[ Overview ][ Objectives ][ Spreading Of Excellence ][ Partners ][ Associated Partners ][ Committees ][ Project Management ][ Data Management ][ Taxonomic Clearing System ][ Quality Assurance ][ Training ] [ Outreach ][ SMEs ][ Theme 1 Global Patterns ][ Theme 2 Ecosystem Functioning ][ Theme 3 Socio-economics ]Taxonomic Clearing System
We recognise the need for a Taxonomic Clearing System scheme to address the
taxonomic/identification bottleneck and to streamline the process of identification of
specimens and the description of new species. The emphasis of the research components of
this network on field sampling and ecological analysis will naturally result in the processing of
large volumes of material, and in the discovery of new, rare, or newly introduced species. The
steering committee of MarBEF will create and fund a pilot system for the prioritisation of
identification/description requests and for directly funding the necessary work. This will be an
important focal point for the interactions between the taxonomic and ecological researchers
within MarBEF.
Objectives
Inventories of species, communities and ecosystems are central to the success of the strategic research
programme in MarBEF. They provide important baseline data that underpin any thorough assessment
of the changes in biodiversity in response to global change, whether natural or anthropogenic. The
emphasis of the research components of this network on field sampling and ecological analysis will
naturally result in the processing of large volumes of material, and the discovery of new, rare, or newly
introduced species. MarBEF needs a system by which European marine ecologists can gain rapid
access to problem-solving taxonomic expertise. We will create a fast-track 'taxonomy clearing system'
to address the taxonomic/identification bottleneck and to streamline the processes of identification of
specimens and the description of new species. If the experimental ecologists encounter problematic
species in their field experiments, or if species new to Europe (introduced species) or new to science
are found, the 'taxonomy clearing system' will expedite the necessary taxonomic work. It will work as a
middle agent, receiving requests for taxonomic work to be completed and matching these requests to
available taxonomic expertise across the MarBEF community. It will also provide access to the
specialist feedback required for updating of species inventory lists for the selected sites in theme 1
flagship project. This clearing system will also be an important focal point for the interactions between
the taxonomic and ecological researchers within MarBEF. It will not function as a simple identification
service.
Description of work
Task 1: The available taxonomic expertise was quantified by the European Register of Marine Species
concerted action and is available on the web. This register of expertise will be updated via the MarBEF
website and through personal contacts.
Task 2: We will establish a small committee consisting of both taxonomists and ecologists to act as an
efficient system for processing and prioritising these requests.
Task 3: This committee will draw up the set of criteria for prioritising identification/description/taxonomic
requests.
Task 4: Once requests have been prioritised, then taxonomists will be contacted and contracted to
undertake the necessary taxonomic work. A budget is required to purchase taxonomists' time and to
pay for the description of high priority, newly discovered species.
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