Advances and Barriers

Taxonomic Databases Working Group Annual MeetingMontpellier, France

09-13 November 2009

Michael Browne and othersGISIN Steering Committtee

mtjbro@xtra.co.nz

The Global Invasive Species Information NetworkThe Global Invasive Species Information NetworkThe Global Invasive Species Information NetworkThe 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:IAS Databases: purpose can vary:IAS Databases: purpose can vary:IAS Databases: purpose can vary:

• InventoryInventory

• Fact sheetsFact sheets

• Early detectionEarly detection

• Control, eradicationControl, eradication• Identfication Identfication (e.g. Plantnet’s IDAO)(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 reportsA 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.

http://www.gisin.org

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: 1st & 2nd data providers workshop, Athens, GA & Elmira, NY (USA)2009: 3rd standards working group, Elmira, NY

A brief history of GISIN http://www.gisin.org

The GISIN Steering TeamThe GISIN Steering TeamThe GISIN Steering TeamThe GISIN Steering TeamName Organization Country

Malika Bounfour

Ministère de l'Agriculture, Direction de la Protection des Vegetaux

Morocco

Michael Browne Invasive Species Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, IUCN-The World Conservation Union

New Zealand

Jian-Ying Guo Ministry of Agriculture; Center for Management of Invasive Alien Species

China

Andrea Hahn Global Biodiversity Information Facility Denmark

Donald Hobern Atlas of Living Australia Australia

Soetikno Sastroutomo

CAB International-South East Asia Regional Centre; ASEANET (South East Asian LOOP of BioNET-INTERNATIONAL)

Malaysia

Gritta Schrader Federal Biological Research Centre Germany

Annie Simpson National Biological Information Infrastructure; US Geological Survey

United States

Richard Smith BioNET-INTERNATIONAL Great Britain

Wei Wang Wildlife Conservation Society China Program China

Sergio Zalba Global Invasive Species Programme; Univ. Nacional del Sur Argentina

TDWG helped to create IAS-PSTDWG helped to create IAS-PSInvasive Alien Species Profile Schema

TDWG helped to create IAS-PSTDWG helped to create IAS-PSInvasive Alien Species Profile Schema

• Commissioned by the Convention on Commissioned by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2005 Biological Diversity in 2005

• Created by Jerry Cooper and Michael Created by Jerry Cooper and Michael BrowneBrowne

• 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 IAS-PS addressed pests and weeds of the productive sector as well as threats the productive sector as well as threats to biodiversityto biodiversity

• Jim Graham leading technical Jim Graham leading technical development since 2006 development since 2006

Online List of IAS Information SystemsOnline List of IAS Information SystemsOnline List of IAS Information SystemsOnline List of IAS Information Systems

• Created in 2004Created in 2004

• Maintained through voluntary Maintained through voluntary submissions and Internet researchsubmissions and Internet research

• Databased in 2009Databased in 2009

• At www.gisin.org under "Directory“At www.gisin.org under "Directory“

• Fewer than 30 countries have Fewer than 30 countries have online IAS databases, so we need online IAS databases, so we need to provide repository services (e.g. to provide repository services (e.g. cache)cache)

Results of GISIN Needs AssessmentResults of GISIN Needs AssessmentResults of GISIN Needs AssessmentResults of GISIN Needs Assessment

• 136 respondents from 41 136 respondents from 41 countriescountries

• Most are both providers and Most are both providers and consumers of IAS dataconsumers 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 GapsNeeds Assessment Knowledge GapsNeeds Assessment Knowledge GapsNeeds Assessment Knowledge Gaps

• What level of web services does What level of web services does your organization provides and/or your organization provides and/or uses? (50% didn’t know)uses? (50% didn’t know)

• What existing protocols are What existing protocols are appropriate for IAS info appropriate for IAS info management? (80% didn’t know)management? (80% didn’t know)

• What schemas or grammars are What schemas or grammars are acceptable for the proposed acceptable for the proposed system? (75% didn’t know)system? (75% didn’t know)

Questionnaire administered by Jeremy Kranowitz of The Keystone CenterQuestionnaire administered by Jeremy Kranowitz of The Keystone Center

IAS Database Purpose can vary:IAS Database Purpose can vary:IAS Database Purpose can vary: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 GISINData types supported by GISIN

• 3 data models are implemented3 data models are implemented

1.1. OccurrencesOccurrences

2.2. Species StatusSpecies Status

3.3. Species Resource URLSpecies Resource URL

• 3 more being defined:3 more being defined:1.1. Impact StatusImpact Status

2.2. Dispersal StatusDispersal Status

3.3. Management StatusManagement Status

Photos courtesy of IUCN SSC's GISD

Smaller, simpler non-relational schemaSmaller, simpler non-relational schemaSmaller, simpler non-relational schemaSmaller, simpler non-relational schema

Major components of the GISINMajor components of the GISINMajor components of the GISINMajor components of the GISIN

• Portal with a data cache Portal with a data cache

• Registry of data providersRegistry of data providers

• Specification for a web services Specification for a web services protocol protocol see www.gisin.org under “technical”see www.gisin.org under “technical”

GISIN GISIN provides open access to provides open access to data and informationdata and information

Providers maintain control of Providers maintain control of data and informationdata and information

GISIN data model for Species StatusGISIN data model for Species StatusGISIN data model for Species StatusGISIN data model for Species Status

* *

Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008

• New URL: http://www.gisin.orgNew URL: http://www.gisin.org

• TAPIR-lite protocol with controlled TAPIR-lite protocol with controlled vocabulariesvocabularies allows fast, reliable searchesallows fast, reliable searches

• Network with 5 providers actively Network with 5 providers actively providing dataproviding data GISD, NIISS, DAISIE, I3N, GLIFWCGISD, NIISS, DAISIE, I3N, GLIFWC

• Toolkit in PHP used by 5 providersToolkit in PHP used by 5 providers

• 500,000 records cached 500,000 records cached

• File upload system prototypedFile upload system prototyped

Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008

Bullets from w/shop report

Acknowledge Jim

Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008Progress since TDWG 2008

Bullets from w/shop report

Acknowledge Jim

BarriersBarriersBarriersBarriers

• GISIN providers creating GUIDs that GISIN providers creating GUIDs that will need to be inserted into standard will need to be inserted into standard GUID formats when definedGUID formats when defined

• Many providers do not have ability to Many providers do not have ability to maintain a web servicemaintain a web service need for file upload capabilityneed for file upload capability

• Resolving species names: Global Resolving species names: Global Names Architecture? Names Architecture?

• Long term funding for technical Long term funding for technical supportsupport

Barriers: lack of good global dataBarriers: lack of good global dataBarriers: lack of good global dataBarriers: lack of good global data

Tamarix :L=US data sources; R=global data sources

Need more inventory effortsNeed more inventory efforts• Provide repository services Provide repository services (e.g. cache or the (e.g. cache or the Global Register of Invasive Species GRIS)Global Register of Invasive Species GRIS)• Provide free IAS database tool (I3N)Provide free IAS database tool (I3N) Invasives Invasives group of the Inter-American Biodiversity Info Networkgroup of the Inter-American Biodiversity Info Network

Tamarix :Left =US data sources; Right =global data sources

Some ways to interact with GISINSome ways to interact with GISINSome ways to interact with GISINSome ways to interact with GISIN

GBIFData

ConsolidatorsInvasive

DatabasesInspectionDatabases

Portals Cache Modelers

Users

Downloaddata for modeling

Be an End-User

Create a portal

Become a data providerUpload 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 interoperabilityData integration and interoperabilityData integration and interoperabilityData integration and interoperability

Some partners and contributorsSome partners and contributorsSome partners and contributorsSome partners and contributors

Group on Earth Observations, GEO

International Collaboration

Technical documentation: http://www.gisin.org

Reports and publications:http://www.gisinetwork.org/pubs.html

Results of Needs Assessment Survey: http://www.gisinetwork.org/pubs.html

TDWG Wiki:http://wiki.tdwg.org/InvasiveSpecies

Important LinksImportant LinksImportant LinksImportant 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 topics2 sessions on Tuesday afternoon Working group topics2 sessions on Tuesday afternoon