Natural History & Systematics - NHS

Natural History & Systematics - NHS

The Natural History and Systematics (NHS) Research Group mainly working at the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC) contributes to the Centre's vision and mission, by researching the systematics and phylogeny of diverse taxa, considering their ecological importance and conservation, and curating the reference collections at the MUHNAC.

The “Natural History and Systematics Research Group” includes 14 researchers (integrated members), 5 of whom hold post-doctoral grants. The group also includes 3 Ph.D. students, 1 research grant holders hired by specific research projects and 7 collaborators. The group have active collaboration with other research centres in the world, including Natural History Museums and their scientists.

The Natural History and Systematics (NHS) Research Group aims to document and describe biodiversity and to understand its origins and conservation issues. Using MUHNAC’s continuously growing resource of more than 800,000 biological specimens and associated information collected over 250 years, the Group studies the taxonomic status of species, analyses their phylogeographic and phylogenetic relationships, and investigates patterns of biodiversity in space and time. We are strongly committed to mitigating the "taxonomic impediment" to the sound management of biodiversity, in fine-tuning with the Convention for Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. We also seek to engage citizens in science and enhance public awareness of biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and climate change.

The group met regularly to discuss and prepare research and outreach and to evaluate funding opportunities.

Sub-Groups

Animal Biodiversity, Evolution and Systematics Plant, lichen and fungi systematics, biogeography & conservation genetics

Team

Projects