Servicing the End-User:Servicing the End-User:AlgaeBase & the InternetAlgaeBase & the Internet

E. Nic Dhonncha & M.D. GuiryE. Nic Dhonncha & M.D. Guiry

AlgaeBase Centre, AlgaeBase Centre,

Martin Ryan Institute, NUI, GalwayMartin Ryan Institute, NUI, Galway

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

Expansion - vertical• Initially Marine Macroalgae

• Synonyms

• Marine Phytoplankton

• Freshwater Algae - planktonic & benthic

• Terrestrial Algae

• ALL ALGAE!!!

Expansion - vertical

• Charophyta

• Chlorophyta

• Chrysophyta

• Cryptophyta

• Cyanophyta

• Dinophyta

• Euglenophyta

• Galucophyta

• Haptophyta

• Heterokontophyta

• Magnoliophyta

• Rhodophyta

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

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

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

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

What does it look like? Taxonomy & Nomenclature

What does it look like? - type details

What does it look like? Free internet Access

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?

What does it look like? Distribution

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

What does it look like?

• New DB structure - SQL

• Uses - 215 so far. 11 categories)

• 54 genera and 339 species highlighted for further work

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

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

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)

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)

Acknowledgements & ContactAcknowledgements & 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.ORGWWW.ALGAEBASE.ORG