Poster, IAL 6 - ABLS Joint Meeting, Asilomar, California, Asilomar, California: 13.07.2008 - 19.07.2008
Abstract:
Data on lichen diversity from Southern Africa have been collected in the framework of the BIOTA Africa project. The main objective is to assess lichen diversity and its shifts along climatic and land use gradients. Lichens are frequently disregarded in ecological studies. Therefore, it is essential to get information on their distribution and ecology in general and to create suitable identification tools. The relevant data domains are: 1) collection data; 2) descriptive data (as phenotypic characters); 3) vegetation data; 4) image data. Data are stored in PostgreSQL and MS SQL server database engines. The applications used are part of the Diversity Workbench framework (www.diversityworkbench.net). For remote data entry, maintenance, flexible data query and analysis, modularized Java- and .Net-based clients have been developed. The data are presented on the internet via various clients and web services. Lichen identification is optimized by using NaviKey and its recent updates programmed as part of the BIOTA project.