiesandgovernment) by morethan20%butmathematics, physicsandchemistrybylessthan smallest amountof13%,although thatwasunevenwithbiologyincreasing arts andsocialsciences(HASS) by50%.Naturalsciencesincreasedthe increased butunevenly. Medicalresearchincreasedby82%andhumanities, Between 1995and2004expenditureonallbroadfields ofresearch shifted tobusinessanduniversityR&D. CSIRO butnowthatshareislessthan24%asGovernment investmenthas 50% ofCommonwealthexpenditureonR&Dwasforits ownagencieslike Commonwealth andStateGovernmentR&Dwasbarely static.In1982over disciplines. BusinessR&Dincreasedby60%,University R&D by44%but This increasehasbeendistributedunevenlyamongsectors andamong Australian researchexpenditureinrealterms(ietakingaccountofinflation). published ABSdata)therehasbeenanincreaseof42%inaggregate past decadeormore.Between1996/7and2004/5(themostrecently There hasbeenmajorstructuralchangesinAustralianR&Doverthe Taxonomy Hub, andNCRISALAgrant. As aresulttherehavebeensomerecentinvestments,suchastheCERF Biodiscovery report(2005)andtheStateofEnvironmentReport(2006). The casefortaxonomyhasalreadybeenmadeinpart,throughthePMSEIC the firststep. additional funding.Identifyingwhy, andtowhom,taxonomyisimportant taxonomists, theyneedtobuildacompellingcaseforwhytaxonomyneeds However, whiletheimportanceoftaxonomymaybeself-evidentto by governmentsonissuesofbiosecurityandenvironmentalsustainability. sciences. Itenablesotherdisciplinesandshouldinformdecision-making Taxonomy isa small field,anichedisciplinebutimportanttoallbiological S taxonomy.ppt www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/pubs/01-fasts- Presentation availablefrom: value propositions. identification ofendusers,gainingthirdpartyendorsementand identificationof Taxonomy needstobuildaclearcaseforpoliticalandfundingsupport, including It cannotbeassumedthatthesignificanceoftaxonomyisself-evident. A ynopsis bstract T axonomy, axonomy, realpolitik , funding funding , Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 27 There are interventions that could be made to There are interventions areas including weightings ensure viability of niche receive) or guaranteed (like regional universities places). But such minimum EFTSU (funded address the attractiveness, interventions do not Perhaps or otherwise, of taxonomy to students. which the problem is subjects like taxonomy, of study are inherently detailed, take a long time enables to reach a competence threshold that taxonomists need intellectual enjoyment. Perhaps teaching to look carefully at current methods of of engaging and presentation and search new ways career pathways need to be students. Critically, sector better articulated and not just into public employment. discipline, Although taxonomy is a relatively small the research it undertakes is fundamentally Taxonomy important to other biological sciences. is an enabling must be sustained, not just because it knowledge discipline, but also because taxonomical and skills are a form of insurance to ensure to meet Australia has some preparedness capability biosecurity. future risks in, say, Although the problem of funding is critical and dictated in part by government policies and structural issues in, for example, universities, taxonomy as a discipline must remain committed a sustainable path is the to its unique role. Finding challenge facing taxonomists. Surmounting this challenge will require pragmatism and realism, but also enthusiasm and passion. Under existing university funding structures, which fund student load in broad disciplinary areas rather than the institutional profile or strategic mission, niche areas like taxonomy are becoming unsustainable. There are many areas like taxonomy 30 or 40 where Australia may only need, say, graduates per annum, but they are needed. There are no codes for taxonomy in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) socio-economic data and if there are no codes then you are invisible. These needs to be addressed in the current review of ABS research classification. Morphological taxonomy, with its emphasis on Morphological taxonomy, citations, large monographs and generally low In the four may struggle in an RQF environment. taxonomy years before the RQF was announced, a share of research declined in real terms and as 2004, biological research. Between 2000 and expenditures aggregate government and university in microbial, animal and plants systematics, real terms taxonomy and phylogeny decreased in from $34m to $29m (in 2004/2005 prices) to $756m while biology increased from $672m (2004/2005 prices). Governments throughout the developed world are Governments throughout about setting priorities becoming more aggressive economic impacts from and demanding greater a globally competitive R&D in publicly-funded governments Various knowledge economy. more are also demanding universities become about transparent and rigorous in their claims RQF has quality (eg British RAE). Developing a already had a significant effect, with universities being more hard-nosed about what constitutes impacts are research activity and what outputs and required. 28 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses S ( Prof. U outh Wales) outh niversity of of niversity G erry erry C assis N ew ew

industrializing the taxonomic method taxonomic the industrializing and perspective global a impediment: taxonomic Australia’s taxa. For instance,oneworker maypinandpreparespecimens, another independent descriptivework undertakenbyindividualtaxonomistsforother on theMiridaeprojectproceeds byteamwork,ratherthanthetraditional research teamandthedivision oflabouramongmanyhands.Typically, work the successofprojecthave beentheculturalshiftengenderedin publishing thedescriptionof almost700species.Themainmechanismsfor species ofMiridae.Initsfirsttwoyears,theprojecthas succeededin Under thePBImodel,projectaimedtoformallydescribe over1500 widely adoptedforAustralianresearch. taxonomy oftheinsectfamilyMiridae(Hemiptera), PBI modelshouldbe training plans.BasedonthesuccessofarecentNSFPBI projectonthe capitalises onrecentadvancesininformationtechnology andincorporates cosmopolitan andmonophyletictaxamustadoptan approachthat the biodiversityofproblematictaxonomicgroups.PBIprojects focuson Inventory (PBI)aimstoestablishinternationalresearchteams todocument some oftheremainingundocumented80%.ThePlanetaryBiodiversity ambitious programtocatalogueglobalbiodiversityandurgently The NationalScienceFoundation (NSF)in theUSAhascommencedan 20% hasbeendescribed. Australia’s alone.Oftheapproximately10millionspeciesonEarth,only At most,only25%isdocumented.Theseproblemsarenot,however, to replacethem.Secondly, Australia’sfloraandfaunaarestillunknown. are reachingretirementageandtherefewup-comingtaxonomists taxonomic researchcapacityisdeclining,chieflybecausemosttaxonomists Taxonomy inAustralia suffersfromtwoperennialissues.Firstly, Australia’s S taxonomic-impediment.ppt www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/pubs/02-cassis- Presentation availablefrom: discussion ofanalternativeforand/orenhancementexisting solutions. one approachtoexpeditingthetaxonomiceffort,anditservesas a modelfor teams, withanemphasisoncybertaxonomyandpostgraduatetraining. Thisis Planetary BiodiversityInventory, aredesignedtobringtogetherinternational Global perspectives,suchastheUSNationalScienceFoundation program’s Australia andheadinginthewrongdirection. tacitly thoughttobeinsufficientin attention, isacaseinpoint.Capacitytoaddresstheseperceived shortfalls is collections, andmagnitudeofthedescriptiveeffortareissuesthat require wheretheclassificatoryframework,adequacyofexisting Hemisphere. Australia, The taxonomicimpedimentisprimarilyanissuefororganismsof theSouthern A ynopsis bstract Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 29 research clusters would do much to develop the research clusters would through the establishment of a field of taxonomy in Australia. A critical critical mass of researchers to develop momentum for mass has the ability taxon-based research clusters research. Further, for would enhance and promote opportunities sustainable early career researchers and develop museums and herbaria are career paths. Currently, under strain and the adoption of cross-institutional would partnerships through the research clusters model do much to alleviate this strain. The PBI modern provides an inspirational example of how technology and the assemblage of efficient, achieve well-resourced teams can interact to crisis in the significant advances in alleviating the documentation of global biodiversity. The Miridae project is a remarkable example of The Miridae project is a remarkable example On the strength successful practice in taxonomy. of this positive experience from the Miridae widely PBI project, similar models should be taxon-based adopted in Australia. The founding of may complete morphometric measurements, still may complete morphometric illustrations and another another the taxonomic genitalia. Data is then the description of terminal multi-authored taxonomic compiled into one of labour has increased description. This division be prepared the speed with which descriptions can over and has diminished feelings of territoriality an inclusive research. This cultural shift has created The incorporation of information collegiality. also technology into the Miridae project has enhanced resulted in time benefits. Accurate and workers databasing and record keeping by extra profitably has freed valuable time that is now more efforts. diverted to microscopy and collecting future research could be hampered However, and IT by the inability to maintain staffing levels funding resources after the expiration of current allocations. 30 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses M ( L Pauline Prof. U adiges adiges elbourne) niversity of of niversity

training S     number ofsources: academic climateisnotbright.Funding forresearchpresentlycomesfroma The futurefortaxonomyandsystematicsinthecurrent funding and is nothighimpact,andundertheRQF, failstoimpress. historical fundingsuccessrates.Taxonomy doesnotattractfundsorstudents, that newappointmentswithinuniversitiesaredrivenby impact factorsand prescribed bytheResearch QualityFramework (RFQ).TheRQFhasmeant are concernedwithattractingfundsandmeetingtheperformance indicators corresponding revivaltobeobservedinAustralia.InAustralia, universities USA andUKsystematicsresearchisenjoyingarenaissance,thereno between 1976and1991.Althoughthereissomeindicationthatinthe appointment rateforsystematistsacrosstheleadingtwentyuniversities on systematicsresearch.IntheUK,therewasa50%declinein Domestically andinternationally, universitiesareplacingreducedemphasis even tosupportexistingstafflevelsinsystematicsresearch. recruiting taxonomistsandsystematists.Universitiesarenolongerwilling Universities, thetraditionalemployersofsystematists,areincreasingly not impediments toyoungscientistswantingundertakesystematicsresearch. career opportunities,lackoffundingandsecuretenurearemajor taxonomists, theworkforceisdoggedbynumerousproblems.Alackof to contemporarysociety. Sadly, despitethecriticalneedforworking management issues,makesthesebiologicalsciencesvitallyrelevant and systematics,biosecurity, biodiversity, conservationandresource the managementofnaturalresources.Theinterplaybetweentaxonomy However, taxonomyandsystematicsareimportantdisciplinesthatunderpin Taxonomy and systematicsarewidelyperceivedtobeanachronistic. S ladiges-systematics.ppt www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/pubs/03- Presentation availablefrom: significant researchfundingandhavinghighcitationsaresuccess measures. number ofacademicstaffpositionsinauniversityenvironmentwhere attracting and collections.However, thereisaneedtoreversethepast declineinthe Universities makeanimportantcontributiontosystematicresearch, training A ynopsis ystematics — — ystematics bstract CERF ABRS ARC Linkage ARC Discovery U niversity research and and research niversity Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 31 Furthermore, fully-funded fellowship programs fellowship fully-funded Furthermore, should be developed. As spanning entire careers should aim to support a minimum, fellowships Fellowship to fifteen years. researchers for ten would create security programs on this scale of tenure for researchers, an unprecedented achievement for non-academic research By appointments in Australian universities. changes in undertaking massive and constructive significant inroads can be the university sector, in made in slowing and reversing the downturn Australia. systematics and taxonomy research in of urgency, Changes should be made as a matter to ensure future capacity for this important biological research in Australia. Other small domestic grants and student Other small domestic awards e.g. NSF (USA) International alliances, Remedial action within universities should be action within universities should Remedial to multi-faceted. Changes need to be made staffing student levels and recruitment rates, levels, opportunities for funding and potential has career pathways. An innovative MSc program been proposed at the University of Melbourne (see Appendix III). The program is aimed at increasing student participation rates and producing graduates within generic skills in systematics that meet employer expectations. In addition, the introduction of cross-appointments between universities and museums or herbaria through memoranda of understanding would do much to enhance career opportunities for researchers. It would have extended benefit to students through the demonstration of career paths and the ready access to specialist knowledge. Of these sources, only ABRS and CERF funding Of these sources, only systematics are targeted chiefly at taxonomy and these agencies are not research. Unfortunately, bodies. The well-resourced compared with other million is in total 2007 ABRS grant budget of $2.4 Centre stark contrast to the $2 million each ARC particular of Excellence receives per annum. Of taxonomic concern is that the ARC does not fund agencies research. The focus of traditional funding is to on Government-defined research priorities and the detriment of taxonomy and systematics, actively dissuades the free pursuit of more broadly, research excellence.   32 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses H G A H A ( Prof. U delaide delaide and delaide ardens and and ardens erbarium) of ead niversity of of niversity A ndy ndy S B cience, cience, otanic otanic L owe owe S tate tate

M and theanalysis ofspeciesdiversityfromenvironments historicallydifficult the developmentofgenetic distance-based measuresofspeciesidentity morphologists fromtaxonomic research.Potential usesofbarcodinginclude powerful oneifusedappropriately, andnot ameansofostracising estimates ofspeciesidentity and diversity. Itisjustanothertool,avery Barcoding isamethodusing DNAmarkerstoproviderapidandaccurate DNA barcodingisarelativelyrecentinnovationwithinmolecular taxonomy. fundamental questionsinsystematicsandevolution. allow taxonomicresearcherstoaddress,withgreaterlevels ofconfidence, approach, usingcomplementarymolecularandmorphological methods,will are anadditionaltoolintheresearchkitfortaxonomists. Asynergetic molecular methodswillnotmakemorphologyobsolete. Molecularmethods historical disunitybetweenmorphologistsandmolecular systematists, Despite assert moreconfidentlyhypothesesofvicarianceandco-evolution. phylogenies inferredfrommoleculardatahaveenabled researchers to patterns ofmorphologicaltraitandadaptiveevolution.Therobust Using molecularmethods,morphologistsarenowabletoinvestigate molecular geneticshasgreatlyenrichedthestudyofevolutionarybiology. thanmakingmorphologicaltaxonomyredundant,however,Rather species conceptsandtheprocessesofhybridisation. population studiesandhaveenabledresearcherstobetterunderstand dates throughmolecularclocks.Molecularmethodshavealsopenetrated of phylogeny. Further, thesemethodsallowfortheestimationofdivergence methods isabletoprovidetaxonomistswithrobust,independentestimates benefit totaxonomyandevolutionarybiology. Theuseofmolecular approaches totaxonomy. Moleculartechniqueshavebeenofimmense an increasedpublicprofile,incontrasttomoretraditional,morphological Molecular genetics(phylogenetics)andtaxonomyisenjoyingsuccess S molecular-genetic-applications.ppt www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/pubs/04-lowe- Presentation availablefrom: community shouldembrace. taxonomic expertise valuableanduseableinnewways,onetheAustralian new tool.Itwillbeonethatmakeourcurrenttaxonomiccollections and identification and biodiversity assessment, DNA barcoding will be a very powerful increased accesstofundingandspeedaccuracyofspecies species study, hasthepotentialtorevolutionisestudyoftaxonomy. Through DNA barcoding,acombinationofmorphologicalandmolecularmethods of A ynopsis bstract olecular genetic applications and barcoding and applications genetic olecular Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 33 In order that Australian taxonomists are ready to In order that Australian taxonomists are in the face the challenge of undertaking research begin new barcoding age, taxonomists should taxonomists Primarily, community. a as preparations to liaise need to organise groups that are ready (e.g. iBOL). with international barcoding projects barcoding should be budgeted for in Additionally, existing and newly proposed taxonomic research of Australian genetic programs. Repositories material (DNA banks) should be established and these banks integrated with specimen data and existing morphological collections. By undertaking these steps and developing common modes of best practice, Australian taxonomists will be well positioned to capitalise on the looming DNA barcoding revolution. cores and of stygofauna. Barcoding, as an exciting cores and of stygofauna. capture the attention of new technique, could incorporating barcoding funding bodies, as projects industries such as mining, programs will benefit are where rapid assessments of biodiversity needed to ensure environmental sustainability. databases, DNA barcoding projects will amass vast track future and this resource can also be used to the present changes in species distributions from The functionality of any DNA barcoding day. depends crucially on the however, endeavour, rigorous maintenance of reference collections. They Here, morphologists will play a vital role. coming years may even be in increased demand in to establish and curate such collections. to assess, such as the biodiversity within sediment to assess, such as the 34 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses H A ( D C ustralian ustralian erbarium) r Kevin Kevin r urator, Western Western urator, T hiele hiele

management and conservation planning in in planning Western conservation and management A commenced and initiatednewworksonthe descriptionofadditional completion oftaxonomicmanuscripts andmonographsthathadalready throughout Australia.Through thisnetwork,theECRsfacilitated collaborative researchlinkswith approximatelyseventyplanttaxonomists while focussingontheareas ofhighminingprospectivity. Theyestablished stored intheherbariumand highlightprioritiesforimmediatedescription team”, whichaimedtomoveinquickly, sortthroughthecopiousmaterial to undertakethetaxonomicstudies.TheECRsformed a taxonomic“SWAT Three earlycareerresearchers(ECRs)wereappointed to theSOSproject and identifythisunknownflora. project, essentiallyanalpha-taxonomytheWAH aimedtocatalogue for effectiveandrationalconservationpolicyplanning. UndertheSOS is vitaltothecorrectidentificationof Western Australia’sfloraandessential in regionsofhighminingprospectivity. Formal description oftheseplants immense concernthatalargeproportionoftheseplants isknowntooccur legislation, andareoftenknownonlybytheircollectionlocalitynames.Itisof orPriorityundescribed speciesarelistedasDeclaredRare Floraunderstate (~500). Thesetaxarepresent13%ofWestern Australia’s flora.Manyofthe formally described(~1,700),manyofwhichareconservationsignificance There arealargenumberofWestern Australianflora species yettobe project weredetailedandassessed. Thirteen monthsintotheproject,progressandoutcomesofWAH Herbarium (WAH) wasawardedagrantundertheSOS programin2006. was providedwith$15milliontoachieveitstargets.TheWestern Australian scheme, witheachprojectrunningamaximumdurationoftwoyears,and “Saving OurSpecies”(SOS)programwasdevisedasashort-termfunding to addresscriticalconservationissuesamongWestern Australian biota.The In 2006,aWestern Australiangovernmentinitiativewas createdthataimed S alpha-taxonomy.ppt www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/pubs/05-thiele- Presentation availablefrom: occurring inareasofhighminingprospectivity. towards high-throughputtaxonomicresolutionofarangeundescribed species researchers attheWestern Herbariumhasbeenworkingsuccessfully Australian limits conservationpolicyandplanning.Since2006,ateamofthree earlycareer legislation, thelackofknowledgethesetaxaandpoortaxonomic resolution conservation significance.Althoughundescribedtaxacanbelisted understate A highproportionofundescribedknowntaxainWestern isof Australia A ynopsis bstract lpha-taxonomy underpinning land land underpinning lpha-taxonomy A ustralia Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 35 Although the SOS project at the WAH is enjoying project at the WAH Although the SOS a few factors have emerged remarkable success, to future taxonomic that stand as caveats that the enthusiastic endeavours. It is clear and its results has come reception for this project focus. primarily from the sharp alpha-taxonomic That is, taxonomic revisions and higher-level of systematic treatises do not have the appeal are new discoveries. Although these treatments they a vital component of modern taxonomy, hundred lack the funding punch of “look — one research will new species!” So, while higher-level of any continue to comprise an important part for the purposes of marketing taxonomic study, these taxonomy to funding bodies and industry, works are of little utility. with respect Industry and governments, especially undertaken to the burgeoning mining activity being need to know about species. Australia, in Western where they They need to know what are they, their are and what their vulnerability is, not the doors phylogenetic interrelationships. Opening industry to additional funding and capitalising on opportunities means understanding this need and responding to these questions. Alpha-taxonomy, perhaps sometimes unkindly seen as lacking the razzamatazz of other molecular systematic research, has a golden marketing opportunity in to Keys the shape of such voyages of discovery. the success of future taxonomic research lie in realising this potential and harnessing it under well- organised and focused teams committed to quality output. The production of high-quality alpha-taxonomic research outputs by the ECRs has been enormously well-received by the Western Australian government and public alike. This project has taken alpha-taxonomy out of the back rooms of the herbarium straight to the hearts of the people. There is a broad appeal for the discovery of new things among the public, and politicians too enjoy the feel-good factor of news of these unearthings. The SOS project has therefore been successful in not only achieving a high rate of descriptive taxonomy and enhancing the careers of taxonomists, but in making alpha-taxonomy visible, palatable and appealing to funders and the public. Although the SOS project is barely half completed, Although the SOS project is barely half remarkable strengths and positive outcomes and can already be seen from this intensive The collaborative approach to alpha-taxonomy. is an on-going utility of the taxonomic network to enhancement to the capacity of the ECRs descriptive continue to publish robust and enduring through the “baptism of fire” works. Further, which the ECRs have emerged has prepared taxonomic them as astute and highly competent a wealth professionals. The ECRs have garnered in an and breadth of taxonomic experience amazingly brief period and are now well-able to handle any future taxonomic research. 45 publications and put into print 95 new species, 45 publications and taxa. This work 78 of which are conservation and a mammoth represents a vast undertaking in thirteen short months. taxonomic achievement on By employing three dedicated taxonomists of sorting the focused, discrete and daunting task project a massive taxonomic backlog, the SOS and the young ECRs have made a spectacular knowledge contribution to the understanding and unique and at-risk flora. Australia’s of Western material. To date, the ECRs have amassed a total of date, the ECRs material. To 36 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses A ( M D ustralian ustralian r r irector, irector, F rank rank H M owarth useum)

F contribution it makestobiologicalresearch. enjoy greatervisibilityandreceive themuch-neededrespectforvaluable applied taxonomy, fundingwillflowmore easily. Further, taxonomywill programs toaddresstheneeds ofthecommunity. Underthismodelof focused teamsthatinitiallyidentify keyareasforresearchthentailor A new paradigmforresearchis needed,whereintaxonomistsformpartof or timelyresultsforcriticalandurgentissuesrequiringtaxonomic input. Ultimately, this reactionaryapproachisunlikelytoyieldtailored,appropriate “retro-fit” theirresearchtoemergingenvironmentaloragriculturalproblems. of researchbasedonobjectivesexternaltoproblems,then attemptto taxonomists arepredominantlytaxon-based.Taxonomists pursueavenues In Australia,currentapproachestoresearchandfunding applicationsby taxonomic research. research fociand,instead,launchingwhole-heartedlyinto problem-based revamp theirtraditionalapproach,abandoningsubjective taxon-based will becriticaltoovercomingtheseproblems.Taxonomists musttherefore challenges. Inmanyinstances,informedandreliabletaxonomicopinion Taxonomy has an importantroletoplayinmeetingandaddressingthese biosecurity concerns,invasivemarineorganismsandlanddegradation. environmental andsocioeconomicproblems,suchascroppestcontrol, researchprograms.Currently,results-oriented Australiafacesnumerous of currentfundingclimates,bothstateandfederal,whichfavourtargeted, The historicaltaxon-focusoftaxonomicresearchisanachronisticintheface fashioned, out-datedandunnecessary. newsworthy. Moreover, thecommunityperceivestaxonomyasold- main, covertaxonomy. Onlywhenitmeetstechnologydoesbecome An examination ofthepopularpressrevealsmediadoesnot,in Taxonomists’ work isnotvisibleandtaxonomistsarevalued. S howarth-future-directions.ppt www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/pubs/06- Presentation availablefrom: solvers, abouthowtoachievethis,isalsoneeded. and communicationbetweeneducators,funders,problemowners and problem and careerstructurewithtaxonomyasapart,notanendinitself. Coordination between taxonomistsontheprioritiesandabroader-based trainingapproach the needforit,and/orthinksenoughisalreadyknown.Agreement is needed universities, andveryfewjobs.Thebroadercommunitydoesnot understand Taxonomy isfacedwithfewstudents,opportunitiestolearnin inAustralia A ynopsis uture directions for for directions uture bstract T axonomy in in axonomy A ustralia Appendix I: Keynote Addresses 37 iscussion reality that Mr Howarth urged taxonomists to use an accept, understand and work within. To evolutionary biology example, taxonomists must adapt to the current conditions, lest they become extinct. This view is pragmatic and perfunctory, with funding constraints dictating the path for taxonomy as an applied, problem-based discipline. D of taxonomy as a service- The reconceptualisation achieving solutions for pressing industry focused on problems was received with commercial and social by forum a mixture of enthusiasm and scepticism through participants. Some argued it was only the academic freedom to pursue taxon-based will continue research that some problems are and position of to be identified; that it is only from a isolated. knowledge that some problems are ever Mr Howarth argued that an applied However, that will approach to taxonomy is the only one This secure funds from modern funding structures. from argument was in contrast to the presentations Professor earlier speakers, such as Mr Smith and the who argued that, rather than altering Ladiges, agencies approach of taxonomists, it is funding funding that must change approach. They argued must extend beyond the narrow prescriptive defined boundaries of popularly and arbitrarily in pure, research priorities and support excellence research. discovery-focused The disparity in the philosophical approaches to funding allocation reflects a fundamental schism There are within the scientific community. those who believe that science exists to serve must address that scientists the community, community problems and emerge, triumphant, with definitive answers. Others, contrastingly, contend that science is, as the word itself suggests, the pursuit of knowledge. They contend that having this knowledge be harnessed to the benefit of the community is a bonus, but that for the purpose science exists fundamentally, of knowledge building. Current funding models favour a utilitarian view of science, and it is this Current taxon-based approaches to research are Current taxon-based approaches to research They are not serving the taxonomic community. and diminishing the reputation of the discipline impeding taxonomy’s ability to obtain funding in although a results-based climate. Furthermore, taxonomists and the services they taxonomy, provide are fundamental to Australia’s biological approaches to research current research capacity, Lag-times are not serving the user community. in the solving of biological problems have economic and social consequences. Crucial to the continuance of important taxonomic research is a total reconfiguration of negative perceptions of the must unite behind the discipline. Taxonomists model of applied taxonomic research strategies. Marketing the function of and contributions made by taxonomists, through the adoption of a can and problem-based approach to taxonomy, will bring about positive outcomes for taxonomic research in Australia. research strategies, the taxonomic community research strategies, existing infrastructure and must better develop Databases and inventories of modes of working. continue to be developed. It is the biosphere must to develop important for taxonomists to continue and use existing technologies and bioinformatics research tools, as this will keep taxonomy escape the contemporary and help the discipline pseudo-negative perceptions of it as an antiquated science. In addition, structured postgraduate and training and the evolution of meaningful to ameliorate sustainable career paths will do much The applied the problems of low student numbers. taxonomy model can make a key contribution here, as increased opportunities for employment will come with increased funding. Parallel to the adoption of applied taxonomic to the adoption of applied taxonomic Parallel 38 Appendix I: Keynote Addresses Appendix II: Case Studies in Taxonomy 39 axonomy T

: II tudies in S endix ase App C 40 Appendix II: Case Studies in Taxonomy ( D CSIRO r r D avid avid

E ntomology) Y eates eates

Varroa destructor Varroa jacobsoni 1 ( Indonesian archipelago.Anewspeciesofmite in southernmainlandAsia,Malaysia,andthe to berestrictedonestrainofthehoneybee One speciesofmite( in theOrientalregion. mites ontheirprimaryhost,theEasternhoneybee, colleagues clarifiedthetaxonomicstatusofthese genus, DenisAnderson(CSIROEntomology)and question thetaxonomyofspecieswithin industries. Following evidencethatcalledinto threat toAustralia’sbeekeepingandpollination not occurinAustralia,andareamajorbiosecurity cause diseaseinWestern honeybees.Theydo No. 46,July2007). of 27%(ACIAR ImpactAssessmentSeries Report ofReturn (IRR) ratio of17:1andanInternal Rate Present Value (NPV)terms,withabenefitcost from thisworktothetuneof $66.4millioninNet assessment showedthatAustralia hasbenefited the destructormite.Anindependenteconomic susceptible toattackbythetwogenotypesof search formechanismsthatmakebeepopulations management strategies, and allowed researchers to officials tobettertargetbiosecurityandincursion This clarificationallowedAustralianquarantine honeybee brood. because the