Biodiversity and biosystematic research in a brave new 21st century information-technology world

Abstract

A variety of challenges to biodiversity and biosystematics research are discussed. Despite escalating estimates of the biodiversity of the planet, resources being devoted to advance this knowledge have been in decline. Despite the proliferation of information technologies, the focus of knowledge has frequently shifted to making existing information readily available rather than generating new knowledge. The principles of authorial responsibility and of explicit documentation of knowledge are under siege. The shortfall of investment in training, research, and collections management (the "taxonomic deficit") has led to a "taxonomic impediment" to ecological research, at a time when rates of extinction appear to be rising dramatically. The contents of the present volume represent stepping-stones of biodiversity research - a discipline vital to the future of life on the planet.