Publisher's Synopsis
This book reviews the developments and achievements of systematics in the 50 years since the foundation of the Systematics Association in 1937, and more particularly since the publication of "The New Systematics", edited for the Association by Sir Julian Huxley in 1940. It is based on an international symposium held by the Association to mark its golden jubilee in 1987.;Botanists, microbiologists, palaeontologists, zoologists, theoreticians, practitioners and users have contributed articles on differing aspects of the subject and the directions in which it might develop into the next century. The impression created is one of an active subject adapting concepts and practices to accommodate new information from rapidly expanding areas of biology, but also one which needs to take increased note of the requirements of its users.;The contributors argue that the main challenge for systematics in the coming decades is the need to re-establish its position as the keystone of biology.
