Systematics Subcommittee

Systematics is the science that identifies and groups organisms by understanding their origins, relationships and distributions. It is fundamental to understanding life on earth, our crops, wildlife and diseases, and provides the scientific foundation to recognize and manage invasive species.

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When the vision is achieved, we will have:

• Systematics expertise in all groups of organisms.
• An effective communication network linking Federal, academic, national and international taxonomic resources.
• An integrated, web-based information system that links organismal biology, geography, and taxonomy with interactive keys and collections data.
• Adequate human and physical resources for Federal systematics collections.
• A reinvigorated capacity and commitment by universities to prepare professionals in systematics.
• A culture that values and sustains its systematics resources.

To accomplish this vision, the SSC:

• Has prepared a Situation Report "Protecting America's Economy, Environment, Health, and Security from Invasive Species Requires a Strong Federal Program in Systematics Biology" to create awareness of the crisis in systematics in Federal agencies.
• Will comprehensively survey Federal systematics capacity and needs.
• Will prepare a 10-year Plan, delineating actions and budget estimates for consideration by Agency and Congressional decision makers. This Plan will catalyze the strengthening of systematics resources for Federal agencies to predict, prevent and manage invasive species.
• Will promote ways to leverage the Federal effort through external partnerships, to reinvigorate universities' training capacity and to augment international efforts.

Phased in over 10 years, an enhanced Federal Systematics Program will better counter national security threats posed by invasive species -- whether introduced intentionally or not, will fortify a new generation of systematic biologists, and establish contingencies for continuing operations in case of a shutdown of the Federal government.

SSC Work Plan FY 2007-2008

1. Finalize, publish and disseminate paper "Strengthening the Federal Capacity in Systematics and Creating a Safety Net for Biosecurity".
2. Finalize the Federal Systematics Survey, an agency data call related to federal systematics capacity and needs. Incorporate statistical analysis, survey expertise and web-based survey design for the data call.
3. Identify agencies, conduct the Federal Systematics Survey, and analyze responses.
4. Prepare a paper "Enhanced Federal Systematics Programs" that incorporates the survey's results and delineates a 10-year plan of actions and funding needs.

Approved by ITAP's Systematics Subcommittee on July 27, 2006

Amended by ITAP's SSC on August 11, 2006

Amended by ITAP's SSC on January 25, 2008