Memorandum submitted by Professor (Emeritus)
Amyan Macfadyen, M.A., D.Sc. Oxon
In my view, accurate Taxonomy is essential to
the effective pursuit of most biological disciplines and especially
that of ecological systems, because even closely similar species
have frequently been selected to occupy different niches and differ
in many biological characteristics.
Today the number of biologists able to identify
animals accurately, especially invertebrates, is limited and diminishing.
Some factors contributing to this situation include:
1.
The change of emphasis in teaching at all levels
away from systematics to areas such as biochemistry, genetics
and areas relevant to medicine.
2.
Consequentially there is a shortage of teachers with
the skills and enthusiasm able to interest students in systematics.
3.
The decline in fieldwork, partly due to excessive
emphasis on safety. Fieldwork is a primary generator of interest
in and fascination with animal life among young people and many
famous ecologists have testified to this.
4.
Excessive reluctance among teachers and youngsters
to kill any animals despite the massive mortality, which occurs
as a result of human intrusion in any habitat, especially when
toxic substances are used. Correct identification is often impossible
with live animals especially arthropods.
5.
The widespread use of audiovisual material as a substitute
for actual contact with specimens, live or dead often leading
to lack of appreciation of the real context, size and provenance
of organism.
Cost is, of course an important factor in evaluating
all teaching methods and field natural history may well involve
transport costs. These can often be minimised by the use of local
habitats, gardens and vivaria and the actual equipment required
for the above studies need be far less than that used for most
laboratory based work.
Positive steps should be taken to remedy the
above situation and to encourage field biology in schools and
in courses in higher education. The situation has deteriorated
to the extent that there is a serious shortage of instructors
and this should be remedied by training courses. These need not
be expensive if use is made of the facilities available to museums
and non-governmental organisations such as the Field Studies Council
and the British Ecological Society.
This is an area where relatively modest funds
could achieve excellent results, but time is of the essence because
the availability of instructors is declining fast due to retirement
and death. Relatively short courses of a week or less could be
mounted to teach particular techniques and the identification
of "difficult" groups such as Diptera, parasitic Hymenoptera,
major taxa in the soil fauna and so on. The funds should be available
both to the institution conducting the courses and as bursaries
for the students.
February 2008
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