Why?
In a break with tradition, an essay.
A thought piece. No photos, no field notes, no references.
Just musings on why I do what I do.
As readers of our website will know, Paul and I spend our days studying the natural world around us. Nature has been a shared passion since childhood. An ideal lifelong interest. The more we learn, the more we see. The more questions we know to ask.
Recently we've each taken some time out from field observations, research, photography and our usual blogging. Paul has published an article about his sawfly project: what he's been doing, and how.
I have been giving thought to that third fundamental question. Why?
In particular:
Why does species identification matter? Why my obsession with wasps? And why my commitment to iNaturalist?
Why species identification matters
Of course it is possible to appreciate nature without putting a scientific name to everything. We all do, in many different ways. We seek to relax and unwind in natural environments. We enjoy artwork, music, and prose inspired by nature. There is the deep connection to country so fundamental to First Nations peoples and cultures. And there is a growing environmental awareness across society, particularly among younger people (or so I choose to believe, to hope).
So why do I seek to know the name of each creature I encounter?
Revealing biodiversity
We all have some sense of biodiversity. Not all parrots are the same. Not all seabirds are gulls. Butterflies come in a multitude of colours and patterns.
Australia is home to many thousands of species … including over 70,000 named insects!
While most vertebrates have been discovered and scientifically described, the same is not true for invertebrates. Indeed, the majority of insects in Australia are undescribed. Unknown, yet often hidden in plain sight.
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As a biologist I sometimes forget that this central tenet is foreign to many people. And in fact, there is no single definition. A biological approach defines different species as organisms that do not successfully interbreed under normal conditions. However, this is just one of several approaches to what is known as 'the species problem'. Complementary methods include the morphological approach (what they look like) and the genetic approach (comparison of DNA sequences to determine evolutionary relationships, similarities and differences). In practice, most scientists accept and apply a combination of all of these.
Importantly, the taxonomic system, with each species assigned a unique, two-part name, provides an agreed framework for studying the diversity of life on earth.
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For the non-specialist, Latin names can be alienating. They may be difficult to pronounce, spell, or remember. But they are essential. Each is globally unique, and independent of language and culture. The same cannot be said for common names.
For example:
Acanthopagrus australis is a fish species well-known to coastal dwellers of eastern Australia. It goes by a staggering 11 different common names (e.g. Yellowfin Bream; Silver Bream; Eastern Black Bream; Common Bream). Conversely, the common name Silver Bream can refer to any of 9 different species!
Acacia dealbata is a widespread and attractive species of wattle. Common names for this species include Silver Wattle, Blue Wattle, and Mimosa. But Silver Wattle can refer to any of about a dozen Acacia species, while the common name Mimosa might refer to one of three different wattles, or various introduced ‘pea’ plants.
Biodiversity matters! It is the key to the planet's resilience. Different species, playing different roles, their populations changing in size and distribution over time. Diverse ecosystems are buffered against disruptive events. Even from a purely anthropocentric viewpoint, healthy ecosystems matter. Humans rely upon plants and animals for our own continued existence, right down to the air we breathe.
For every species lost, the world becomes a poorer place.
As a society, we need wider recognition of the importance of species richness. Yet it is not enough to simply advocate for biodiversity. Proclamations of “biodiversity matters” don't work. The statement holds little meaning for those with limited exposure to nature and wild places. And even those of us who live in natural environments only see what we recognise. Therefore learning what's what is so very important. Again, the more we learn, the more we see.
People are most likely to value that which they know. If someone views all low-growing plants as 'scrub', they are unlikely to protect native grasslands and heath. A person's awareness of biodiversity grows as they learn to distinguish one species from another. This is true for all of us.
A biology prerequisite
There is much more to a species than its name. A labelled specimen in a museum tells you something about that individual. Its size and shape, where it lived and when. But it says little or nothing about its life history. How did it reproduce? What were the stages of development, and what was its lifespan? How much variation is there between individuals of the same species? Such knowledge only comes from studying many individuals, over time, and ideally in their natural environment. A prerequisite for any sound biological study is accurate species identification. It's vital to know who's who. Even closely related species can have very different requirements, show very different behaviours.
For ecology: the study of natural ecosystems
No species exists in isolation. To appreciate the complexity of ecological systems you need to identify the players. Only then can you hope to recognise their individual roles and interactions.
From my perspective, every species matters. Each is unique. Irreplaceable. Each has a history, and it's typically a long one. Often millions of years! Securing their future in a world so dominated and disrupted by human activities demands greater protection and promotion of healthy, natural ecosystems.
For both Paul and me, ecological awareness is what we strive for. We spend much of our time on species identification and biology ... but always within the broader ecological context.
The curious attraction of wasps
Our interest in the forest ecosystem covers all its plants and animals; the seasonal, the transient, the ever present; tall trees to tiny grass flowers; showy birds and cryptic spiders. Yet we both concede that insects are our favourites. And for me, wasps have become something of an obsession.
But why wasps? Good question, and I have no simple answer.
I could argue on the basis of their ecological importance. The sheer diversity of their lifestyles contributes significantly to the complexity of the forest. Some prey on spiders, others beetles, flies, caterpillars, or bugs. Hundreds of species are parasitic on insects. They make a valuable contribution to flower pollination. Indeed, some wasp species are essential to the reproductive success of particular orchids. And all are potential meals for a wide range of birds, insects, and spiders.
I could cite species richness. As a continent, Australia is particularly rich in wasp species and the forest here is no exception. This diversity is particularly apparent among the flower wasps (Thynnidae), and the parasitic ichneumonids and braconids. Many are large(ish) species, frequenting the lower strata ... so I see them! And there are many more that escape attention; being tiny, cryptic, or out of reach in the canopy.
I could say they need an advocate. Wasps are generally demonised, unfairly unpopular. At the mention of wasps, most people first worry about being stung ... and then set about eradicating them. Contrast this with the Australian public's response to bees. People love them, seek to attract them, and even provide purpose-built bee hotels in urban backyards. Yet, like native bees, very few wasp species are in any way dangerous to people. And, like native bees, wasps too need access to food and housing if they are to survive in towns and cities.
I could claim they are understudied. There is so much we don't know about Australia's wasps. Only a minority have even been scientifically described; most remain unnamed, so the true diversity of the group is unknown. And their biology is largely uncharted territory. Remarkably few species have been studied in detail, and for many higher taxa ('groups' or 'types' of species) there is no published information available. Anywhere.
All true.
But while I will happily justify my activities on any or all of these grounds, they are not how I came to focus on wasps. I am not nearly so strategic. This is just where I have found myself, quite by accident. When wandering the forest, at any time of year, wasps catch my eye. They are charismatic, with their varied patterns of flight and postures at rest. I've discovered where some nest, season after season. And piece by piece, species by species, I am coming to know them.
The power of iNaturalist
Extract from iNaturalist website https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/about
Our Life in a Southern Forest website is at the heart of our naturalist activities. It is here that we share our thoughts, observations and images of the forest ecosystem (see the blog archive). Less obviously, perhaps, it is also where we record and publish our working notes, references, and the resources we develop to assist with species identification.
Yet iNaturalist has become every bit as important to us.
How I use iNaturalist
iNaturalist is a lot of different things, and people use it in a variety of ways. So before I expound on the strengths of the system, I should briefly explain how I use it.
Paul and I have been contributing to iNaturalist since 2018. It is where we document our species sightings, from both our home forest and excursions beyond. More than 9,000 observations to date, and growing.
But for us, iNaturalist is so much more than a species checklist. It is a resource we learn from, and where we can share that knowledge with others.
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In honing my wasp identification skills, there is only so much I can glean from published species descriptions. The ideal situation is having a specimen in the hand, so I do occasionally collect an insect for closer scrutiny. But largely I rely on field photos ... and iNaturalist affords a wonderfully rich, burgeoning dataset for analysis. It includes many species I've never seen in the field, and am unlikely to. Indeed, it is not uncommon for iNaturalist to host the only known photos of a wasp species!
The process is an iterative one. First I draft summaries and ID resources (for example, this page on Bembix) based on readings and direct observations. Next, I test these by applying them to the iNaturalist sightings. Then it's back to the literature, and refining my resources. Repeat. One of my summary tables is currently on version 20!
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Of course, I am always pleased to be able to attach a name to someone's previously unidentified photo. Already I've been able to contribute hundreds of identifications, many of them 'firsts' for iNaturalist. Reciprocity is a good thing.
Why iNaturalist is such a good fit
Extract from iNaturalist website https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/about
The core values of iNaturalist resonate with me. The vision and mission statements express my own philosophy and priorities far more eloquently than I ever could.
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I believe the principal strength of the system is collaboration. All users are encouraged to participate in species identification, irrespective of their background or level of experience with a particular taxon.
iNaturalist is not a binary 'expert vs novice' model. Far from it. The user community includes professional taxonomists, experienced naturalists, beginners ... and all shades between. Yet anyone, regardless of background, may develop specialist knowledge of particular taxa. And nobody is expert in everything.
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By design, the platform is inherently scientific. All identifications are open to change, as more information comes to light. Critique, review and revision are embraced. It is all right to be wrong. That is the heart of experimentation and learning.
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Someone new to iNaturalist posts a photo of an insect from their garden. They wonder what it is, and what it was doing on their flowers. Another iNaturalist user suggests a possible ID, and speculates on the insect's behaviour. The observer clicks on the link to other sightings of related insects, seeing similarities and differences. Someone else remarks that this particular species is rarely seen, or not previously recorded in that part of the country. Chuffed! And quite suddenly the observer feels more connected with nature than they did before. They are inspired to look further, discover more, to 'see' in greater detail. From there their confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm grow. As does their understanding and support for biodiversity and conservation. It can be that simple. That transformative.
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When it comes to nature, local knowledge is valuable. Of course. I can recognise many plant species in my region, but have no idea when it comes to rainforest plants in the north of the state. I'm pretty good with bird species across Australia, but clueless when travelling abroad.
However, when it comes to insect identification, it helps to reach out. The wider, the better. While butterflies and dragonflies are broadly popular, for many other insects the number of enthusiasts is quite small. And those enthusiasts could live anywhere. For example, my focus is on the identification of Australia's crabronid wasps. Yes, I'm an enthusiast. Through iNaturalist, I monitor crabronid sightings across the country, and can often identify species I've never personally encountered. Notably, I routinely exchange ideas with fellow waspophiles as far afield as Ohio and Brazil!
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The technology works. And it's not all about AI ... although that is an increasing powerful addition to the system. I routinely filter by taxon and location to narrow a search. The system even supports our home list with ease. We created a project, with a geographic boundary (our home block) and just two users (Paul and me), and bingo ... a home list
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The value of community-based nature recording is now widely understood and accepted. iNaturalist observations provide insights into species distribution, seasonality, behaviour, and variability. For many insect species, there is simply no better information resource.
As a social network, iNaturalist is something I strongly believe in. As a technology, I can't fault it. And as an independent, nonprofit organisation, I am very happy to support it and to play my small part.