What is Systematics

Systematics: Definition, Scope, why study systematics, Goals, Contributions to modern biology

1. Systematics-isthestudyofthehistoricalrelationshipsofgroupsof
biologicalorganisms-therecognitionandunderstandingof
biodiversity.Tracingphylogenyisonegoalofsystematicshence,it
isconsideredthestudyofbiologicaldiversityinanevolutionary
context.
WHAT IS SYSTEMATICS?
DEFINITION
G.G.Simpsonin1961–defineditasthescientificstudyofthe
kindsanddiversityoforganismsandofanyandallrelationships
amongthem.(Thescienceofdiversityoforganisms)
Phenetic-similarity
Phylogenetic-kinshipbydescentfromcommonancestors
Trophic-foodrelationship
Geographic-spatial
-ThetermsystematicsstemsfromthelatinizedGreekword
systemaasappliedtothesystemsofclassificationdevelopedby
earlynaturalists.

2. WHAT IS SYSTEMATICS?
SCOPE
1.Dealswithpopulations,speciesandhighertaxa
2.Usingthecomparativemethodology,determineswhat:
a.Theuniquepropertiesofeachspeciesandhigher
taxaare
b.Propertiescertaintaxahaveincommon
c.Thebiologicalcausesofthedifferencesorshared
charactersare
3.Concernedwithvariationwithintaxa
4.Classifiestaxamakingorganicdiversityaccessibleto
otherdisciplines

3. SYSTEMATICSENCOMPASSED THE FF.
FIELDS/STUDIES
1. Biodiversity
2. Taxonomy
3. Classification
4. Nomenclature
5. Biogeography
6. Evolutionary Biology
7. Phylogenetics

4. WHAT IS SYSTEMATICS?
CONTRIBUTIONS
1.AppliedBiology
a.EpidemiologyofmalariainEurope
Supposedvector,AnophelesmaculipennisMeigen–found
throughoutEurope
Butmalariarestrictedtolocaldistricts
Carefultaxonomicstudies:
-Maculipennis=severalsiblingspecies:different
habitats/breedinghabits;onlysomespeciesarevectorsof
malaria
-Controldirectedtospecificareas

5. WHAT IS SYSTEMATICS?
CONTRIBUTIONS
2.OtherFields
a.Agriculture
b.Publichealth
c.Ecology
d.Conservation
e.Genetics
f.BehavioralBiology
Correctidentificationandclassificationofspeciesin:

12. 1.Discovery and extinction of species.
2. Sources of important products:
a. Herbal medicines
b. Forests products
Estimated number of species:
EXTANT = 10M –100M; EXTINCT = 0.5B
c. Fossil fuels
d. Other plant and animal products

13. We have to know what we are referring to
b. Determination
Knowing the name of the group (taxon) to which an unknown belongs
The use of Taxonomic Keys
a. Identification
Taxonomic characters
c. Nomenclature
Naming an organism (bionomialname; scientific name)
Descriptive terminology

22. PROCESSES INCLUDED IN SYSTEMATICS
1.Identifyingthebasicsystematicunit(species);
2.Discoveringthepatternsofrelationshipsofspecies
atsuccessivelyhigherlevels;
3.Buildingclassificationsbasedonthesepatterns&
namingappropriatetaxa;
4.Theapplicationofthispatternknowledgeto
studyingchangesinorganismalfeaturesthroughtime.
Moreover,italsoincludesthebuilding&maintenance
ofbiodiversitycollections,uponwhichalltheproducts
ofsystematicstudiesarebased.

23. THE CONTRIBUTION OF SYSTEMATICS TO
BIOLOGY
Nootherbranchofbiologyhasmadeagreatercontributiontoour
understandingofevolution.
Nothoroughecologicalsurveycanbeconductedwithoutthemost
painstakingidentificationofallspeciesthatareofecological
importance.
Inthedelimitationofgeologicalstrata,keyfossilspecieshaveplayeda
decisiverole.
Molecularbiologistsarevirtuallyinterestedinasoundclassification.The
evolutionofmolecules,anincreasinglyimportantareaofresearch,can
beunderstoodonlyagainstthebackgroundofasoundclassification.
Madecontributionsonappliedsciences-medicine,publichealth,
agriculture,conservation,managementofnaturalresources.