Dear Annelidans:
The decline of invertebrate zoology as commented by our colleagues is the last
manifestation of a long ongoing international trend that has already brought
as a consequence a deficit in training of competent taxonomists in most marine
groups (since most are invertebrate) which becomes larger year after year.
This is a subject that many of us regard as a severe problem and a grave
mistake made by most governments, due to the logics of economic pressures of
the type that prevent the development of "pure science". How on earth can we
say something about ecosystems without knowing which species compose (or
composed) it in the first place???? Most of us, Mexican polychaetologists, try
to convene the message and lament these facts in publications or congress
presentations as often as we can, to try and convince at least our co-
nationals.
I was thinking that maybe when we meet later this year in Madrid and taking
into consideration that this is an international problem, we could set apart a
short time to discuss useful strategies or exchange ideas on how to revert the
trend. Geoff's comments are very interesting since they point out to
shortcomings on our part, and I like the idea of being part of the solution
and not only part of the problem..., especially when I try to get funding! but
also in the problem initially pointed out by Kirk.
Worm regards
Vivianne
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