Gaps in marine taxonomy resources in Europe

Mark J. CostelloMark J. Costello

Chris S. EmblowChris S. Emblow

Philippe BouchetPhilippe Bouchet

Anastasios LegakisAnastasios Legakis

Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, New Zealand.Auckland, New Zealand.

m.costello@auckland.ac.nzm.costello@auckland.ac.nz

Ecological Consultancy Services Ltd Ecological Consultancy Services Ltd (EcoServe), (EcoServe), IrelandIreland

Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle,

Paris, FranceParis, France

National and Capodistrian University of National and Capodistrian University of Athens, GreeceAthens, Greece

Taxonomic resourcesTaxonomic resources

• People – taxonomists, identification People – taxonomists, identification skills skills

• Identification guides Identification guides

• Collections of specimensCollections of specimens

• Inventories of speciesInventories of species

This talkThis talk

• Aim – what are gaps in taxonomic resources Aim – what are gaps in taxonomic resources for marine biodiversity in Europe?for marine biodiversity in Europe?

• What we did – project, ouputs, scopeWhat we did – project, ouputs, scope

• ExpectationsExpectations

• What we foundWhat we found

• Implications for research and managementImplications for research and management

The projectThe project = European Register of Marine = European Register of Marine SpeciesSpecies

EU part-funded project

• 22 partner organisations

• 170+ participating scientists

• 385,000 euro, 2 years

• communication with 42 organisations *

• Data management plan

• Intellectual Property Rights Agreement

* Aim of external communications

• data exchange

• awareness of project

• invite end-user comments

• maximise synergy of effort, minimise overlap

• stimulate related activities

• foster collaboration

• promote use of results

ERMS - oERMS - outputsutputs

Web site providing results Book listing marine species * Register of 600 experts (in 37 countries) in European

marine species identification Bibliography of 840 identification guides Gaps in identification expertise and guides, knowledge

of species groups, and marine species collections New scientific society for the long term management of

biodiversity data (intellectual property) Model and foundation for future projects (e.g. Fauna

Europaea, BIOMARE, MARBEF)

* Costello, M. J., Emblow, C and White R. (editors) 2001. European Register of Marine Species. A check-list of marine species in Europe and

a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines naturels 50, 1-463. ISBN 2-85653-538-0; ISSN 1281-6213

ERMS scopeERMS scope

• North Pole to 26North Pole to 26ooNN

• Mid-Atlantic Ridge to Mid-Atlantic Ridge to Black Sea Black Sea

• 0.5 ppt to deep-sea0.5 ppt to deep-sea

ExcludedExcluded

• SaltmarshesSaltmarshes

• Lichens, diatoms, Lichens, diatoms, cyanobacteria, cyanobacteria, bacteriabacteria

Our expectationsOur expectations

• speciesspecies – total 20,000 – 25,000 – total 20,000 – 25,000

• identification guidesidentification guides – decreasing – decreasing adequacy with smaller body size taxaadequacy with smaller body size taxa

• taxonomiststaxonomists - most 60-70 years of age - most 60-70 years of age

• collectionscollections – most in museums – most in museums

How many species?How many species?

• 88 experts compiled 88 experts compiled species listsspecies lists

• No Mediterranean lists No Mediterranean lists for Rotifera and for Rotifera and BrachiopodaBrachiopoda

• No list for non-No list for non-halacarid Acarinahalacarid Acarina

ListedListed

30,000 30,000

+ 4,000 omitted + 4,000 omitted

+ 2,000 to be described+ 2,000 to be described

36,00036,000 total total

• Experts under-Experts under-estimated by 40-60%estimated by 40-60% ! !

Weaker listsWeaker lists

Preliminary listsPreliminary lists• Crytophytes Crytophytes • heterotrophic heterotrophic

euglenoidseuglenoids• HaptophytesHaptophytes• PrasinophytesPrasinophytes

Compiled from literatureCompiled from literature• Apicomplexa (free-living Apicomplexa (free-living

species)species)• Dinoflagellates Dinoflagellates • KathablepharidsKathablepharids

• PlacozoaPlacozoa• Ctenophora Ctenophora • RotiferaRotifera• HirudineaHirudinea• ThermosbaenaceaThermosbaenacea• Isopoda – excluding Epicaridea Isopoda – excluding Epicaridea • BrachiopodaBrachiopoda• AppendiculariaAppendicularia• CephalochordataCephalochordata

Geographic coverage may be Geographic coverage may be incompleteincomplete

ProtistsProtists• Ciliates – aloricate oligotrichsCiliates – aloricate oligotrichs• Ciliates – Chonotricha Ciliates – Chonotricha • Ciliates – folliculinidsCiliates – folliculinids• Ciliates – RhynchodidaCiliates – Rhynchodida• Amoebae – testateAmoebae – testate• ApusomonadsApusomonads• Choanoflagellates Choanoflagellates • Euglenids - kinetoplastids Euglenids - kinetoplastids • BicosoecidsBicosoecids• Labyrinthulids Labyrinthulids • ThaustrochytridsThaustrochytrids• Stramenopiles incertae sedisStramenopiles incertae sedis• ThaumatomonadsThaumatomonads• Protista incertae sedis Protista incertae sedis

(heterotrophic species) (heterotrophic species) • Amoebae – nakedAmoebae – naked• XenophyophoraXenophyophora

Non-protist Non-protist • MesozoaMesozoa• GnathostomulidaGnathostomulida• EuphausiaceaEuphausiacea• HemichordataHemichordata• Fungi Fungi • PoriferaPorifera• SiphonophoraSiphonophora• ChilopodaChilopoda• DiplopodaDiplopoda• InsectaInsecta• PhoronidaPhoronida

Geographic coverage Geographic coverage completecomplete

• ForaminiferaForaminifera

• ActiniariaActiniaria• AntipathariaAntipatharia• HydrozoaHydrozoa• Octocorallia Octocorallia • ScleractiniaScleractinia• Cubozoa Cubozoa • ScyphozoaScyphozoa

• Ascidiacea Ascidiacea • ThaliaceaThaliacea• PiscesPisces• TetrapodaTetrapoda• Bryozoa Bryozoa • Cycliophora Cycliophora • Entoprocta Entoprocta • EchinodermataEchinodermata

Other taxaOther taxa• Macroalgae Macroalgae • Seagrass Seagrass

• ChaetognathaChaetognatha• MyxozoaMyxozoa• GastrotrichiaGastrotrichia• Cephalorhyncha Cephalorhyncha

(= Loricifera, (= Loricifera, Priapulida, Priapulida, Kinorhyncha, Kinorhyncha, Nematomorpha)Nematomorpha)

• TardigradaTardigrada• EchiuraEchiura• SipunculaSipuncula• PentastomidaPentastomida• Mollusca Mollusca

ArthropodsArthropods • PycnogonidaPycnogonida• RemipediaRemipedia• BranchiuraBranchiura• CladoceraCladocera• MystacocaridaMystacocarida• Copepoda Copepoda • TantulocaridaTantulocarida• CirripediaCirripedia• Decapoda Decapoda • MysidaceaMysidacea• IsopodaIsopoda• Insecta Insecta • StomatopodaStomatopoda • Acarina Acarina • OstracodaOstracoda• Amphipoda Amphipoda • Cumacea Cumacea • TanaidaceaTanaidacea

WormsWorms • CestodaCestoda• Nemertea Nemertea • Acanthocephala Acanthocephala • TurbellariaTurbellaria• AspidogastreaAspidogastrea• Digenea Digenea • MonogeneaMonogenea• OligochaetaOligochaeta• NematodaNematoda• PolychaetaPolychaeta• Pogonophora Pogonophora

Rates of species Rates of species discovery discovery

Aves, birds

0

100

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Osteichthyes, fish

0

500

1000

1500

1747 1797 1847 1897 1947 1997Year

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1750 1850 1950

Year

Mammalia

0

100

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

All species

Major benthic, some Major benthic, some pelagicpelagic

Siphonophora

050

100150

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Amphipoda

0

500

1000

1500

1747 1797 1847 1897 1947 1997

Year

Polychaeta

0500

10001500

2000

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Mollusca

0

2000

4000

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Myxozoa

0

200

400

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Meiofauna Meiofauna parasitesparasites

Harpacticoida

0

1000

2000

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Nematoda parasitic

0

200

400

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Turbellaria

0

1000

2000

1747 1768 1789 1810 1831 1852 1873 1894 1915 1936 1957 1978 1999

Year

Bryozoa in Europe and New Bryozoa in Europe and New ZealandZealand

0

200

400

600

800

1750 1850 1950

Year

Number of Bryozoa described

Europe

New Zealand

Coverage of identification Coverage of identification guidesguides

• 842 guides842 guides

• 43% published in 43% published in special series (e.g. special series (e.g. Synopses British Synopses British Fauna)Fauna)

• 58% Northern 58% Northern EuropeEurope

• 26% Mediterranean26% Mediterranean

• 11% Lusitanian - 11% Lusitanian - MacronesiaMacronesia

Trends in publications of Trends in publications of guidesguides

0

10

20

30

40

50

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

Publications per year

Number of publications

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00

NematodaForaminifera

Copepoda OstracodaNemertea

Plathelminthe Isopoda

GastrotrichaTanaidacea

HydrozoaPolychaeta

FungiAmphipoda

AcanthocephBryozoa Tunicata

AlgaePorifera

MolluscaChelicerata

ChaetognathaScyphozoa

OligochaetaEchinodermat

DecapodaPisces

CumaceaBrachiopoda

ReptiliaMysidaceaCirripediaAnthozoaHirudinea

BranchiopodCtenophora

AvesStomatopoda

Mammalia

Ratio identification guides to number of species

More guides/number species for more conspicuous taxa

ExpertiseExpertise

• Database 1,200 persons in 38 Database 1,200 persons in 38 countries (29 European countries)countries (29 European countries)

• 614 respondents 614 respondents

• 80% employed in public sector 80% employed in public sector (including universities)(including universities)

Identification & taxonomic Identification & taxonomic expertise by taxaexpertise by taxa

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

No. of species

No

. o

f i

den

tifi

cati

on

exp

erts

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

No

. o

f t

axo

no

mic

exp

erts

Identification experts Taxonomic experts

Linear (Identification experts) Linear (Taxonomic experts)

Positive but poor correlations between species/taxa and number of identificiation and taxonomic experts

Age structure of all Age structure of all expertsexperts

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Age - years

No.

of

resp

onde

nts

Average age = 47

Range 23 to 89

Taxonomists older than identification experts (=ecologists?)

State of specimen State of specimen collectionscollections

• 500 questionnaires500 questionnaires

• 80 institutes responsed80 institutes responsed• ½ in universities !½ in universities !

Private

Government

Society, NGO

University

State of specimen State of specimen collectionscollections

• 60% managed by < 4 staff60% managed by < 4 staff

• ½ global coverage of ½ global coverage of species species

• ¼ limited to national ¼ limited to national species species

• 60% have type specimens60% have type specimens

• 8 institutes > 10,000 8 institutes > 10,000 specimensspecimens

• 60% institutes < 1,000 60% institutes < 1,000 specimensspecimens

How well catalogued?How well catalogued?

• 20% - none 20% - none • 36% - complete36% - complete• 40% - no electronic 40% - no electronic • 10% - full electronic10% - full electronic

Expectations and Expectations and findingsfindings• speciesspecies

– 20,000 to 25,00020,000 to 25,000

• taxonomiststaxonomists – most 60-70 years of most 60-70 years of

ageage

• identification guidesidentification guides – decreasing adequacy decreasing adequacy

with smaller body size with smaller body size taxataxa

• collectionscollections – most in museums most in museums

• 36,000 !36,000 !

• Average age 47Average age 47

• True, but also less for True, but also less for southern European seassouthern European seas

• Most in universities, all Most in universities, all poorly resourced, poorly resourced, catalogues insufficientcatalogues insufficient

ConclusionsConclusions

• High rates discovery in these taxaHigh rates discovery in these taxa – most diverse least least well knownmost diverse least least well known

– thousands species remain to be discoveredthousands species remain to be discovered

• Know less conspicuous taxa leastKnow less conspicuous taxa least– more guides required in these groupsmore guides required in these groups

• More ident’ guides for southern European More ident’ guides for southern European speciesspecies

• No evidence of taxonomists going extinctNo evidence of taxonomists going extinct

• Collections not limited to museums, most Collections not limited to museums, most poorly cataloguedpoorly catalogued – Awareness, knowledge inaccessible as not in Awareness, knowledge inaccessible as not in

databases databases

How to fill gaps?How to fill gaps?

1.1. Revise and expand checklist (ERMS 2.0)Revise and expand checklist (ERMS 2.0)

2.2. Fund guides to southern European taxaFund guides to southern European taxa

3.3. Focus taxonomic and ecological studies Focus taxonomic and ecological studies on least well known taxa in least well on least well known taxa in least well studied placesstudied places