Advances and Barriers Taxonomic Databases Working Group Annual Meeting Montpellier, France November 2009 Michael Browne and others GISIN Steering Committtee The Global Invasive Species Information Network Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) definition: “Invasive alien species” are non-native organisms that cause, or have the potential to cause, harm to the environment, economies, or human health.

IAS Databases: purpose can vary: InventoryInventory Fact sheetsFact sheets Early detectionEarly detection Control, eradicationControl, eradication Identfication (e.g. Plantnet’s IDAO)Identfication (e.g. Plantnet’s IDAO) OutreachOutreach Different taxonomic groupsDifferent taxonomic groups Freshwater, marine, terrestrialFreshwater, marine, terrestrial Local, national, regional, globalLocal, national, regional, global A lot of secondary data from scientific publications and technical reports

The Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) is developing an infrastructure that will link IAS data bases with each other and expose IAS data to the broader biodiversity community via a standard interface. GISIN will enable: Searches across databases Improved access to global data Integration of IAS data with other biodiversity data e.g. Overlay IAS data with vulnerable species data to analyse the footprint of invasive species on biodiversity.

2000: Ricciardi et al. paper calling for a Global IAS Info Network. 2004: Global Experts Meeting to implement GISIN (Baltimore) 2006: Invasive Alien Species Profile Schema development funded by CBD; standards meeting in Agadir, Morocco. 2008: 1 st & 2 nd data providers workshop, Athens, GA & Elmira, NY (USA) 2009: 3 rd standards working group, Elmira, NY A brief history of GISIN

The GISIN Steering Team NameOrganizationCountry Malika Bounfour Ministère de l'Agriculture, Direction de la Protection des Vegetaux Morocco Michael BrowneInvasive Species Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, IUCN-The World Conservation Union New Zealand Jian-Ying GuoMinistry of Agriculture; Center for Management of Invasive Alien Species China Andrea HahnGlobal Biodiversity Information FacilityDenmark Donald HobernAtlas of Living AustraliaAustralia Soetikno Sastroutomo CAB International-South East Asia Regional Centre; ASEANET (South East Asian LOOP of BioNET-INTERNATIONAL) Malaysia Gritta SchraderFederal Biological Research CentreGermany Annie SimpsonNational Biological Information Infrastructure; US Geological Survey United States Richard SmithBioNET-INTERNATIONALGreat Britain Wei WangWildlife Conservation Society China ProgramChina Sergio ZalbaGlobal Invasive Species Programme; Univ. Nacional del SurArgentina

TDWG helped to create IAS-PS Invasive Alien Species Profile Schema TDWG helped to create IAS-PS Invasive Alien Species Profile Schema Commissioned by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2005Commissioned by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2005 Created by Jerry Cooper and Michael BrowneCreated by Jerry Cooper and Michael Browne Strong typing with Bob Morris in 2006Strong typing with Bob Morris in 2006 Comprehensive and complexComprehensive and complex  IAS-PS addressed pests and weeds of the productive sector as well as threats to biodiversity Jim Graham leading technical development since 2006Jim Graham leading technical development since 2006

Online List of IAS Information Systems Created in 2004Created in 2004 Maintained through voluntary submissions and Internet researchMaintained through voluntary submissions and Internet research Databased in 2009Databased in 2009 At under "Directory“At under "Directory“ Fewer than 30 countries have online IAS databases, so we need to provide repository services (e.g. cache)Fewer than 30 countries have online IAS databases, so we need to provide repository services (e.g. cache)

Results of GISIN Needs Assessment 136 respondents from 41 countries136 respondents from 41 countries Most are both providers and consumers of IAS dataMost are both providers and consumers of IAS data Information they provide:Information they provide: Spatial/temporal info (77%)Spatial/temporal info (77%) Profiles/species pages (65%)Profiles/species pages (65%) Checklist info (59%)Checklist info (59%)

Needs Assessment Knowledge Gaps What level of web services does your organization provides and/or uses? (50% didn’t know)What level of web services does your organization provides and/or uses? (50% didn’t know) What existing protocols are appropriate for IAS info management? (80% didn’t know)What existing protocols are appropriate for IAS info management? (80% didn’t know) What schemas or grammars are acceptable for the proposed system? (75% didn’t know)What schemas or grammars are acceptable for the proposed system? (75% didn’t know) Questionnaire administered by Jeremy Kranowitz of The Keystone Center

IAS Database Purpose can vary: Visualize existing invasionsVisualize existing invasions Early detectionEarly detection Track treatmentsTrack treatments Occurrences onlyOccurrences only Advertise successesAdvertise successes Highlight problem areasHighlight problem areas Different taxonomic groupsDifferent taxonomic groups Different habitat typesDifferent habitat types

Data types supported by GISIN 3 data models are implemented3 data models are implemented 1.Occurrences 2.Species Status 3.Species Resource URL 3 more being defined:3 more being defined: 1.Impact Status 2.Dispersal Status 3.Management Status Photos courtesy of IUCN SSC's GISD Smaller, simpler non-relational schema

Major components of the GISIN Portal with a data cachePortal with a data cache Registry of data providersRegistry of data providers Specification for a web services protocolSpecification for a web services protocol  see under “technical” GISIN provides open access to data and information Providers maintain control of data and information

GISIN data model for Species Status **

Progress since TDWG 2008 New URL: URL: TAPIR-lite protocol with controlled vocabulariesTAPIR-lite protocol with controlled vocabularies  allows fast, reliable searches Network with 5 providers actively providing dataNetwork with 5 providers actively providing data  GISD, NIISS, DAISIE, I3N, GLIFWC Toolkit in PHP used by 5 providersToolkit in PHP used by 5 providers 500,000 records cached500,000 records cached File upload system prototypedFile upload system prototyped

Progress since TDWG 2008 Bullets from w/shop report Acknowledg e Jim

Progress since TDWG 2008 Bullets from w/shop report Acknowledg e Jim

BarriersBarriers GISIN providers creating GUIDs that will need to be inserted into standard GUID formats when definedGISIN providers creating GUIDs that will need to be inserted into standard GUID formats when defined Many providers do not have ability to maintain a web serviceMany providers do not have ability to maintain a web service  need for file upload capability Resolving species names: Global Names Architecture?Resolving species names: Global Names Architecture? Long term funding for technical supportLong term funding for technical support

Barriers: lack of good global data Tamarix :L=US data sources; R=global data sources Need more inventory efforts Provide repository services (e.g. cache or the Global Register of Invasive Species GRIS) Provide repository services (e.g. cache or the Global Register of Invasive Species GRIS) Provide free IAS database tool (I3N) Invasives group of the Inter-American Biodiversity Info Network Provide free IAS database tool (I3N) Invasives group of the Inter-American Biodiversity Info Network Tamarix :Left =US data sources; Right =global data sources

Some ways to interact with GISIN GBIF Data Consolidators Invasive Databases Inspection Databases PortalsCacheModelers Users Download data for modeling Be an End-User Create a portal Become a data provider Upload data

Invasive species databases can be linked and inventory data shared globally. GBIF data can enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of IAS distribution data. Biodiversity databases such as the IUCN Red List, protected areas and islands can access up- to-date IAS data. Model the potential distribution of IAS. IAS data can add value to GBIF observation and museum records by tagging records with native/alien status and harmful status. Data integration and interoperability

Some partners and contributors

Group on Earth Observations, GEO International Collaboration

Technical documentation: Reports and publications: Results of Needs Assessment Survey: TDWG Wiki: Important Links

1)Brainstorm the problems we think data providers will have and generate ideas for solutions; 2)Map the GISIN protocol concepts to the GBIF IPT star schema; 3)Determine which of the available online information systems, based on their content, are highest priority to recruit as data providers; 4)Discuss needed user manuals and begin to outline their content. Working group topics 2 sessions on Tuesday afternoon Working group topics 2 sessions on Tuesday afternoon