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Future Directions & Applications

Applications

    There are many and varied uses for primary species occurrence data PDF. Once a large number of records have been uploaded to the database, the following tools may be implemented:

  1. Endemism algorithms (e.g. Szumik, C.A. and P.A. Goloboff. 2004. Areas of endemism: An improved optimality criterion. Systematic Biology 53(6): 968-977.)
  2. GARP (Genetic Algorithm for Rule Set Production) to predict potential distributions of spider species from raster-based environmental and biological data
  3. openModeller to use a variety of distribution modelling algorithms

   These sorts of algorithms could permit the determination of point source introductions of non-native species, the suite of large-scale environmental conditions that best explain a species' distribution, and what may happen to these distributions should environmental conditions change. Naturally, these uses have applications in resource management, establishment of protected areas, and many other publicly-charged interests.

Interface for Data Contribution

   Recognizing the need for cross-platform solutions to contribute data to the Nearctic Spider Database, work is underway to develop a fully web-enabled system for contributors with the following features (DEMO):

  1. Capable of importing Excel or text files with field matching
  2. Geocoding and nomenclatural checking functions (completed)
  3. Live editing, deleting, and adding individual records (completed)
  4. Scale independent, scrollable, filtering & other desktop-like software features (completed)
  5. Export Excel or text files (completed)
  6. Permissions management for table owner to enable 2+ people access to above functions, or as read-only (completed)

Mapping Tools

    One of the current mapping applications implemented in this database uses the MapServer cgi application for flat, 2D representations of species collection locales. However, this will be modified to include AJAX technologies whereby maps can be dynamically panned in a manner similar to Google Map. Additional, ecologically-relevant shape files will also be added including but not limited to:

  1. AVHRR (e.g. ice/snow cover, crop land, range land covers)
  2. CCAD (Canadian Conservation Areas Database)
  3. Earth Observation Data
  4. Ecosite Data (e.g. max/min temperatures, relative humidity)

Suggestions for future directions or comments about the database structure or website design are always welcome.