Systematics Information as a Central Component in the National Biological Information Infrastructure

5 Pages·1996·4 MB·

by  Anne Frondorf

SYSTEMATICS INFORMATION
Anne
Frondorp and Gary Waggoner
AS A CENTRAL COMPONENT
THE
NATIONAL
IN
BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION
INFRASTRUCTURE
Abstract
The
National Biologi(>al Service (NBS) is leading the development of the National Biological Information Infrastructure
(NBII), a distributed network of biological data and information available electronically over the Internet. The important
role of systemalics information In the NBII is discussed by presenting a vision of a "national systematics information
NBS
infrastructure." Several current initiatives of the that directly contribute to developing such a systematics
infor-
mation
infrastnjctiire are described.
The
mission
of the National Biological Service sponsible
for the data, using the "information su-
(NBS) work
is to with other agencies and organi- perhighway" to interconnect and disseminate these
zations to provide the scientific understanding and data
to others.
technologies needed manage
to the Nation's (i.e.. In addition to biological data and information,
A
United
the States') biological resources. funda- new types of software providing new capahil-
t<)ols
mental make
part of this mission is to data and ities will also be available over the NBII network,
information on
biological resources more accessible to help users work at dieir own local computer with
more
for people use making man-
to in resource the actual data from
several different remote
agement
decisions. (For the purposes
of this dis- sources, or to work collaboratively with others
at
cussion, the term "data"
refers to material as orig- remote sites by using the network
virtual lab-
(i.e.,
Inally collected or developed, while "information" The NBII
oratories). will also point to sources of
more
refers broadly material has been
to that pro- biological science expertise: people and organiza-
cessed, or integrated with other
material, or dis- tions that users can contact to gel assistance in
played
or presented The
in certain ways. objective finding and understanding
biological data,
NBS
of the and the National Biological Information The NBII being implemented
is in three sequen-
make
Infrastructure is to both data and information phases. The NBII
tial Directory currenUy point-
is
more A
broadly
accessible.) key element
of the ing users bioh)gical databases and
to information
NBS
program
development NBS
is of a national partner- sources, within and from
other agencies
or
ship sharing
for biological information: the National organizations. The NBII Clearinghouse now
also
is
Biological Infonnation The
Infrastructure (NBII). in operation, with several serving metadata
sites de-
NBII
concept is a significant component of the rec- scribing and documenting
their data holdings and,
ommendations made
by the National Research some
in cases, also the data themselves. (The term
Council 1993 "A me
in its report entitled Biological tadata" refers to data which serve describe
to
Survey
for the Nation."
other data, including such things as how, when.
The
goal of the NBII is to establish a distributed where, and by whom die data were
collected; the
"federation" of biological data and information subject matter of the data; indications of data qual-
sources, relying on a network of partners and co- and information on how
ity; to obtain or access the
make
operators to the data they generate and/or
data. In a library, for exampl(% the books are
if
maintain
available others throughout
to this feder- considered "data," the infonnation in the card cat-
ation, using the Internet. The basic NBII philoso- alog would be The
the "metadata.") NBII
Distrib-
phy
encourage and
is to facilitate biological data System
ute<l is the ultimate goal of the NBII and
is
Under
stewardship. philosophy, manage-
this the expected be operational by 1998.
to In this phase,
ment of databases nMiiains with those who are re- users will be able to direcdy access, com-
retrieve,
849
'' National Biological Service, U.S. Departmenl of the Interior. Techriologv Transfer Center, P.O. Box 2,'>;?87 Building
DFC,
810, Denver, Colorado 80225, U.S.A.
Ann. Missouri Bot. Card. 546-550.
83: 1996.
& Waggoner 547
Volume Number 4 Frondorf
83,
1996 National Biological Information Infrastructure
nformat
bine, and analyze biological data from different
sources different locations a virtual national out a widely distributed electronic federation of
at (i.e.,
sources.
biological database).
NBS
developing a
has taken a leadership role in
docu-
metadata content standard for use in
draft
Current Emphases NBII Development
in
menting resource data and information in
biological
A
what
NBS on NBII. metadata content standard specifies
working simultaneously three fronts
is
implementing NBII: making the most signif- metadata items (fields) to use in describing a data
in
(1)
and how should be formatted and
icant biological data and information products from set these fields
NBS research and inventory programs electronical- presented. Standardizing the format and presenta-
many metadata way makes easier for
accessible; supporting the efforts of tion of in this it
ly
(2)
among
public and private partners to make their signifi- people to compare and contrast different
The standard pro-
cant biological data and information accessible to distributed data sources. draft
me-
an framework biological
others over the NBII; and working cooperatively vides overall for all
(3)
Geographic Data
with other agencies and organizations on the tools tadata, linking with the Federal
and standards needed provide the infrastructure Committee standard for spatial data, as well as with
to
(USMARC)
machine readable cataloging
components NBII. the U.S.
of
NBS
Examples of significant biological data and in- standard for library materials/publications.
from NBS through has contracted with the American Institute for Bi-
formation currently available
NBII North American Breeding Bird ological Sciences (AIBS), which assembled a dis-
include the
GAP
has
Survey, data from the nationwide analysis pro- tinguished panel of biological scientists that
and recommendations on
and on non- provided peer review this
gram, wildlife health bulletins, data
The AIBS has been com-
indigenous aquatic species, including the zebra draft standard. final report
NBS
mussel. We continue work with the NBS science pleted, and will be testing and evaluating this
to
who
centers, cooperative research units, and other of- standard and will provide it to other partners
and
orma might also be willing to test the standard pro-
NBS
comments
tion holdings, and to systematically proceed with vide for to use in further revision,
We new
cataloging, describing, and electronically serving are also developing and testing types of
and
and approaches serving ac-
the most significant of these on NBII. software tools for
Partner agencies and organizations, including information
federal and state agencies, private groups, univer- temet. This includes tools for distributed searches,
new
museums, and have by distributed computing, and development of
herbaria, libraries,
sities,
the bulk of the biological data and information controlled vocabulary systems to use in searches.
far
many
the country. Thus, we are working with
in
make and informa-
partners to the biological data Data AND '
Importance OF Systematics
Key
they have more accessible over NBII. ar-
tion
Information NBII
in
NBS
eas of interest for in developing these part-
Systematics data and information are of funda-
nerships are with other federal agencies, with state
and mental importance building the NBII. System-
resource agencies, and with the systematics in
management community. atics data and information are necessary to support
collections
and
Many these partners already are making data biological inventory, monitoring, research. Sys-
of
and information accessible over the Internet, and tematics collections data can he applied in long-
NBII linking these providers, such as the Na- tenn biological or ecological research or to analyze
to
is
Wetlands Inventory database of the U.S. Fish term
tional
and Wildlife Service, the Global Change Master Di- lanng
and and metadata and etween
rectory of data information,
Museum
data the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. tions. collections also provide essential
in
Other agencies and organizations are interested in outreach and education services to raise public
NBS and awareness and understanding of biodiversity.
working with help automate, describe,
to
and maintained
ormation ay not cur- Systematics data are collected
rmat throughout a widely distributed network of collec-
NBS also working with partners on developing, tions, museums, herbaria, botanical gardens, uni-
is
and
adapting, and refining the types of software tools, versities, natural history surveys, other public
many
protocols, and standards that are needed to allow and private agencies and organizations. In
and
compare, exchange, and use a va- cases, availability of different systematics data
users access,
to
548
Annals
the
of
Garden
Missouri Botanical
may
information not he fully known by the people and fauna. ITIS can he accessed on World Wide
the
who
would he ahle to use Also, much useful Weh
at http://www.itis.usda.gov/itis.
it.
data, such as the information on As NBS
biological spetM- described above, has developed a pro-
mens
housed museums,
in are not currently posed metadata
avail- content standard use docu-
for in
able in an automated format and tlierefore are not menting non-geospatial biological data and
infor-
easily accessihh\ In addition, integration of infor- mation on NBIL As proposed standard
this
is
mat ion from two or more different sources help and
to refined, tested, released over the next year,
answer NBS
questions does not always occur because working ensure
is to that includes appro-
it
the data from different sources cannot be
easily priate elements on systematics/taxonomy and
that
compared
or coml)ined.
the pr(){)osed standard is beta tested on actual se-
It is clear that systematics represents a micro- lected systematics data review and
sets to its utility
cosm
NBS
of all of the issues involved in implementing applicability. will also work to disseminate in-
Buihhng
the NBII. on NBII
the overall effort, our formation on applicability and use of a metadata
goal help develop and
is to support a "national sys- standard to the systematics community,
NBS
tematics information which
infrastructure" in data, also working with numerous partners on
is
information,
an<l tools are electronically accessible
several fronts to develop a Standardized National
in a (hstributed network for a broad array of differ- Vegetation Classification System. The major
effort
ent applications by NBS
a variety of users. is in conjunction with two vegetation mapping
programs, the National Park Vegetation Mapping
GAP
Ohjkctivks in Dkvkloping a National program and the National Analysis Program.
NBS
Systematics Information Infrastructure working The
closely with Nature Conser-
is
'ancy and the network of State Heritage Programs
. 5u[)port tfie develo^pment and use of data aru \^ a. development r a • j a -c *- N\^^B^cS^
^" "^^ i i * of this draft cli assification.
, , ,
meta(iata stand,ards, and, , ,
protocols, tools or tech-
,• vi r
* I• S ali so activeli y worki i• ng with ot*iher fedierali agencies
.,.'
,
. .
nologies to increase the ab. ility to access, unde, r- v c w r
^ " ,o,n„ ,tilie Veget.at.•ion Subi committee ofr .tuhe Fedjerali
, .
staiui, share, compare, exchange, and use system- r n
k-
/- •*.
Geographic Dat.a Committee . dieveli op andi adiopt
to
r r rr
1 .
atics , and informati. on from many . .
(lata different data
„.,*•„. j r
-^ national s.#ta. n, diardts fror veget,ation cl^ assi^faicat.-ion andi
^
and, . . .
inlormation provid,ers.
17
Development
analysis. of these standards sup-
n will
c
r
Z. Support the (ieve1 lopment comprehI ensive w
of
r
^k *• c -c .- .-
p..ort . c. oordinat^ edi prodiuction of uniform .
* *^ ttie statistics
,. ^ *
, . ,
surveys and ™
resource
directories of the sources,
sta- ^„
^ ^ o.n^ andi mapping ofc ^tuhe nat.•ion's veget.at.•ion among
.
,
and .
tus, extent of systematics expertise, ata, and ^n n
^ * ' f "* all t*uhe fr edjerali agenci•es andj ot^uher cooperat.ors. By
„ ' *
.
.
mtormation.
, . . common .. r
^ sharing in a reference system for ihow veg-
^ ,
Uevefop 1 implI ement , com-
6. aiuj a proi^fram that £ j
»• j
.
* etation cover cli assifiedj and descri-ibedi, agencies
* is
,,
,
nes 1
bi small, targ<^ted tactical investments in certain
a.„n,dj ...«o,.; .r fU j
/^ organizations that* colili ect» andi anali yze dat. a
,
where
areas
tht^e are opportunities
for pilot or ,.u^.,* .• j j- u
*•
about veget.ation and dist* ribution, .trendis, can
etc.,
J
• .
demonstration projects, wit,h I more
larerer, strategic ^^ u j
^ ^ „m,ore easi*li y share and exchi ange .v • i . Aa ndi
' '. their data.
' '
investments on major
fronts.
NBS
finally, serves on a special panel of the Eco-
m
Actively pursue and develop partnerships j c
. \* il^ogi• cal Societ. y r Aamerica chi argedj -.i
/ * of with assisting
/
all areas to help meet mutual needs.
in the evaluation and development of a standard-
ized national vegetation
classification system.
Current
NBII Initiatives the Systematics
in NBS
working
is also to foster development, en-
Information Arena
hancement, and
transfer of tools, technologies, and
approaches
to support the national (and interna-
INFRASTRLCTUHE
I)EVEL()F»MENT
tional) systematics information Key
infrastructure.
NBS
has several activities under way to support areas where tools and approaches are needed
in-
developuHMit of the tools and standards needed
to elude: cost-efficient approaches large-scale
(1) to
support
a nationally (and internationally) distrib- automation of specimen data that are not currently
NBS
uted systematics Information
infrastructure. automated; georeferencing specimen
is of data
that
(2)
an
active participant (along with several other fed- are not currently georeferenced; and
visualiza-
(3)
and
al slate agencies, private organizations, and and imaging
tion tools to allow for electronic "view-
international organizations) development
in tlu^ of ing" of specimens.
the Interagency Taxonomic Information System One example work NBS
of the that supporting
is
ITIS comprehensive
(ITIS). is the first national da- in this area is a project to convert vertebrate dis-
tabase to provide tjuality information on the sci- tribution records of the original Biological Suney
nomenclature and taxonomy
entific of all U.S. flora in the Smithsonian s National Museum of Natural
Volume Number 4 & Waggoner 549
Frondorf
83,
1996
National Biological Information Infrastructure
needed
History to digital format, with digital geographic co- the identification of additional to
ordinate data from a digital gazetteer that links geo- achieve the overall goal of a distributed systematics
graphic place names geographic coordinates. The information infrastructure. For example, they can
to
locality database will be available electronically highlight major taxonomic groups for which signif-
through NBII. Next, records from this biological icant systematics data are not yet electronically ac-
new
survey locality system will be matched to localities cessible, or types of tools or protocols needed
associated with specimen records in the National to support a distributed systematics data network.
NBII
Museum's vertebrate specimen databases. This will This information will be used to guide future
Mem-
matched Under
add geographic coordinates verte- priorities in the systematics arena. a
to all
brate specimen records in the National Museum's orandum of Understanding with the National Scl-
NBS
ence Foundation, hopes pursue
database. to joint efforts
NBS
Under the State Partnership Program, a to support new projects that focus on these priority
NBS
competitive program through which supports areas,
and
state-level biodiversity research, inventory, in-
NBS
formation transfer activities, supporting DEVELOPING PARTiNERSHlPS
is
Museum
work at the Florida of Natural History to
As key
noted above, effective partnerships are to
catalog uncataloged ichthyological materials, auto-
successful development of the NBII and system-
its
make
mate specimen and
data, the ichthyological
component. Partner agencies and organiza-
atics
specimen data accessible electronically over NBII.
maintain most systematics
tions of the significant
data; partnerships are needed jointly develop
to
INFORMATION RESOURCE DIRECTORIES new and new and metadata
software tools data stan-
dards; and partnerships are needed provide the
to
NBS
currently supporting development of four
is
more
funding resources to support strategic invest-
comprehensive information resource directories
ments
in this area.
that are pertinent to the systematics community.
One recent example of an exciting partnership
NBS
and the Association of Systematics Collections
among NBS,
in this area a proposed pilot project
is
are cooperating in the development of two major
Museum
the Smithsonian's National of Natural His-
directories of taxonomic resource information for
and Mexican Commission Under-
the for the
tory,
One
North America. a directory of taxonomic ex-
is
and Use (CONABIO). The
standing of Biodiversity
and
perts their respective areas of expertise, the
objectives are to demonstrate and test the feasibil-
other a directory of research systematics collec-
is
of automating and georeferencing data on se-
ity
including information on the electronic ac-
tions,
lected specimens in the Smithsonian collections
each specimen Both
cessibility of collection's data.
that were collected in Mexico, as the basis of de-
of these directories will be served on NBII and will
veloping a distributed "international electronic cat-
any
include direct links to data or information
alog of Mexican specimens." This project will be
products that are already available on the Internet.
done methodology and
as a pilot to test the ap-
NBS
and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are co-
proach and evaluate costs and benefits to the par-
operating on development of a Natural Heritage
and
ticipating agencies. successful cost-effective,
If
Network "node" on the NBII, which will include
the approach could be used on other portions of
information on each of the 50 state natural heritage
Smithsonian natural history collections and/or in
programs In the United States, plus national-level
other institutions with Mexican specimens.
data summaries and information products from
NBS
TNC, and and
available on-line. the Fish
Conclusions
Wildlife Information Exchange are cooperating on
development of a directory of state-level biodiver- The White House Interagency Subcommittee on
sity databases, which will also be accessible over Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics has Identi-
NBII. fied systematics as a research priority that is fun-
I
Each of these directories will obviously provide damental to ecosystem management and biodiver-
an accessible source of information on systematics conservation. This primary need identified by
sity
Subcommittee Improvements
resources systematics expertise, systematics the requires in the or-
(e.g.,
collections, state-level biodiversity databases) for ganization and access standardized system-
of, to,
people to use. More importantly, each will also pro- atlcs information on nomenclature, classification,
NBS
many
vide a baseline view of the current situation in and collections. Working with partners,
make and
these areas what information resources are striving to the valuable data informa-
(i.e., is
available to what extent in what areas) and lead to tion embodied in the systematics community, in-
550 Annals
the
of
Garden
Missouri Botanical
eluding the Nation's natural history collections, pursuit of informed decision making about the wise
more accessible to land use decision makers, re- use and conservation of the Nations biological her-
source managers, researchers, students, and the itage.
public in general. Through championinij; the Na- ^.
j , j
Literature Lited
^
. . . . . . in
tional Biological Information Infrastructure con-
mn-j
^ »t .. i r> Aa n- c
INational Kesearch Lounciii. lVVt5. Dioti ogicali ourvey
NBS
cept, providing leadership to those collect-
is Academy
for the Nation. National Press, Washington,
ing and using !)iological data and information in the D.C.