Systematics in Support of Entomology

Abstract

Systematics is the scientific study of organic diversity (98) including the relationships among all of the kinds of organisms (147), although some authors have restricted the subject to emphasize the study of hierarchial patterns. Included in systematics is the theory and practice of describing, naming, and classifying organisms, known as taxonomy. Systematics thus provides the basic tools for characterizing the entities that we study, the species of organisms. This task is especially challenging and useful for insects because of their great diversity and pervasive ecological importance. Knowl­ edge of these species and their relationships is needed to summarize informa­ tion, to predict other findings, and to understand processes. In other words, identification is a prerequisite for all other enquiries about the natural world. In addition to its practical value, systematics has an important conceptual role in biology, engendering general theories of great significance. Wilson (165) pointed out that the magnitude and cause of biological diversity is not just the central problem of systematics, but one of the key problems of science as a whole. The cardinal role of systematics in biology has long been appreciated, chiefly by systematists (37, 42, 73, 96, 98, 99, 103, 147, 164-166, and references in 76). However, several previous reviews have pointed out the importance of systematics in only a limited way. Some have included chiefly philosophical and general statements. Others have emphasized the relevance of systematics to certain aspects of applied work. Many authors have adopted an essentially negative stance, emphasizing the long-standing neglect and underfunding of systematics, the limitation of opportunities for its practition­ ers, or the burden of inadequately prepared or unimportant material submitted