Taxonomic approaches to describe biodiversity

Why?

Scotland’s biodiversity is threatened by climate change, habitat loss, pollution and non-native invasives.

Responding to these threats requires:

• Increasing knowledge of the diversity and distribution of species
• Improving tools for the identification of key indicator groups – bryophytes, algae, lichens
• Better understanding of genetic diversity and ecology of species to determine the potential for adaptation or migration
• Greater understanding of the consequence of changing phonologies
• Developing appropriate management plans to ensure long term sustainability of species and habitats
• Delivering specialist training in identification of critical groups to ensures continuity of expertise for conservation assessment including site condition monitoring

Outcomes

• Increased knowledge of Scotland’s plant and fungal diversity and its distribution
• Tools to aid identification of difficult groups
• Informed management plans for in-situ conservation and long-term sustainability in the face of climate change
• A growing body of taxonomic expertise

Contacts

Contact: Prof. Mary Gibby