EDIT WP5 Platform for Cybertaxonomy

This report presents the train of reflection on the execution of an inventory of descriptive knowledge bases and interactive keys as part of the EDIT Activity 5.6 Keys and descriptions. The main steps to get this inventory started and efficient are developed here and a proposition including a collaboration with the Key to Nature is provided.

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The power user of a taxonomic data storage model is a non-technical user responsible for the integrity of the data. While the normal user creates data – names, references, authors, etc. – as part of the workflow of editing a taxon, the power user can create, edit, and delete data outside of this workflow. Moreover, the normal user should be restricted from editing certain shared data.

One task of work package 7 is the establishment of “All Taxa Biodiversity Inventories + Monitoring” (ATBI+M) sites in protected areas. ATBI+M are large-scale efforts to record, identify, and document the entire biodiversity of a given area. EDIT's ATBI+M sites differ from traditional approaches in their longer-term orientation: from an initial species inventory, they will form the basis for monitoring biodiversity changes over time. Active European ATBI+M sites are located in France, Italy and in Slovakia.

The EDIT core geoplatform services (such as the mapViewer tool) are useful largely because they are able to communicate with other services and tools on the Web. For this reason, the EDIT software component development is always modular (for easy adding of new components) and standards-compliant (for example adhering to the WMS/WFS standard for geographical data interchange). One of the richest sources of biodiversity and taxonomic data on the Web is the GBIF portal, tapping into a wealth of specimen and species occurrence observation records from institutions all over the world.

The e-conference was held in order to get a better view on the current status of the EDIT WP5.4 Geospatial Services, and to define the priorities for further implementation, in order to make them as useful as possible for the taxonomists as end users.

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The EDIT CDM Data Portal has been developed into a mature product based on the existing prototype (C5.86 Data portal prototype) as well as User requirements from the EDIT exemplar groups. The Portal will be one of the major components of the EDIT Platform Version 2.0.

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This report discusses the possibilities of linking the ATBI site data to the EDIT geoplatform. It partially builds on the report C5.107 - Specification for ATBI application of EDIT geotools. ATBI+M (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory and Monitoring) is being established under the Work Package 7 - 'Applying taxonomy to conservation'. Amongst its responsibilities , ATBI+M recognizes a need for efficient biodiversity assessment and monitoring. Currently the gathered data is stored in a simple Access database. The datasets are also available at ATBI sites.

This report completes the component C5.081 (Use case model and functional description of CDM descriptive data editor) and provides an illustration of the essential functionalities expected from the future CDM descriptive interface. Functionalities that could be made available and how existing tools can be integrated in order to provide such functionalities, are presented through one of the EDIT exemplar group: the Arecaceae family. As in component C5.081, functionalities are divided into two major categories: edition of descriptive content and analysis/treatment of descriptive data.

This report provides a summary of a study led on taxonomic activities related with descriptive data as part of the EDIT Activity 5.6 Keys and descriptions. The report presents UML use-case model for handling descriptive data and detailed use case scenarios for major functionalities. The use case scenarios show necessary descriptive functionalities for the work of the taxonomist with descriptive data: some of these functionalities are already available in existing descriptive tools, while others will need to be integrated or implemented.

Since ATBI+M activities include creating biodiversity inventories, tools for visualisation of such data are needed. Scientists involved in ATBI may use mapViewer for mapping species distribution, performing basic spatial analysis or creating camera ready maps needed for reports or publications. On the other hand the Map REST service is a powerful visualisation tool for those involved in automated publication of the collated information.