Report prepared for the Experts Meeting Towards the Implementation of a Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN), 6-8 April, 2004. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Page 10
8/30/2004
assessments of this type do not exist, in
part because the loci do not exist online or
they exist only in theory. Lists of invasive
species on Web sites currently constitute
the majority of potential loci at this time.
Funding and time is commonly the most
limiting factor in the development of
information systems and supporting
technology. If the loci already exist, then it is
much more efficient to build on and learn
from existing achievements and products,
rather than recreate them. Information gaps
are also often identified during an
assessment such as this. Whether those
gaps happen to be national, regional, area-
specific, species-specific, or specific to
individual taxonomic groups, the patterns
start to emerge when you review and
assess the existing components.
Methodology
The Internet search engine, Google, was
the main online research tool used to create
the list of information systems. The
clustering engine, Vivisimo was also used
as an online search tool. Information was
gathered from the proceedings of regional
meetings (funded by the United States
Department of State) along with other
national reports, journal articles, and
general printed media. Existing lists of
databases on Web sites and reported in
articles often constituted the basis for
Internet searches that resulted in the
identification of other related and connected
databases. For example, the Web site -
Invasivespecies.gov maintains a very
comprehensive list of databases including
those serving IAS information and part of
Sellers’ research involved working through
this and other lists to find databases
relevant to the GISIN community and
concept. The database list was developed
over roughly a two month period and will
continue to expand as new databases are
added.
The research was conducted in English, in
the United States. An Internet search using
Google from a USA location will list USA
Web sites first in the results, so there is a
bias in the lists that are returned. One must
dig deeper into the results to obtain a
semblance of international balance.
Results
The results consisted of Hypertext Transfer
Markup Language or HTML-based Web
pages, database-driven Web pages,
databases, distributed database systems,
clearing house mechanisms, and
information systems. Almost anything
containing information about IAS was
included in the list. But before being
included, each item was tested to determine
its character and relevance.
Identification of Loci
The list of online IAS information sources
identified during the two month period
started at 150 and grew to 160 as a result of
contributions received from participants on
the first day of the meeting. During the
research, 80 online ‘general biodiversity’
information sources that contain IAS
information were also identified. There is a
plethora of biodiversity type databases in
existence e.g. we want to list every species
we have in our nation/region). Most of them
do not indicate if a species is invasive
somewhere, and so that potentially useful
information is lost to those who are
managing invasive species.
Loci - Connectivity
April 6, 2004
Why a Review?
•
A network consists of loci and connections
•
Identify / assess potential loci -
Few assessments of
online IAS databases exist (mainly lists)
•
Assess loci availability (connectivity), applicability
(content)
•
Connect existing loci (build on existing
infrastructure)
•
Identify information gaps (e.g. nations, regions,
taxonomic groups)
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