An International View of National Biological Surveys

摘要: Museums and herbaria in industrialized countries hold a huge amount of data the form labels associated with specimens collected developing countries. These represent significant part existing information on biodiversity available for most In this paper we first discuss usefulness label information, providing some examples from Mexico. Acquiring updating requires international cooperation, including agreement common policies ownership use data. Beneficiaries such efforts will be not only that assemble databases foreign museums, but scientific ommunity as well, due to increased value large coupled modern computer technologies provide. Surveying biological diversity nation involves inventorying, cataloging, mapping ecosystems, species, populations, genes. It may also include research dynamic aspects population biology, community ecosystems ecology, human uses different components biodiversity. The task surveying is among oldest biologists have faced (Badiano, 1552; Hernandez, 1790). However, increasing rate ecosystem destruction its species extinction genetic erosion (McNeely et al., 1990; Wilson, 1992; Ehrlich, 1995; Whitmore & Sayer, 1992), realization perhaps 90% planet remain named, mention mapped or understood (May, Groombridge, Stork, 1988), added urgency problem. To address urgency, new methods documenting are currently being developed-such Rapid Assessment Programs (RAPs) (Conservation International, 1991, 1992, 1993a-c), division labor management Costa Rica's Instituto Nacional deBiodiversidad (INBio) (Janzen 1993), All Taxa Biotic Inventories (Janzen, sampling so-called BioRaps (Margules Austin, 1995), where extrapolations distributions obtained prior Redhead, advanced using sensors pattern recognition software. reasons societies cultures cataloging run spectrum strictly utilitarian philosophical religious (Norton, 1987; 1992). like Mexico, which has large, diverse rural (Sarukhain 1996), very important. Indeed, Mexico more than 3000 used medicinal plants (Argueta 1994), many other industrial applications Dirzo, jojoba high-grade oil, there hundreds varieties corn, beans, chile, food. Still, non-utilitarian preserving expressed forcefully by segments public, outcries protecting monarch butterfly [Secretarfa de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL), 1993], waterfowl [Commission Environmental Cooperation (CEC), 1995], marine mammals (Salinas Ladron Guevara, conspicuous species. A good example recently discovered Lacandonia schismatica (Martifnez Ramos, 1989), despite apparently useless inconspicuous been protected Chole Indian San Javier, Chiapas, at cost clearing remaining patch'We thank Peter Raven organizers Symposium invitation participate. Many ideas presented here discussed extensively Alejandro Pelaez, whose involvement gratefully acknowledge. We Mary Carmen Navarro Rafael Caballero GIS work accumulation curves analyses, Lupita Bermejo helping references. Exequiel Ezcurra developed algorithms spatial analysis collecting points. grateful Amy Scheuler McPherson detailed kind editorial work. 2 Comisi6n Para el Conocimiento y Uso la Biodiversidad (CONABIO) Ferndndez Leal 43, Coyoacdn, D.F. 04020, 3 Centro Ecologfa, UNAM. Apdo. Postal 70-275, 04510, 4 Museo Zoologfa "Alfonso L. Herrera," Fac. Ciencias, 70-399, ANN. MISSOURI BOT. GARD. 83: 562-573. 1996. Volume 83, Number Sober6n al. 563 1996 International View