Anne D. Jungblut

There is a national need for taxonomic training as outlined by the The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report on the state of taxonomy and systematics (2008) which raised concerns about the health of the discipline in the UK and its ability to support the needs of its user communities. Current undergraduate teaching does not provide the necessary essential training for postgraduate research and professional careers in freshwater biodiversity and environmental research as well as management and policy. Accurate species identification is fundamental for biodiversity assessments, monitoring and conservation of freshwater environments, digital biodiversity data, to inform management and policy development, as well as research into food webs and ecosystem function. Furthermore, freshwater environments are facing an increasing number of pressures in the UK due to intensive agriculture, sewage and climate change. NERC therefore has identified key skill gap priority areas including taxonomy and systematics, freshwater sciences and field work. To overcome this skills challenge, the aim of the proposal is to deliver a training short course on taxonomic skills and field techniques for environmental scientists and aligns with NERC’s current research programs including understanding of effectiveness of natural flood management and UK climate resilience. This proposed course will provide bespoke training in practical identification skills tailored to the requirements of the participants and UK skills gap. There is no comparable course with a focus on taxonomic training of freshwater groups currently offered covering the same range of both freshwater benthic and planktonic taxonomic groups. To address the skills gap, the training objectives of the course will cover the following topics: Introduction to the taxonomy and identification of major freshwater groups. Practical training in the use of keys and existing handbooks. Microscopy techniques. Field work. Overview of freshwater habitats and appropriate sampling techniques. Hands-on training in sampling techniques, recording protocols for species lists, community assessment and monitoring. Data analysis methods, quantitative methodologies and experimental field design. Approaches to integrate taxonomic data and the physical and chemical properties of freshwater aquatic habitats. Preservation of different aquatic freshwater groups for voucher specimens and long-term storage. The course is delivered by Natural History Museum (NHM) experts in freshwater biology and biodiversity research ranging aquatic invertebrates, algae, cyanobacteria, aquatic lichens, macrophytes, and protists. After completing the course, participants will 1) know how to use handbooks and keys for the taxonomic identification of a range of freshwater groups; 2) understand best practice in collecting and preparing specimens for taxonomic identification; 3) be familiar with the use of microscopes; 4) be aware of preservation of different aquatic freshwater groups for voucher specimens and long-term storage; 5) be familiar with freshwater habitats and appropriate sampling techniques according to habitat characteristics; 6) be aware of sampling techniques, recording protocols for species lists, community assessment and monitoring approaches. The 5-day course will entail two days of lectures, a one-day field excursion to the New Forest and two days of extensive hands-on practical sessions of taxonomic identification training. By working closely with NHM scientists, participants will gain expertise to meet the needs and challenges of their current and future careers. The course will also enable participants to meet postgraduate students and early career researchers beyond their doctoral training programmes to exchange experiences and form new links to start building their research network for their future careers.