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 43
8/30/2004
Database Principles
The database is built on the principles of
scientific background and information
quality to meet the needs of four different
kinds of users. It was developed to
accommodate potential users from
governments, management agencies,
shipping and port industries, and scientists
and students (academia). The database
developers later learned that it was being
used by many other types of users that
were not necessarily from the Baltic Sea
region. Queries have originated from users
as far away as New Zealand, Australia, and
Canada.
Flexibility is also important. Addition of new
regions, species, and impacts etc. to the
database should be easy. Other principles
upon which the database was built include
user-friendliness, support of multiple search
options and cross-linking, and of course
timely updates. This last principle is largely
dependent on the availability of experts.
Database History and Structure
In 1994, the BMB decided to establish a
new working group on alien species in the
Baltic Sea. In 1997, the first online inventory
of alien species appeared on the Web. It
included a list of species and some
additional information such as year of
introduction. Three years later, a new
concept was developed – a searchable
database on aquatic alien species in
Europe.
History of the Database
History of the Database
•1994
•1994
1994
Baltic Marine Biologists WG on Nonindigenous Estuarine and
Marine Organisms founded
Initiative: Erkki
Leppäkoski (FI) & Sergej Olenin (LT)
•1997
•1997
1997
First Online
Inventory of Alien Species in the Baltic Sea Area
Support: Information Office of the Nordic Council of Ministers
in Vilnius
•2000-2001
•2000-2001
New concept: Searchable Online Database
Support: HELCOM
•2004
•2004
2004
New function added: Species Entries
Support: US EPA Region 5 (Great Lakes)
REFERENCES
Information retrieving options
Information retrieving options
TAXA
ECOLOGICAL
IMPACT
DATABASE STRUCTURE
DATABASE STRUCTURE
IMPACT ON
RESOURCES
SPECIES
ORIGIN
BALTIC
REGION
YEAR OF THE
FIRST
OBSERVATION
ECO
FUNCTION
GROUP
VECTOR
DATABASE
SEARCH
BALTIC SUB-
REGIONS
SPECIES
DIRECTORY
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