Systematics in General Biology

Abstract

THE annual general meeting of the Association for the Study of Systematics in General Biology was held in the rooms of the Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, on December 15. The inaugural meeting of this newly established association was referred to in NATURE of July 24, 1937, p. 163. At its inception, 53 biologists joined the Association, and since then the membership has increased to 162. The aims of the Association, among others, are: to study the bases and practical aims of taxonomy; to examine criteria employed in denning species and other systematic categories; to consider any modification of existing classification in the light of cytogenetic, ecological, physiological, embryological, biochemical and palaeontological data; to press for increased attention to taxonomy in museums and other institutions; to organize research; to aid the production of handbooks on British animals and plants, and eventually to produce a British Fauna and Flora on uniform biological lines; to investigate methods of teaching system-atics; to promote co-operation between workers in different branches of biology on problems of taxonomic interest. The Taxonomic Principles Committee has already considered several important problems, and has decided to prepare an index of all terms which have been used to designate groups below the rank of species. This should prove of value, especially to young research workers in taxonomy. The Committee on Comparative Systematics has examined the sources from which data for research on variability and other problems may be drawn. The Research Committee has initiated or assisted in the launching of twelve lines of research, and a list of institutions where such work may be done has been prepared. Work has been started on a book on the anatomy of Dicotyledons. The Committee on Handbooks is now compiling a review of existing taxonomic literature on the British flora and fauna. The provision of a check list of the British flora and fauna is being dealt with in collaboration with the Association of British Zoologists. Cheap systematic handbooks are also being considered.