Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 13:48:26 -0400
From: Karen Claxon
Subject: **Integrated Taxonomic Information System**
INTERNET NEWSBRIEF, July 13, 2001
Internet Newsbrief is a weekly service from the EPA Headquarters Library
that provides a sampling of new and/or useful Internet resources for EPA
staff and other environmental professionals. The Internet Newsbrief is=
also available on the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/hqirc/inb.htm
**Integrated Taxonomic Information System**
** EPA INFORMATION **
Integrated Taxonomic Information System http://www.itis.usda.gov
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is an database with
reliable information on species names and their hierarchical
classification. The database will be reviewed periodically to ensure
high quality with valid classifications, revisions, and additions of
newly described species. The ITIS includes documented taxonomic
information of flora and fauna from both aquatic and terrestrial
habitats. ITIS does not intend to serve as a forum for cutting-edge
taxonomic classifications. Rather, ITIS is meant to serve as a standard
to enable the comparison of biodiversity datasets, and therefore aims to
incorporate classifications that have gained broad acceptance in the
taxonomic literature and by professionals who work with the taxa
concerned. A detailed overview of ITIS is given at the site
(http://www.itis.usda.gov/organ.html). ITIS is a partnership between a
number of US and international agencies: EPA, National Oceanic &
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Museum of Natural History -
Smithsonian Institution, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of
Biodiversity (Conabio).
** GOVERNMENT INFORMATION **
Taxonomic Resources Expertise Directory
http://www.nbii.gov/datainfo/syscollect/tred/index.html
A Taxonomic Resources Expertise Directory (TRED) is an integral part of
the ITIS. The TRED facilitates the ITIS review process and allows those
in need of more detailed information to locate appropriate taxonomic
specialists. The TRED will also help to identify gaps in expertise
across the range of taxonomic levels. Taxonomists will be able to enter
their expertise information for the TRED database either on the World
Wide Web or through a paper form.
** INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION **
Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Canada
http://sis.agr.gc.ca/itis/
This is the Canadian version of ITIS. It is maintained by the Eastern
Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre (ECORC), which is one of the 19
research centres of the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada that=
focus on strategic and specialized research of national importance.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Mexico
http://siit.conabio.gob.mx/
This is the Mexican version of ITIS. It is maintained by Conabio, whose
mission is to co-ordinate conservation and research efforts designed to=
preserve biological resources. Conabio promotes and develops
scientifically-based activities whose aim is to explore, study, protect
or find a sustainable use for biological resources.
** BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT INFORMATION **
International Species Information System http://www.isis.org/
The International Species Information System (ISIS) is a computer-based
information system for wild animal species held in captivity. The ISIS
central database hold information on 1.44 million zoological animals of=
nearly 8,000 species held in 576 institutions in 54 countries. ISIS'
Animal Records Keeping System (ARKS) in used for institutional animal
records by 573 of ISIS' 576 members. ISIS offers services of immediate
use to zoological institutions, and is building an accessible archive of
the data needed for the longer term.
BioNET-INTERNATIONAL http://www.bionet-intl.org/
BioNET-INTERNATIONAL, the Global Network for Taxonomy, is a world-wide,=
inter-governmental initiative for capacity building in taxonomy
(biosystematics) in developing countries. BioNET-INTERNATIONAL is
dedicated to enabling developing countries to achieve realistic
self-reliance in the skills of identifying and. understanding the
relationships of the different organisms which constitute our living
environment
Global Biodiversity Information Facility http://www.gbif.org/
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) will be an
interoperable network of biodiversity databases and information
technology tools that will enable users to navigate and put to use the
world's vast quantities of biodiversity information to produce national
economic, environmental and social benefits. The purpose of establishing
GBIF is to design, implement, co-ordinate, and promote the compilation,
linking, standardization, digitization and global dissemination of the
world's biodiversity data, within an appropriate framework for property
rights and due attribution. This site has a good collection of links on
Biodiversity ( http://www.gbif.org/frames/hotlinks.htm).
DISCLAIMER
The information provided in Internet Newsbrief was correct, to the best
of our knowledge, at the time of publication. It is important to
remember, however, the dynamic nature of the Internet. Resources that
are free and publicly available one day may require a fee or restrict
access the next, and the location of items may change as menus and
homepages are reorganized.
Permission is granted to make and distribute copies of Internet
Newsbrief provided appropriate credit is given to the U.S. EPA
Headquarters Library and the disclaimer paragraph is included.
**Viewpoints expressed in the summaries do not necessarily reflect EPA
policy or views**