Significance of Taxonomy to Science and Society

As mentioned in my previous article, I considered taxonomy as the most underrated field of the biological sciences. It is evident that only a handful of students would pursue professional scientific career in taxonomy.

However, let us remind ourselves that taxonomy is the science that holds biology together. It touches virtually every field in the biological sciences.

In this article let us discuss the significance of taxonomy

Scientific Significance

§ Through taxonomic studies, various species can be discovered that can be added to various biodiversity databases. This assessment of diversity will then lead to more environmental laws on conservation

§ Throughout the history of taxonomy, various species were split into two or more species. This is a result of rigorous studies on the characteristics of the already known species.

§ Taxonomy will also allow us to trace and understand the various physical and chemical development of an organism. This type of taxonomic studies can lead to more discoveries that are unknown to us that can have various applications

§ Lastly, taxonomy provides science students and professionals research topics to work on. One may go out as field biologist, while others may think of molecular taxonomy as their research thrust.

Sociological Significance

§ Taxonomy can lead to the conservation of natural resources. As mentioned above, biodiversity assessment (which requires taxonomic skills) can lead to discoveries of unknown species. Once more species are discovered, lawmakers can then formulate laws for environmental protection, specifically protection on natural resources

§ Another significant contribution of taxonomy to society is food security. We have to bear in mind that biodiversity will always lead to abundance of food. This is the very reason that biodiversity conservation is not only the fight of scientists but the fight of every human being. We may hear of countries that engaged in territorial disputes. For me, these disputes are not totally about supremacy but about food security

§ We already hear about herbal medicine and other form of traditional medicine. We also hear of drugs that were extracted mostly from plants and fungi. Now remember that taxonomists estimated that there are still millions of various species, especially those in the marine ecosystem, that are not discovered which might have the secret to the cure of the world’s deadliest diseases like cancer, and the emerging threats to the diseases from antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms. Hence, taxonomists’ contribution to drug discovery is undoubtedly indispensable.

§ Taxonomy can also contribute to cultural preservation. Indigenous people are known to inhabit the most isolated lands of the planet, where their beliefs and cultures are greatly affected by the diversity that they have. Thus conserving the environment would also entail the conservation of one’s country’s rich culture and traditions

§ Lastly, taxonomy will preserve the aesthetic value of a certain locality. Pristine waters and forests, high mountains and blue shorelines, all are important part of humanity’s existence. In a fast-moving world, stress and depression are constantly with us. Retreating to the beauty of the natural world will certainly provide us with mental, emotional, physical and spiritual remedy. In fact, in some European countries, medical doctors and even company CEOs encouraged their workers to go to nature for healing. And there are already studies that validate the therapeutic effects of connecting yourself to nature.

There are still various contributions of taxonomy. Some of these can be general while some are highly individualized that it touches our own existence. Such contributions make taxonomy as a science of the planet.

This is Edward Opena's Klassrum. #NeverStopLearning