The Task Force on Global Biodiversity of the National Science Board is charged with developing a course of action for the National Science Foundation to follow to promote responsible management of global biological diversity. Effective management of the problem is hampered by a shortage of systematic biologists--scientists who identify, document, and classify living things. A study was conducted to gather information on systematic biology training and personnel to gauge the magnitude and severity of the shortfall of scientists. The survey collected information on the 1988-89 academic year from institutions with graduate-level systematic biology programs. All 168 doctorate-granting institutions (108 public and 60 private institutions) in the United States were surveyed. A total of 108 institutions reported that they currently train graduate students in systematic biology. The survey collected information on the following: departments training graduate students in systematic biology, and department composition; numbers of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and degree recipients in systematic biology; distribution of personnel by minority group membership, citizenship, and developing country status; major disciplinary approach within systematic biology; sources and amounts of support for study and research; need for types of employment positions in systematic biology; faculty vacancies in biology and in systematic biology; and probable areas of future faculty hiring. (JDD)