Integrating Biodiversity Information Systems - Landcare Research NZ
Jerry Cooper, Aaron Wilton, Nick Spencer, Mike Wilson, Mark Fuglestad, Kevin Richards, Mike Cochrane. Landcare Research, PO Box 69 , Lincoln 8152, New Zealand.Landcare Research has a wide range of biodiversity datasets associated with ecological and systematic research programmes. These datasets include those considered to be nationally significiant such as National Vegetation Survey Databank and the national collections (e.g., Allan Herbarium, New Zealand Fungal Herbarium, New Zealand Arthropod Collection), and smaller research datasets in a variety of formats (e.g., spreadsheets, personal databases, Nexus files). Until recently these data were in legacy systems and could not be easily discovered, accessed or integrated. A project was undertaken to address these limitations. In addition, scientific names were identified as a key linkage between these datasets and the management of names was also considered. As part of our requirements to integrate these datasets a taxonomic information system was constructed based on XML, Web Services and the .Net framework. Implemenation of this infrastructure and the capture of over 80,000 names relevant to the NZ biota is allowing interoperability of datasets within Landcare Research. As a result, the delivery of integrated biodiversity information from a variety of resources, and for a variety of end users has been facilitated.