Species, Science and Society : The Role of Systematic Biology

"This book presents an engaging and accessible examination of the role of systematic biology in species exploration and biodiversity conservation. Our planet and systematic biology are at a crossroads Millions of species face an imminent threat of extinction and with knowledge of only a fraction of earth's species, we are unprepared to respond. Species, Science and Society explains what is at stake if we continue to ignore the traditional mission of systematics. Rejecting claims that it is too late to document earth's species, that molecular evidence is sufficient, and that comparative morphology and the grand traditions of systematics are outdated, this book makes a compelling argument for a taxonomic renaissance. The book challenges readers to rethink assumptions about systematics. Shattering myths and misconceptions and clarifying the role of systematics in confronting mass extinction, it hopes to inspire a new generation of systematists. Readers are given a deeply personal view of the mission, motivations and rewards of systematic biology. Written in narrative style with passion, wit and optimism, it is the first book to question the growing dominance of molecular data, defend descriptive taxonomy and propose a mission to discover, describe and classify all species. Our evolutionary heritage, the fate of society and the future of the planet depend on what we do next. This book will be of great interest to academics, researchers and professionals working in systematics, taxonomy and biodiversity conservation, as well as students with a basic background in biology"-- Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Acnkowledgments Part I Overview 1 A Little About Molecules Further Reading 2 Scientific Malpractice Further Reading 3 The Science of Species Further Reading 4 The Art of Survival Further Reading 5 Cosmology of the Life Sciences Further Reading 6 Choices History Conservation Quality of Life Further Reading 7 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Taxonomy But Were Afraid to Ask Playing to Your Strengths Theoretical Systematics Beauty, Awe and Wonder Intellectual Intimacy Science Con Amore Creative Scientific Writing Intellectual Excitement Adventure of Exploration Accountability and Recognition Greater Than Self Joy, Humor and a Little Naughty Note Further Reading 8 A Science Misunderstood Greatly Species Are Arbitrary Systematics Is “Merely Descriptive” Systematics Is a Service DNA “Reveals” Phylogenetic Relationships DNA Data Is Superior Anything an Amateur Can Do Can’t Be Serious Science Natural History Collections Are a Relic of a Bygone Age Systematics Ought to Conform to the Precepts of Other Sciences Further Reading 9 The Species-Scape Further Reading 10 The Illusion of Knowledge What Is a Species? What Species Are There? What Is the Tree of Life? What Is the History of Character Transformations? Where Are Species Distributed, Geographically and Ecologically? How Have Species Distributions Changed Through Time? How Can Classifications Be Predictive? How Can Taxonomic Knowledge Be Leveraged for Biomimetic Solutions? Further Reading 11 Morphology Without Apology Note Further Reading 12 The Inventory Imperative A Taxonomic Inventory Return On Investment Language of Biodiversity Phylogenetic Classification: General Reference System Further Reading 13 Other Than That, Mrs. Lincoln, How Was the Play? Morality, Ethics and Conservation Further Reading Part II A Crisis of Crises 14 Extinction Further Reading 15 Systematics Under Siege Further Reading 16 The Nature Gap Further Reading 17 Options for a Sustainable Future Further Reading Part III Solutions 18 Taxonomic Renaissance Cybertaxonomy Collecting By Proxy Send in the SWAT Team Teamwork Citizen Scientists and Crowd-Sourced Identifications e-Monography Doing Your Own Thing ... Together Modern Museum Biomimetic Ideation Perception Through Reality Further Reading 19 A Planetary-Scale Species Inventory Twelve Elements of a Taxonomic Inventory of All Species Further Reading 20 Hall of the Holocene A Day at the Museum Commentary On Natural History Museum Leadership Behind the Scenes Outreach, Education and Hands-On Citizen Science Keeping It Real Summary Further Reading 21 Shameless Self-Promotion Top 10 New Species Species Hall of Fame Celebrity Names Making Species Discovery Count Further Reading 22 The Evolution of Evolutionary Economics Further Reading Epilogue Note Further Reading Epilogue Glossary Index