Biological Systematics Consider the discussion in terms of “Systematics” broadly Systematics (including taxonomy) is the study of relationships of organisms, characters, distributions, evolution,
Download ReportTranscript Biological Systematics Consider the discussion in terms of “Systematics” broadly Systematics (including taxonomy) is the study of relationships of organisms, characters, distributions, evolution,
Biological Systematics Consider the discussion in terms of “Systematics” broadly Systematics (including taxonomy) is the study of relationships of organisms, characters, distributions, evolution, classification… Systematics is fundamental to all biological science endeavors, but need to sell the message - should be easy! Knowledge underpins applied areas: Biosecurity Biodiversity conservation Resource management and ecology etc Biosecurity and Trade Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) quarantine emergency, March 2004 • Wheat exports to Pakistan rejected because of (alleged) Karnal bunt presence in shipments • Karnal bunt not known to occur in Australia: • • • • Spore look-a-likes Tilletia walkeri – ryegrass – Australia Tilletia horrida – rice – not in Australia Tilletia ehrhartae – Ehrharta – Australia Tilletia rugispora – Paspalum – not in Australia National Diagnostic protocol • Samples surveyed from every port wheat store in Australia - national diagnostic protocol in place • Did find T. indica-like spores in 60% of samples • But not T. indica based on herbarium comparison • Fungus determined as T. ehrhartae • Reassurance of trading partners that Australian trade is science-based • Resumption of $4billion wheat export trade The Problem: Need to boost systematic skill base, career structure & outputs ABRS Survey 2003 echoed previous reports 53% of respondents (taxonomists) were aged 45+ years Main factors impacting taxonomic workforce identified: Lack of career opportunities Lack of funding Limited opportunities for young people Lack of security of tenure Where do universities fit in the picture? Systematists work in universities as researchers, teachers and keepers of collections Decline in emphasis and appointments over decades - 50% decline 1976-1991 in 20 leading UK univ’s (Select Committee, House of Lords 1991 report) - Aging cohort and loss of expertise But has the tide turned for systematics?? “Taxonomy is on the thresh-hold of a renaissance” (House of Lords 2002 - the threat to the science underpinning conservation) Systematics (molecular phylogenetics & science) strong in USA 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 $0 $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $7m $ 2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 Research income $ 3 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $ 4 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $ 5 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $ 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $ 7 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $ 8 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 Australian University environment today Universities driven by recruiting scientists who bring in big research dollars, publications, high impact scores Research quality Framework (RQF) driving choices and appointments Taxonomy does not attract large grants; limited funding opportunities for research projects, research fellowships, student project support B otany Research funding sources and levels ARC Discovery: c. 20% success rate overall; does not support “taxonomy” but may support phylogeny (molecular systematics), biogeography, evolution ARC Linkage: c. 50% success rate; 100% for plant systematics at U Melbourne Botany & RBGMelbourne Success relates to: Clear project, strong track record Strong partner support and involvement Cash and in-kind contributions Research funding sources and levels ABRS: declining and limited funds @ $2.4 m in 2007 (Compare $2 m per annum for 1 Centre of Excellence) CERF: 11 substantial environmental grants & 5 fellowships (c. 200 relevant applications; 8% success rate); 1 taxonomy hub; no taxonomy grants/fellowships Foundations provide important but small funds (Hermon Slade; ABRS & ASBS Eichler student awards) International linkage opportunities (e.g. NSF) Strategies for turning the tide in universities Strategy 1 Attracting students Emphasise systematics not just taxonomy. Systematics is attractive to students: offer context-based teaching and provide generic skills that enhance employment prospects and flexibility Involve experts from herbaria etc (e.g. RBG Melbourne fungal experts), and field visits to emphasise potential employment, broad skills (e.g. IT and bioinformatics) Example Melbourne undergraduate courses: Year 1 Biology of Australian flora and fauna Year 2 Flora of Victoria; Plant Biodiversity Year 3 Field Botany; Plant Systematics & Evolution; Marine Botany; Volunteer herbarium program Melbourne Postgraduate training: 4th year honours to be phased out Moving to MSc with more coursework, e.g packaged with conservation biology “tools for understanding/managing biodiversity etc” - less costly, professional training PhD research-based; more expensive Turning the tide in universities Strategy 2: Get systematists on staff Consider joint appointments (Perth, Adelaide, Cairns); formal linkages (Melbourne) Convince colleagues (ecologists etc) they need us Must attract research funds & publish Create a critical mass with postdocs & linkages 98 59 98 94 65 65 98 Strategy 3: Bigger grant scheme for systematics 52 1 00 83 1 00 52 81 78 75 76 98 65 98 1 00 1 00 7 8 61 1 00 90 1 00 96 93 67 1 00 54 - More than taxonomy & tools, more than ABRS can currently support 61 61 1 00 85 65 53 76 54 1 00 - Compare NSF: systematics panel, big research projects (tree of life, comparative biology), influential participants, profile of phylogenetic systematics currently high 1 00 1 00 93 52 83 - Cannot expect universities to put in 50% cash, but infrastructure available, e.g. for molecular work - Do not restrict grants only to narrow “priority areas” but support excellence 70 1 00 1 00 54 66 fili cifol gl aucoca r irr ora taA ch inch ill SR A4 1Alep tra chp hlo na no dea lb Afulva SR A7 Aca rd sil vestri SR A6 Ad ecu mabe llae E D M21 3Afal ca esie lla cu ltrifo r br ach ybo t br uin oio d D M21 8Aeut ch ryse lla macra de ni Amitch el SR A2 Ae lat jo nesiiA8 ob tusata E D M22 0Alat D M40 9Aleu D M40 6Aspe D M41 0Agen di mid iata cin cin nat cyper oph y ra mu losa G D M30 6Atum limba taG8 or tho car p D M40 0Aros citrino vi JM211Amu l sti puli ge ha me rsle y do ratoxyl bu lga en si rh odo ph lo de nticulo acuminta G ne rvo sa9 0 pa chycar p te trag on o co chle ar i micro car p nysso phyl en ter oca r er iop oda G sclero ph y pa pyo ca pr D MAmel vil ca lcico la rig en sFA9 da wsoni iG D M20 1Alon mucro na ta le ptal eaE tri pter aG de lph ina E w anyuGB48 pa tag iata D M20 8Ave r D M25 0Aosw el ong ata F co gna taFB ru pico laE D M21 0Ame l br acte ola D M32 6Acol D M30 2Atra S7 0p latyc D M32 7p lat D M32 7Apla fla gel lif ha llia naE in trica ta S3 7murr ay S6 7murr ay S4 5p ach ya S5 7p rae lo S3 4su br ig S3 5g ela si su ave ole n S3 6a nth oc ia equ ilob JM19 6Aa ph sa lign aEA D M32 3Aamp D M22 4Aala D M26 9Adru id iomorp h Acacia myr D M26 8Apul D M24 6Aspi in cryvaC 8 D M27 1Aado D M27 0Alyc sp ond ylo o S4 9vi ctC S S6 0vi ctC N S5 1a rida L S2 6vi ctW A S4 2vi ctW A S1 6vi ctN S S5 2a rida C S4 6vi ctQL S5 8vi ctC O S4 7vi ctD G S4 8vi ctD G S6 1vi ctD G S5 9vi ctKI D M411Avic S2 8g lau co S6 8sh ayga S4 4synch r S6 6synch r S3 3ch ar ta S4 3ch ar ta S3 0ryan ia S2 9a lexa n S5 6stron g S5 4d empst S4 0p yrifo S6 4a pha no S3 8morr is S2 7a pha no S3 9in ae qu S4 1marr am S5 5p icka r S3 1cu sp id S6 9lo ng is Pa raseri a JM41 7Lysi Strategy 4: Enhance career pathways - Fully funded fellowship program (postdocs and senior fellowships to allow for >3 years): prestigious, based on excellence - raises profile - As the new generation of experts, postdocs train students, increase systematics output - Long-term goal? Consider an endowment fund for fellowships ”Future Fund”? ?Through the Academy