Living on the edge: parasite taxonomy in Australia

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2004
Authors:T. H. Cribb
Journal:International journal for parasitology
Volume:34
Issue:2
Pagination:117 - 123
Date Published:2004
ISBN Number:0020-7519
Keywords:animals, Australia, biodiversity, Fishes/parasitology, Lice/classification, parasite, Parasitology, protozoa, research, terminology
Abstract:

The way in which the huge Australian parasite fauna is described (discovery and naming) is the subject of this address. The approach to the task has never been well-organised so that a few groups of parasites are now relatively well-known because of the efforts of small groups of workers who have made sustained efforts in these groups, but equally some host-parasite systems have been almost completely ignored in that no worker has ever given them sustained attention. A high proportion of Australian parasites have been described by international workers. The sustaining of interest in a group of parasites over a long period is the key to real progress being made. The nature of the organisation of Australian science presently means that few positions are available for parasite taxonomists and funding for taxonomic research is scarce. Thus, parasite taxonomy (like the taxonomy of many groups of Australian plants and animals) can only be considered to be in crisis.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith