Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Post Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Flanders Marine Institute, Wandelaarkaai 7, Ostend, 8400, Belgium.
Conserv Biol. 2015 Aug;29(4):1094-1099. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12496. Epub 2015 Apr 9.
Taxonomy is the foundation of biodiversity science because it furthers discovery of new species. Globally, there have never been so many people involved in naming species new to science. The number of new marine species described per decade has never been greater. Nevertheless, it is estimated that tens of thousands of marine species, and hundreds of thousands of terrestrial species, are yet to be discovered; many of which may already be in specimen collections. However, naming species is only a first step in documenting knowledge about their biology, biogeography, and ecology. Considering the threats to biodiversity, new knowledge of existing species and discovery of undescribed species and their subsequent study are urgently required. To accelerate this research, we recommend, and cite examples of, more and better communication: use of collaborative online databases; easier access to knowledge and specimens; production of taxonomic revisions and species identification guides; engagement of nonspecialists; and international collaboration. "Data-sharing" should be abandoned in favor of mandated data publication by the conservation science community. Such a step requires support from peer reviewers, editors, journals, and conservation organizations. Online data publication infrastructures (e.g., Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Ocean Biogeographic Information System) illustrate gaps in biodiversity sampling and may provide common ground for long-term international collaboration between scientists and conservation organizations.
分类学是生物多样性科学的基础，因为它有助于发现新物种。在全球范围内，参与为科学界命名新物种的人数从未如此之多。每十年描述的新海洋物种数量从未如此之多。尽管如此，据估计仍有数万种海洋物种和数十万种陆地物种有待发现；其中许多可能已经在标本收藏中。然而，给物种命名只是记录其生物学、生物地理学和生态学知识的第一步。考虑到生物多样性面临的威胁，迫切需要了解现有物种的新知识，发现未被描述的物种及其后续研究。为了加速这项研究，我们建议并引用了更多更好的交流的例子：使用协作式在线数据库；更方便地获取知识和标本；编制分类修订版和物种识别指南；吸引非专业人士参与；以及开展国际合作。“数据共享”应被摒弃，代之以保护科学领域强制要求数据发布。这一步骤需要同行评审员、编辑、期刊和保护组织的支持。在线数据发布基础设施（例如全球生物多样性信息设施、海洋生物地理信息系统）说明了生物多样性采样的差距，并可能为科学家和保护组织之间的长期国际合作提供共同基础。
