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
The GBIF Portal
Content area responsibilities of GBIF
Biological
Specimen
Data
GenBank,
et al.
Electronic
Electronic
Catalog
Catalogof
of
Names
Names
Sequence
Data
(RNA,
protein, etc.)
Geospatial
Data
Climate
Data
Search
Engines
Data
Access/
Interoperability
Ecosystems
Data
Ecological
Data
Existing
responsibilities of
other groups
Catalogued vs. Uncatalogued Species
1.750.000 scientific species names
Catalogued
Uncatalogued
Catalog of Life:
ITIS and SPECIES 2000
 Central data base
 Distributed data base
 North America + some global
 Global only
 Mostly governmental
 Mostly non-governmental
 Base funded
 Grant funded
 Permanent, full time staff
 Non-permanent, part time staff
 Accepted Name, Synonym(s),
Common Name(s)
 Accepted Name, Synonym(s),
Common Name(s)
 Name, Author, Reference, Date,  Name, Author, Reference, Date,
Distribution, Number
Distribution (option)
Catalogue of Life 2000:
Contributors
Database Name
Species
Synonyms
Common names
BIOS
CephBase
FishBase
ILDIS
IOPI
ITIS 2000
Phyllachorales
4,867
686
25,137
17,695
392
144,044
1,331
2909
490
45,964
20,805
757
46,855
1,295
-1101
108,115
6,210
-52,473
--
Rhytismatales
352
311
--
15,807
8,325
5,474
9,480
-182
238
39
--
4,540
163
471
-239
623
----
Scarabaeidae
Seaweeds 2000
Trichomycetes
URMO
Xylariaceae
Zygomycetes
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:
Create a catalogue of names of all known
organisms to serve as:
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
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
GBIF Name Service
Create Name Service to serve the GBIF
Network and the world.
First implementation will contain mainly
data from regional indexing initiatives and
CoL
Hierarchies…
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 Goals
To 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
$10.000
Invite already existing indexes
and organisations
$100.000
GBIF Name Service
Promote and sustain large and
small indexing activities
$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