Introduction
Biological Science Fundamentals and Systematics is a component of Encyclopedia of Biological, Physiological and Health Sciences in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias.
The Theme on Biological Science Fundamentals and Systematics provides the essential aspects and a myriad of issues of great relevance to our world such as: History and Scope of Biological Sciences; The Origin and Evolution of Early Life; Evolution; Classification and Diversity of Life Forms; Systematics of Microbial Kingdom (s) and Fungi; Systematic Botany; Systematic Zoology: Invertebrates; Systematic Zoology: Vertebrates which are then expanded into multiple subtopics, each as a chapter. These four volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.
Editor(s) Biography
Alessandro Minelli, born 1948, is full Professor of Zoology at the University of Padova (Italy), and President (1995-2001) of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. His major research interests are the evolution of arthropods and the evolutionary developmental biology of segmentation, together with theoretical and historical aspects of systematic biology.
Giancarlo Contrafatto, born 1948, is a graduate in Biological Sciences from the University of Turin (Italy) and has obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Natal Durban (South Africa). His research interests are isolation mechanisms related to speciation of small mammals. Recipient of the 1976 British Association Medal, from the South African Association for the Advancement of Science, G. Contrafatto has been on the staff of the University of Natal since 1983, and is responsible for the courses of Microbiology, Immunology, Comparative Immunology, Systematics and Evolution.
