A new online collaboration aims to speed up and strengthen
the taxonomic naming of sponges. This is just one example of how the internet has
and can help increase the global scientific output.
Sponges play a vital role in our marine ecosystems,
principally by acting as water cleaners. Their taxonomy has traditionally been
challenging, partially because of the difficulty in bringing together all the
required data, to accurately check and name species.
The SpongeMaps tool, is an online collaboration which aims
to help quicken the speed of data delivery and provide a focal point for
stronger formal naming and releasing of taxonomic data. Specifically the tool
brings a variety of data, including morphology, images, geo-referenced data,
chemical structures and molecular barcodes into the focal point for experts and
public alike.
These types of projects, which aim to speed up taxonomic
processes are important to our ongoing ability to accurately describe and
document biodiversity in the long term. Primarily because taxonomy makes it
possible to quickly identify species on an ongoing basis, but also acts as an
anchor to other relevant information regarding that species.
Behind the SpongeMaps tool, the taxonomic lexicon is
underpinned by the World Porifera Database, which is in turn a product of the
World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS ).
Sources of authoritative and comprehensive registers of species names, like
these, are vital in establishing a common standard for using taxonomic data
across the globe.
As part of our commitment and belief in the importance of
global taxonomic standards, our team are delighted to announce an agreement
with WoRMS to
incorporate the global list of marine species into our data tools (see
announcement).
Sources
Global Names
Project Photo
Phillipe Guilliame Flickr Account - Creative Commons Licence
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