Systematics and Natural History, Foundations for Understanding and Conserving Biodiversity

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Abstract
SYNOPSIS. Enhanced by recent technical and conceptual advances, two classical endeavors in biology play vital roles in understanding, appreciating, and managing biodiversity. Systematics defines the fundamental units and relationships among living things; natural history chronicles the lifestyles of organisms in relation to environments. For example, analyses of evolutionary relationships emphasize the uniqueness of certain taxa, help prioritize groups of organisms for conservation, and enable us toestimate the biology of unstudied taxa. Radiotelemetry permits repeated location of snakes and other stealthy animals, facilitating previously impossible behavioral studies and thus laying the groundwork for effective management. Natural history in a systematic and geographic context provides a “rule-of-thumb” for predicting extinction due to global climate change. Educators should emphasize the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, inform debates about priorities for funding and other conservation matters, and teach about the goals, methods, and applications of systematics and natural history.

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