Systematics must Embrace Comparative Biology and Evolution, not Speed and Automation

Abstract

Systematists have come under a barrage of criticism because of the alleged inadequacy of the 'traditional' taxonomic paradigm to curb the 'biodiversity crisis' and expeditiously make available the products of systematic research-usually species names-to the professional biological 'user' community (including ecologists, physiologists, population geneticists, and conservationists). The accusations leveled on systematists range from being 'slow' to 'incapable' of furnishing these products at a rate considered (by users) appropriate, especially given that the professional systematic community is portrayed as being in stark decline while operating in a quickly deteriorating natural world. Some of the critics have proposed solutions to this 'taxonomic impediment' in the form of a triumvirate adjoining a unitary taxonomic cyberstructure + automated DNA barcoding + molecular phylogeny, which we consider to be nothing but a threefold miopia; one critic has even gone as far as to suggest that biologists who need systematists can circumvent this dependency by 'doing systematics themselves'. The application of a quick-fix, 'automatedpragmatist' model is antithetical to a science endowed with a strong epistemological and theoretical foundation. We view the current propaganda in favor of automation and pragmatism in systematics as a distraction from the real issues confronting systematists, who must do more to impede the current trend that has 'marginalized' organismal biology in general. Simply increasing the rate of species descriptions, as suggested by critics, will not ameliorate the 'crisis'-taxa that correspond to incorrect hypotheses of biological entities (i.e. that are not monophyletic) will compromise the reliability of systematic information. Systematists must therefore provide more than 'binomials'-they must strive to produce vigorous hypotheses of comparative biology that are historical and theory-rich in order to augment the general reference system that is so critical to research in other biological sciences and conservation.

Anti-intellectualism in the DNA Barcoding Enterprise

“…Real innovation is born in ideas and not techniques (see also CRISCI 2006, CARVALHO et al 2008. DNA barcoding is at best pseudoscientific and held together by a fundamental belief that molecules speak the 'truth' and technology 'saves ' (see SMITH 2005).…”

“…The perceived 'inability' that taxonomy is unable to function without access to 'technologies or mechanisms' is incorrect (see EBACH & HOLDREGE 2005b, CARVALHO et al 2008. These new technologies that funding bodies consider innovative and worth funding are the same technologies that end-users demand for faster species identification.…”

Lista das espécies de Bibionomorpha (Diptera) do Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

“…De fato, a ausência de registros para essas famílias se repete nos outros estados da região Centro-Oeste, reflexo da ausência de coletas regulares, coleções organizadas e identificadas e taxonomistas, o que se aplica também às outras ordens de insetos no Brasil (Carvalho, 1998 Embora a riqueza da fauna e flora do Brasil seja propalada com frequência, o conhecimento sobre essa biodiversidade é proporcionalmente muito pequeno (Lewinsohn & Prado, 2005). As espécies estão sendo extintas a uma velocidade muito maior do que conseguimos descobri-las e descrevê-las (Carvalho et al, 2008), sendo que a insuficiência de taxonomistas para executar esse trabalho apenas agudiza essa situação (Wilson, 1987;Platnick, 1992). Infelizmente, a pressão antrópica sobre as áreas naturais é cada vez mais acelerada, com impactos ambientais diretos causando distúrbios nos diversos hábitats, com resultados devastadores mesmo num país megadiverso como o Brasil (Carvalho, 2011).…”

<strong>Loosing the connection between the observation and the specimen: a by-product of the digital era or a trend inherited from general biology?</strong>

“…Sadly, this is also the most common argument cited with regard to improvements in systematics (but see de Carvalho et al 2008). Many authors have repeated this stance, basically arguing that we need to accelerate the information collection process before the extinction crisis has definitely crashed the biosphere.…”