2. Servicing the End-User: AlgaeBase & the Internet E. Nic Dhonncha & M.D. Guiry AlgaeBase Centre, Martin Ryan Institute, NUI, Galway

3. History Project begun in 1996 ERMS funding in 1997 –Part time encoder HEA funding 2000 –Full time manager (3 yrs) –Part time encoders HEA funding 2002 –Manager & encoders –Researcher EU funding (INCO-DEV) 2001 –Database designers, researchers & encoders

4. Expansion - vertical Initially Marine Macroalgae Synonyms Marine Phytoplankton Freshwater Algae - planktonic & benthic Terrestrial Algae ALL ALGAE!!!

5. Expansion - vertical Charophyta Chlorophyta Chrysophyta Cryptophyta Cyanophyta Dinophyta Euglenophyta Galucophyta Haptophyta Heterokontophyta Magnoliophyta Rhodophyta

6. Expansion - vertical Phytoplankton Bioinformatics Archival material and field studies Collaboration with Microbiology Dept. MRI, NUI, Galway Part of €19 million award under HEA (PRTLI) Cycle 3 Three years, started September 2002

7. Expansion vertical - future Full incorporation of Freshwater, Terrestrial and Subaerial Algae Currently ad hoc book-based Need for concerted projects with taxonomic experts Partners and collaborations sought

8. Taxonomy Full generic classification including: –Phylum, class, subclass, order, family, subfamily, tribe and group Traceability through published references Full synonymy details (easily updateable) Notes section to allow for differences of taxonomic opinion Authority details for genera Type details

9. Nomenclature Full authority details of species Key references ICBN status at genus and species level Links to basionym and currently accepted names where appropriate Includes facility for questionable status Soon to include ‘typographical variant’ facility

10. What does it look like? Taxonomy & Nomenclature

11. What does it look like? - type details

12. What does it look like? Free internet Access

13. Distribution World distribution divided by geographical areas and countries New system for phytoplankton All records referenced to allow for traceability and/or further study NE Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean most complete Future mapping facility?

14. What does it look like? Distribution

15. SeaweedAfrica Underpinning Sustainable Ecosystem Management of Seaweed Resources in Africa; Expanding the Seaweed Database Partners from Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Brazil November 2001 - October 2004 Ecological, Commercial and Technical information on actually or potentially commercial species of seaweeds from the EU and Africa

16. What does it look like? New DB structure - SQL Uses - 215 so far. 11 categories) 54 genera and 339 species highlighted for further work

17. Uses (1) Agriculture, horticulture, agronomy (13) –Fertiliser, pesticide, acidity reduction Animal aquaculture (6) –Food, bioremediation of nutrients Cosmetics (17) –Setting agent, emulsifier, UV screen Environmental health, monitoring & remediation (7) –Bio-indicator, bioremediation of heavy metals Food (17) –Direct consumption, stabiliser, preservative Health, thalassotherapy & wellness (25) –Baths, muds, vermifuge, weight loss

18. Uses (2) Industry (24) –Manufacturing of paints, explosives, textiles, lubricant for drilling Pharmaceutical & pharmacology (79) –Anti-cancer, antioxidant, alginate bandages Science, technology & biomedical (14) –Chromatography, spinal chord repair, fluorescent tags Aesthetics (5) –Key-holders, ornaments, cards Miscellaneous (8) –Weather forecasting, knife handles, trumpets

19. Other developments Interdisciplinary collaborations –Species2000 –European Register of Marine Species (ERMS) –Biological Records Centre (Ireland) International Biodiversity Projects –European Network of Biodiversity Information (ENBI) –Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) –Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)

20. Users Currently scientists / students Mostly Europe & US Mostly marine macroalgae 2001 - 100,000 hits per month Currently - 1 million hits per month Launch planned to highlight expanded data set (2003)

21. Acknowledgements & Contact HEA (PRTLI) Cycle 2HEA (PRTLI) Cycle 2 HEA (PRTLI) Cycle 3HEA (PRTLI) Cycle 3 EU INCO DEV (Prop: ICA4-2000-10226)EU INCO DEV (Prop: ICA4-2000-10226) AlgaeBase Centre, MRI, NUI, GalwayAlgaeBase Centre, MRI, NUI, Galway WWW.ALGAEBASE.ORG