Biodiversity Mapping: The 'John Gould' Component of Tropical Biology

Abstract

One can take a pessimistic or optimistic view of the future of tropical biodiversity and still find a strong rational for detailed 'biodiversity mapping'. The maps should be detailed descriptions of species and their geographic ranges, based on real specimens in research collections, and all linked to extensive electronic resources. Support is needed for the makers of the biodiversity map, who are at the nexus of systematics and ecology. Biodiversity mapping should be accompanied by taxon-specific short courses that introduce students to specimen preparation and basic identification skills, fostering strong interactions among ecologists and systematists. © 2010 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2010 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.