Introduction to Systematics

This introductory chapter provides an overview of systematics, which is the science of biological classification. It embodies the study of organic diversity and provides the comparative framework to study the historical aspects of the evolutionary process. The chapter then explores the nature of systematics as an independent discipline and briefly surveys the literature sources most frequently used by systematists. It differentiates between evolutionary taxonomy, phenetics, and phylogenetics (cladistics). Ultimately, systematics is the most strongly comparative of all of the biological sciences, and its methods and principles transcend the differences between botany and zoology. It is also the most strongly historical field within biology, and as such provides the basis for nearly all inferences concerning historical patterns and processes. Among the earth sciences, systematics is directly comparable to historical geology, and indeed the two fields find integration in paleontology.

Trans-marine dispersal inferred from the saltwater tolerance of lizards from Taiwan

Dehydration and hypersalinity challenge non-marine organisms crossing the ocean. The rate of water loss and saltwater tolerance thus determine the ability to disperse over sea and further influence species distribution. Surprisingly, this association between physiology and ecology is rarely investigated in terrestrial vertebrates. Here we conducted immersion experiments to individuals and eggs of six lizard species differently distributed across Taiwan and the adjacent islands to understand if the physiological responses reflect the geographical distribution. We found that Plestiodon elegans had the highest rate of water loss and the lowest saltwater tolerance, whereas Eutropis longicaudata and E. multifasciata showed the lowest rate of water loss and the highest saltwater tolerance. Diploderma swinhonis, Hemidactylus frenatus, and Anolis sagrei had medium measurements. For the eggs, only the rigid-shelled eggs of H. frenatus were incubated successfully after treatments. While, the parchment-shelled eggs of E. longicaudata and D. swinhonis lost or gained water dramatically in the immersions without any successful incubation. Combined with the historical geology of the islands and the origin areas of each species, the inferences of the results largely explain the current distribution of these lizards across Taiwan and the adjacent islands, pioneerly showing the association between physiological capability and species distribution.

Over-ocean dispersal inferred from the saltwater tolerance of lizards from Taiwan

BackgroundFor non-marine organisms, crossing the sea requires the challenges of dehydration and hypersalinity to be faced. Thus, the rate of water loss and saltwater tolerance determine the ability of species to disperse over sea and further influence species distribution. However, this association between physiology and ecology has rarely been investigated in terrestrial vertebrates. In this study, we examined the lizard species differently distributed across Taiwan and the adjacent islands to determine whether these physiological responses reflect the geographical distribution. We performed immersion experiments on individuals and eggs to test the rate of water loss and the saltwater tolerance in the six chosen species, that is, four native species (Plestiodon elegans, Eutropis longicaudata, Diploderma swinhonis, and Hemidactylus frenatus) and two introduced species (E. multifasciata and Anolis sagrei). Results For the individuals, the results showed that P. elegans had the highest rate of water loss and the lowest saltwater tolerance, whereas E. longicaudata and E. multifasciata showed the lowest rate of water loss and the highest saltwater tolerance. D. swinhonis, H. frenatus, and A. sagrei had medium measurements compared with the aforementioned species. On the other hand, for the eggs, only the rigid-shelled eggs of H. frenatus were not influenced by the water immersion and were incubated successfully after experimental treatment. In contrast, the parchment-shelled eggs of E. longicaudata and D. swinhonis lost or gained water dramatically in the experiments, and none of them hatched after immersion. ConclusionsThese interspecies differences in water loss and saltwater tolerance strongly suggest the heterogeneity of over-ocean dispersal ability among these lizards. Combined with the historical geology and the origin areas of each species, the inferences of the results largely explain the current distribution of these lizards across Taiwan and the adjacent islands. Furthermore, this study also helps to elucidate the potential dispersal of two invasive species, E. multifasciata and A. sagrei, for conservation purposes.

Distribution pattern of swarm-founding eusocial wasps in the Indonesian Archipelago in comparison of that of parrots, one of sedentary bird groups

In the colony founding modes, eusocial wasps are divided into “independent-founders”, which initiate a colony by one to several inseminated females, and “swarm-founders”, which found their new colony by a number of “workers” accompanying one to many “queens”. As the swarm-founders put their trail pheromone on a guide to lead their colony members to a new nesting site, they would not disperse across large water bodies, such as sea and wide rivers. The present-day distribution pattern of swarm-founding wasps on the islands that are currently separated from each other and from continents should reflect the historical geology of these islands. The distribution patterns of the swarm-founding eusocial wasps in the Indonesian Archipelago are characterized by (1) occurrence of Asian continental elements in Borneo and Sumatra and their adjacent small islands, with a few species extending eastwards to Flores of Lesser Sunda Islands; (2) restriction of Australasian elements to New Guinea and its adjacent small islands including Aru; and (3) absence on most islands in Wallacea such as Sulawesi, Moluccas and eastern parts of Lesser Sunda Islands including Timor. These islands where no swarm-founders occur have never merged with any continental (Asian or Australasian) land mass. In the current distribution patterns in the Indonesian Archipelago, the swarm-founding eusocial wasps and the parrots are superficially similar, but their historical biogeography would be quite different.

A THREE-STEP VIEW FOR THE HISTORY OF GEOLOGY

ABSTRACT The evolution of geology as an independent science can be envisaged as a relatively continuous process yet marked by three fundamental steps. These represented singularities which established significant advances in the epistemological and heuristic power of the discipline. This interpretation of history has to be strictly based on an evaluation of the epistemological basis of geology according to modern scholarship. The recognition of these ‘golden spikes’, albeit artificial, may help geologists to better grasp the philosophical position of geology with respect to other sciences. The first step was the publication of Steno's Prodromus in 1669, which established the methodological rules for decoding a geologic history from the geometrical arrangements of beds. The second step was the founding of the Geological Society of London in 1807, an act by which a new community recognized itself as a scientific and professional entity applying a novel methodology in the study of Earth. Their approach represented a synthesis of the Wernerian-historical and the Huttonian-causal methods. The third step was the emergence of plate tectonics in 1967, when the actualistic method (i.e. uniformity of laws and processes) could be extended to the interpretation of the whole lithosphere. At the same time, the heuristic power of historical geology was validated by independent, physico-mathematical testing.

To the experience in the use of tests for current control of knowledge on historical geology in MGRI

The possibilities of using test tasks of various forms for the current control of the objective assessment of students knowledge of historical geology have been clarified. Brief information about the essence of pedagogical control and tests has been given. The value of control maps for the analysis and statistical processing of test results has been considered. The effectiveness of the test verification system for the organization of self-control over the course of assimilation and consolidation of the acquired knowledge, as well as the implementation of self-management training activities of students, has been proved. It has been concluded that the educational material that affects the history of the Earth in the Precambrian is the most difficult (10,0% of the correct answers), as well as the various aspects of the evolution of the organic world (10,1%), and alsothe information about minerals (11,5%). Students showed the best knowledge in the field of stratigraphic division of the studied intervals of geological history of the Earth (50,4%), features of the Paleozoic stage (42,4%) and various historical aspects (37,3%). It has been established that the maximal difficulties, regardless of the content, cause the tasks requiring systematic knowledge for compliance (9,4%). A small positive dynamics of students performance indicators has been revealed in the study of the material relating to different ages and different types of tectonic structures, as well as in the work with tests to establish compliance. It has been proved that the test control system makes it possible to make more systematic and effective conduct of classes, organize a self-control over the course for mastering individual topics and adjust the lecture material to improve the efficiency of training. Data on the results of the test control of educational work should be fully used for timely adjustment of educational trajectories of students at all stages of training in historical geology. They will be necessary for the development of initiatives in mastering the future profession, creative abilities, the ability to plan and predict the results of their independent actions and to solve non-standard tasks.