Biotas Beyond Texas
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Many new digital biodiversity tools rely heavily on prior print literature as a source of quality data. Ready access to this primary scientific literature is essential to allow data verification and to provide broader entry into the published literature. The Bibliography of the Neuropterida project provides user-queryable access to an extensive collection of bibliographic citations that cover the worldwide primary scientific literature of the insect orders Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera. |
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Working with the Biota of North America Program, we are developing mapping systems that allow 'on the fly' (based on database records) distributions of individual species and also 'summary' diversity maps that use color coding to reflect varying species numbers per geographic unit for different ranks of the taxonomic hierarchy. Initial, prototype systems are available for the Chenopodiacae and Cactaceae. Derived from a foundation provided by the prototype Flora2k system, A Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands opens access to full diversity mapping for the North American flora. This system also includes 'data expansion' for listed taxa via programmed linkage to ancillary information available on the network. |
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Collaboration with the University of Arkansas Herbarium and the Biota of North America Program has allowed work with a full, state-level biodiveristy data set to construct the prototype Arkansas Biodiversity site. This effort provided an overview of tasks required to develop a large, diverse distribution/diversity mapping system and place this in a functional context with regard to user access to a state flora. Development of this site will involve 'translation/merger' operations that will allow extension to mapping systems that include adjacent states and, perhaps, an 'on-line' updating/editing system for use by specialists working with the state flora. |
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Collaborative work with specialists at the Northeast Louisiana State University Herbarium (NLU) has allowed development of the Louisiana Grasses site. Using data developed for the NLU Louisiana Atlas Project, this system employs software developed for other TAMU-BWG diveristy/distribution mapping systems. Future development will include expansion to other elements of the Louisiana Flora and merger of data, initially for the Grass Family, for multi-state treatments. |
Carex texensis |
Biodiversity data system design centers on development of fast, simple entry into inherently rich, complex data structures that are nested within a taxonomic hierarchy. Taxonomic alignments are dynamic in that patterns of biological relationship, as defined by taxonomists, change as more data are developed. The prototypic CyberSedge system works with a base of 'foundation' taxonomic data carried by descriptive images of the genus Carex, one of the most diverse genera of the North American flora. Current work is directed toward digital replication of image-based material from volumes that are now out of print. Once a working base is established, these images and associated taxonomic alignments will be used to develop a modern, web-based perspective on the genus. |
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