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
 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
$0

$7m $1,000,000

$2,000,000

Research income $3,000,000

Botany $4,000,000

$5,000,000

$6,000,000

$7,000,000

$8,000,000

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
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

 filicifol
glaucocar
irrorat aA
chinchill
SRA41Alep
trachphlo
nanodealb
Afulva
SRA7Acard
silvestri
98 SRA6Adecu
mabellaeE
59 DM213Afal
caesiella
cultrifor
98 brachybot
bruinoiod
94 DM218Aeut
chrysella
macradeni
Amitchel
SRA2Aelat
jonesiiA8
65 obtusataE
DM220Alat
DM409Aleu
DM406Aspe
DM410Agen
dimidiata
cincinnat
65 cyperophy
ramulosaG

Strategy 3:
DM306Atum
98 limbat aG8
orthocarp
DM400Aros
cit rinovi
JM211Amul
stipulige
hamersley
83 doratoxyl
52 bulgaensi
rhodophlo
100 100 denticulo
acumint aG
nervosa90
pachycarp
52 tetragono
cochleari
microcarp
nyssophyl
75 enterocar
81 eriopodaG
78 sclerophy
papyocapr

Bigger grant scheme for systematics

DMAmelvil
76 calcicola
rigensFA9
dawsoniiG
98 DM201Alon
mucronata
leptaleaE
tripteraG
delphinaE
wanyuGB48
patagiat a
DM208Aver
DM250Aosw
elongataF
cognataFB
rupicolaE
DM210Amel
bracteola
DM326Acol
DM302Atra
65 100 S70platyc
DM327plat
98 DM327Apla
flagellif
hallianaE
int ricata
90 S37murray
100 78 S67murray
100 S45pachya
S57praelo
61 100 S34subrig
S35gelasi
96 suaveolen
S36anthoc
iaequilob
JM196Aaph
salignaEA
DM323Aamp
DM224Aala
93 DM269Adru
idiomorph
67 Acaciamyr
DM268Apul
DM246Aspi
incryvaC8
100 DM271Aado
DM270Alyc
spondyloo

- More than taxonomy & tools,

54 70 S49victCS
S60victCN
S51aridaL
61 61 S26victWA
S42victWA
100 S16victNS
85 S52aridaC
S46victQL
65 S58victCO
53 S47victDG
S48victDG
S61victDG
S59victKI
DM411Avic
100 S28glauco
76 S68shayga
54 100 S44synchr
S66synchr
100 93 S33charta
S43charta

more than ABRS can currently support

S30ryania
S29alexan
52 S56st rong
83 S54dempst
S40pyrifo
100 S64aphano
100 S38morris
S27aphano
54 S39inaequ
S41marram
66 S55pickar
S31cuspid
S69longis
Paraseria
JM417Lysi

- 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
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