Biological Systematics

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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

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Biosecurity and TradeKarnal bunt (Tilletia
indica) quarantine emergency, March 2004

• Wheat exports to Pakistan rejected because of
  (alleged) Karnal bunt presence in shipments
• Karnal bunt not known to occur in Australia
• Spore look-a-likes
• Tilletia walkeri ryegrass Australia
• Tilletia horrida rice not in Australia
• Tilletia ehrhartae Ehrharta Australia
• Tilletia rugispora Paspalum not in Australia

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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

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• 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

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• Where do universities fit in the picture?
• Systematists work in universities as
  researchers, teachers and keepers of collections
• Decline in emphasis and appointments over
  decades
• - 50 decline 1976-1991 in 20 leading UK univs
  (Select Committee, House of Lords 1991 report)
• - Aging cohort and loss of expertise
• But has the tide turned for systematics??
• Taxonomy is on the thresh-hold of a
  renaissance
• (House of Lords 2002 - the threat to the science
  underpinning conservation)
• Systematics (molecular phylogenetics science)
  strong in USA

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7m
Research income

• Australian University environment today
• Universities driven by recruiting scientists who
  bring in big research dollars, publications, high
  impact scores
• Research quality Framework (RQF) driving choices
  and appointments
• Taxonomy does not attract large grants limited
  funding opportunities for research projects,
  research fellowships, student project support

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• 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

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• Research funding sources and levels
• ABRS declining and limited funds _at_ 2.4 m in
  2007 (Compare 2 m per annum for 1 Centre of
  Excellence)
• CERF 11 substantial environmental grants 5
  fellowships (c. 200 relevant applications 8
  success rate) 1 taxonomy hub no taxonomy
  grants/fellowships
• Foundations provide important but small funds
  (Hermon Slade ABRS ASBS Eichler student
  awards)
• International linkage opportunities (e.g. NSF)

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• 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)

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• 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

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• 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

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Strategy 3 Bigger grant scheme for
systematics - More than taxonomy tools, more
than ABRS can currently support - Cannot expect
universities to put in 50 cash, but
infrastructure available, e.g. for molecular
work - Compare NSF systematics panel, big
research projects (tree of life, comparative
biology), influential participants, profile of
phylogenetic systematics currently high - Do not
restrict grants only to narrow priority areas
but support excellence
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• Strategy 4
• Enhance career pathways
• - Fully funded fellowship program (postdocs and
  senior fellowships to allow for gt3 years)
  prestigious, based on excellence - raises profile
• - As the new generation of experts, postdocs
  train students, increase systematics output
• Long-term goal?
• Consider an endowment fund for fellowships
• Future Fund? ?Through the Academy