Why taxonomy matters

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Whytaxonomy matters

• invasive alien species

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why taxonomy matters

• Short case studies that provide varied examples
  of taxonomys contribution to society.
• The benefits of timely, expert taxonomic inputs
  and information
• and the costs of weak, inaccessible or
  inexistent taxonomic expertise and resources.
• The cash benefit of taxonomy is presented where
  possible to show how taxonomy saves millions.
• 35 published online so far. Contributions from
  throughout the world.

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Why why taxonomy matters

• provide an accessible collection of examples of
  taxonomys value to society that are convincing
  to funders and policy makers (and colleagues in
  conservation / environmental management /
  sustainable development!)
• encourage taxonomists to think more about the
  need to justify their work to the wider world.

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taxonomy and invasive alien species

• A theme strongly featured by the case studies is
  invasive alien species (IAS).
• Case studies illustrate the role of taxonomy in
  IAS management in various sectors.
• Taxonomic expertise, surveys, information and
  analysis are of crucial importance to recognising
  and solving ecological, agricultural, trade,
  health and other problems caused by IAS.

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misidentifications

• Without access to expert support,
  misidentifications are made, costing precious
  money and time when rapid decisions need to be
  made, for example at border posts and regulatory
  agencies.
• case study 22

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case study 22major biocontrol agent nearly missed
Contributed by Christopher H. C. Lyal (UK)
Banpot Napompeth (Thailand) Ian Cresswell
(Australia)

• Problem Salvinia molesta is an aggressive
  aquatic fern and one of the worlds worst weeds.
  It has been introduced from its native Brazil to
  many areas of the world, where environmental
  damage caused by its spread has been enormous.
  It chokes lakes, reservoirs, slow-moving rivers,
  irrigation systems, rice paddies, fishponds etc
  with continuous meter-thick mats of dense
  vegetation. In addition to rendering the water
  useless for normal purposes its presence can lead
  to an increase in mosquito populations.

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case study 22major biocontrol agent nearly missed
Contributed by Christopher H. C. Lyal (UK)
Banpot Napompeth (Thailand) Ian Cresswell
(Australia)

• Outcome / lessons
• Initially the weed was thought to be Salvinia
  auriculata, and a weevil, Cyrtobagous singularis,
  was collected from Trinidad and released on the
  weed in Africa, where it failed to control it.
• The weed was then correctly identified as S.
  molesta, and a new species of Cyrtobagous was
  collected from this species in Brazil and
  released in Queensland, where it rapidly
  controlled the weed.
• Biological control was achieved only after the
  true identity of Salvinia had been recognized,
  its native range found, and a previously unknown
  herbivore discovered.
• Planned eradication programme in Thailand
  unnecessary, saving 5million.

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correct name

• Only when a suspected IAS is correctly
  identified can effective control or mitigation
  measures be implemented, drawing where possible
  on best practice learnt from tackling the IAS
  elsewhere.
• case study 32

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case study 32resolving the southeast asian
termite paradox
Contributed by Laurence G. Kirton, Forest
Research Institute Malaysia

• Problem The termite genus Coptotermes has a
  few species that are notorious as pests of timber
  on an international scale. They are responsible
  for enormous losses in buildings throughout the
  tropics and subtropics. However, there has been
  for many decades, till recently, a paradox in the
  pest status of these species. Coptotermes
  havilandi, which is a serious alien pest in parts
  of South and North America, is thought to have
  been introduced from Southeast Asia, yet it has
  never been accorded much importance as a pest in
  this region where the pest species are primarily
  C. gestroi and C. travians.

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case study 32resolving the southeast asian
termite paradox
Contributed by Laurence G. Kirton, Forest
Research Institute Malaysia

• Outcome / lessons
• A taxonomic study in Malaysia and neighboring
  countries showed that C. havilandi and C.
  gestroi were the same species.
• It was also shown that the true C. travians is a
  species of the forest.
• In Southeast Asia there is a single pest species,
  C. gestroi, that was introduced to various parts
  of the world.
• Numerous previous studies can now be pooled,
  facilitating the development of improved pest
  management strategies.

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economical conservation

• Introduced species may not be invasive. Surveys
  and monitoring determine when interventions to
  eliminate introduced species are unavoidable.
• case study 7

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case study 7surveys and monitoring prevent
unnecessary control programmes
Contributed by Elecier Cruz, Parque Nacional
Galápagos

• Problem Introduced (alien) species sometimes
  become invasive. In the Galapagos Island
  Archipélago de Colón Biosphere Reserve, the only
  introduced reptiles that have established
  reproductive populations in Galapagos are three
  gecko species of the family Gekkonidae. Are these
  species invasive do they need to be controlled?

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case study 7surveys and monitoring prevent
unnecessary control programmes
Contributed by Elecier Cruz, Parque Nacional
Galápagos

• Outcome / lessons
• A monitoring study of the Gekkonidae showed that
  only Phyllodactylus reissi has the habitat
  preference of endemic geckos and needs to be
  considered as a potential invasive threat to the
  native fauna.
• Significant savings can be realised by monitoring
  introduced species and starting control
  programmes only if and when a species shows signs
  of becoming invasive.
• The influx of alien species can be tolerated, as
  long as there is taxonomic expertise and tools to
  support an efficient and effective monitoring
  system.

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demand-driven

• Taxonomic capacity can be enhanced when pursued
  in a socio-economic context.
• case study 11

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case study 11harmful algal blooms (HAB)
Contributed by Henrik Oksfeldt Enevoldsen
(Denmark)

• Problem Coastal states across the world
  experience HAB with growing frequency and
  intensity, causing cause fish mortality in wild
  and aquaculture stocks as well as intoxication in
  humans consuming shellfish and negative impacts
  on tourism. The monitoring of harmful micro-algae
  requires sound taxonomic skills, research and new
  identification tools. Many institutions have,
  over the last 20 years, lost their taxonomic
  expertise in micro-algae.

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case study 11harmful algal blooms (HAB)
Contributed by Henrik Oksfeldt Enevoldsen
(Denmark)

• Outcome / lessons
• Identification of micro-algae is a major
  challenge for agencies responsible for protecting
  seafood resources, the marine environment, and
  human health.
• International regulations mean that most
  countries have recognised the importance of
  taxonomic skills for monitoring and have
  requested assistance.
• Funding increased, including for basic research
  in phylogeny, ecology, etc. of micro-algae

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open call

• More case studies welcome
•  
• Many themes yet to be illustrated taxonomy has
  so many applications!
• See case study pages on BioNET web site for
  guidelines www.bionet-intl.org