Indexing the Species Names of the World -

for the World

Frank Bisby (Species 2000), Michael Ruggiero (ITIS)

Per de Place Bjørn (GBIF - ECAT)

(pdpbjorn@gbif.org)

Names NAMES = KNOWLEDGE

Identifiers: taxonomic concepts

Indexes: names as locators

Classification: relationships

Linkages and searches: data bases and internet

Electronic Catalog of

Names

Electronic Electronic Catalog of Catalog of

NamesNames

Climate Climate DataData

GenBank, GenBank, et al.et al.

Search Search EnginesEngines

Biological Biological Specimen Specimen

DataData

Data Data Access/Access/InteropInterop--erabilityerability

Sequence Sequence Data Data (RNA, (RNA,

protein, etc.)protein, etc.)

Ecosystems Ecosystems DataData

GeospatialGeospatialDataData

Ecological Ecological DataData

Content area responsibilities of GBIFContent area responsibilities of GBIF

Existing Existing responsibilities of responsibilities of

other groupsother groups

The GBIF Portal

Catalogued vs. Uncatalogued Species

CataloguedUncatalogued

1.750.000 scientific species names

Catalog of Life:ITIS and SPECIES 2000 Central data base

North America + some global

Mostly governmental

Base funded

Permanent, full time staff

Accepted Name, Synonym(s),

Common Name(s)

Name, Author, Reference, Date, Distribution, Number

Distributed data base

Global only

Mostly non-governmental

Grant funded

Non-permanent, part time staff

Accepted Name, Synonym(s),

Common Name(s)

Name, Author, Reference, Date, Distribution (option)

Catalogue of Life 2000:Contributors

Database Name Species Synonyms Common names

BIOS 4,867 2909 --CephBase 686 490 1101FishBase 25,137 45,964 108,115ILDIS 17,695 20,805 6,210IOPI 392 757 --ITIS 2000 144,044 46,855 52,473Phyllachorales 1,331 1,295 --

Rhytismatales 352 311 --

Scarabaeidae 15,807 5,474 --Seaweeds 2000 8,325 9,480 182

Trichomycetes 238 39 --

URMO 4,540 -- --Xylariaceae 163 239 --Zygomycetes 471 623 --

ITIS Global Species Databases in Catalogue of Life

Scleractinia

Polychaeta Genera

Lobsters and Shrimps

Isopoda

Diptera

Formicidae

Trichoptera

Turtles

Crocodiles

Birds

GBIF - ECAT

The Electronic Catalogue of Names of Known Organisms

GBIF – ECAT: STAG Recommendations

Common Goal for ITIS, Species 2000, GBIF is a Global Checklist of Names of Known Organisms = at least 1.75 Million accepted names

Functions

Locate a species by name or in a hierarchy

Provide lists of species, synonyms

Provide links to data bases, nomenclators, and hierarchies

Track changes in taxon concepts and applications of names

Provide automated access for electronic systems

Catalog of Life: STAG Recommendations

Content

Essential: Accepted scientific name and reference, source data base, latest taxonomic scrutiny

Essential, if available: Synonyms, common names, parent link, and geography

System Architecture

Network of global and regional data bases

Targets

2002: 300 K species; 2003: 500 K species; 2011: 1.75 M species

Overall Goal:

1. a reference to the taxonomical community and common users at large

2. an authority file for taxonomic names

3. a core dictionary file for the GBIF Network – GBIF Name Service

Create a catalogue of names of all known organisms to serve as:

This is done by:

Partnering with existing and future names gathering institutions – collaborating on indexing of life

Working with the Catalogue of Life Consortium to establish Catalogue of Life

Using the Catalogue in the internal GBIF data structure

Short Term Goals:To do within the next year

Assess the state of the indexing universe

Review existing syntheses (e.g., Species 2000, ITIS), call for contributions from indexing organizations and individuals.

Report/graphical representation on available resources, summarizing the indexing of life

Invite already existing indexes and organisations – partner with CoL

Call for participation, specifying that indexes needs not have world-wide coverage in order to participate

Form participation agreements with geographically based indexes

Work shop

Create Name Service to serve the GBIF Network and the world.

First implementation will contain mainly data from regional indexing initiatives and CoL

Hierarchies…

GBIF Name Service

Promote and sustain large and small indexing activities.

Use seed money to speed up or finish existing projects

Initiate regionally oriented names-gathering organizations (comparable to ITIS or Fauna Euopaea) in relevant parts of the world

Call for participation + develop invitations

Develop procedures for application, review, cost sharing

Mid Term Goals

To do within the following one to two years

Encourage working groups of experts on non-indexed organism groups and geographical areas

Calls for proposals from the taxonomical communities, larger institutions, scientific societies

Support the communication infrastructure of these communities by providing web sites, discussion fora etc.

Seed money for limited activation initiatives, workshops

Ultimate GoalsTo do within five to ten years

Complete Catalogue

Goal

Catalogue in use and containing the majority of scientific names

When

Ultimo 2005: 40% of all scientific names indexed

Ultimo 2013: 90% of all scientific names indexed

Inclusion of Common Names

What

Reasonable share of the world’s common names included in the Catalogue

How

Contractor to establish proposal for polices

Contractor or ECAT to collect and incorporate names

When

Ultimo 2005: 15% of all common names indexed

Ultimo 2013: 40% of all common names indexed

ECAT Budget 2003

Assess the state of the indexing universe

Invite already existing indexes and organisations

GBIF Name Service

Promote and sustain large and small indexing activities

$10.000

$100.000

$10.000

$500.000

-------------

$620.000

ECAT Funding Guidelines 2003

Funding priorities to be developed through consultative process

Proposal review process to be as open as possible

Seed money - provide grants of up to 20% of the total project cost - to a maximum of $50,000 US