Systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. It is a branch of biological science that deals with the classification systems and nomenclature of organisms. Systematics is sometimes used interchangeably with taxonomy, which is a branch of science concerned with finding, describing, classifying, and naming organisms, including the studying of the relationships between taxa and the principles underlying such a classification. However, systematics is more encompassing than taxonomy, as it includes the study of evolutionary histories and the environmental adaptations of organisms.
Systematics is used to describe and analyze Earths biodiversity, and it is a combination of taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis. Examining the relationships (or systematics) of species is important, particularly if we are to name species, as we want these groups to reflect the evolution, or phylogeny, of the groups. The aims of a good naming system are that it is explicit (identifies only one group), stable (does not change every time a new study is done), universal (the species name applies everywhere), and evolutionary (the group has arisen from a recent common ancestor).
Scientists in the field of systematics use different branches to further understand the relationships between differing organisms. These branches are used to determine the applications and uses for modern-day systematics, which include:
- Explaining the biodiversity of the planet and its organisms. The systematic study is that of conservation.
- Manipulating and controlling the natural world. This includes the practice of biological control, the intentional introduction of natural predators and disease.
In summary, systematics is a field of biology that studies the classification systems and nomenclature of organisms, as well as their evolutionary histories and relationships through time. It is used to describe and analyze Earths biodiversity and has applications in conservation and manipulating the natural world.
