Lecture 1 - Introduction

ZL 2011 – Biosystematics
Lecture 1: Introduction
Prof. Chandima D. Dangalle

Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences
Chandima D. Dangalle
What is Biosystematics ?
Biosystematics or Biological Systematics is a
science through which organisms are discovered,
identified, named, classified and described
(diversity, phylogeny, distribution).
It studies the organisms from both past and present
and involves two main sub-disciplines – taxonomy
and systematics.
Taxonomy deals with the tasks of species discovery,
identification, naming, classification and
description. Systematics deals with the tasks of
exploring relationships between species
Therefore, biosystematics is a major scientific discipline that
involves many other fields of research.
Biosystematics uses data from many disciplines such as
morphology, anatomy, genetics, cytology, embryology,
physiology, ecology, geography and evolution. Therefore, it
is considered as an integrative science.
Biosystematics is closely associated with Conservation
Biology.
Scope of Biosystematics
Biosystematics has a broad scope and provides information to
other sciences.
Significance of Biosystematics
• Biosystematics provides a foundation of information on
diversity of life.
• Biosystematics provides an understanding of the evolution
and history of organisms.
• It gives fundamentals for defining and delimiting species.
• It provides information on whether a species is common,
rare, endangered or threatened. This is useful in
conserving, protecting and managing the species.
• It promotes co-operative research between taxonomists
and other biological specialists for impressive research.
• Biosystematics provides information to explore concepts in
adaptation, variation and evolutionary dynamics of
populations.
Inventory
Inventory is a main activity carried out in Biosystematics. It is
the recording (surveying, sampling, sorting, cataloguing,
identifying, databasing and documenting) of species at a
spatial scale.
Spatial scale maybe local, regional or global.
When a species is inventorized (occurrence is recorded),
maps can be generated to identify the geographical range of
the species. Areas of species richness and endemism can be
determined and areas of high conservation value can be
identified.
Complete inventory of taxa in a large area is difficult.
Therefore, in biosystematics a single taxon or a small group of
taxa are selected to represent all taxa of the area – Umbrella
taxa, Biodiversity taxa.
Type Specimen
The original specimen from which the description of a
new species is made. It is a preserved specimen
designated as a permanent reference for a new
species, new genus or an other new taxon.
Under the formal rules each species should have a
type specimen.
A type description should be given with the type

specimen. Type description describes the type
specimen and gives the similarities and differences
from closely related species.
Type specimens are carefully preserved in museums,
herbariums and university collections.
Usually a type specimen has all the important features of a
species with nothing unusual. A type specimen can be a
physical specimen, a culture or an illustration. At present
scientists argue that a DNA sample could be used as a type
specimen.
Many type specimens are biological materials. Therefore, they
have been lost by war, natural disasters and governmental
negligence.
The original standard kilogram placed in a sealed
chamber in the International Bureau of Weights is
a type specimen.
There are many types of type specimens as follows.
Holotype
A researcher will describe a new species in a paper
giving a full description. The type specimen or single
specimen that goes with that document is the
“Holotype”. “Holo” means “Whole/ Complete”.
When describing the holotype the following
information must be given.
* Size of the organism or size of a relevant organ or
part.
* Locality and date of collection.
* Name of collector
* Gender of specimen
* Developmental stage of specimen
* The collection where the holotype is situated
and collection or registration number.
BMNH 10012
* In the case of a parasite, the name of the host
species.
* In the case of an extant terrestrial taxon, the
elevation above sea level from which it was
collected.
* In the case of an aquatic taxon, the depth in
meters below water level.
* In the case of a fossil holotype, the geological age
and stratigraphical position.
Type Series
Consists of all the specimens that are eligible as
describing as the holotype.
Syntype
All the specimens of a type series.
Lectotype
Lectotype is a syntype selected from the type
series that best represents the holotype. If
holotype gets destroyed, lectotype can take it’s
place.
Paratype
A series of specimens deposited in a museum to
supplement the holotype. Paratypes are collected
at the same location and same time as when the
holotype was collected. In a type series if one is
the holotype the others are paratypes.
Paratypes are also designated and described by the
author that described the holotype.
Allotype
A specimen of the opposite sex to the holotype,
designated from among paratypes.
Differences between Biosystematics and Taxonomy
Biosystematics and taxonomy are two concepts related to
the diversity of living organisms.
 In biosystematics living organisms are studied and study
unit is usually a population. In taxonomy dead
organisms are studied and only an individual or small
number of individuals are studied.
 In biosystematics data are obtained mainly from the
field. In taxonomy data are retrieved mainly from
herbariums and museums.
Taxonomy carries out classification and naming of
organisms. Biosystematics determines the evolutionary
relationships of the organisms.

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ZL 2011 – Biosystematics

Prof. Chandima D. Dangalle

A type description should be given with the type

There are many types of type specimens as follows.

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