Integrated Biodiversity Data Networks For Lichenology - Data Flows And Challenges

In recent years, a number of biodiversity data networks were established in the framework of international initiatives. Beside these general approaches, more specialised networks integrating high-quality research data of specific taxonomic or organism groups exist. Exemplified with lichen data, some general types of mechanisms for bidirectional and consistent data flow in distributed systems starting from information gathering until data presentation and exchange (including options for online data analyses) are delineated. In this context, challenges include the increasing demand (a) for developing appropriate management tools on a concept-driven basis, (b) for specialised network infrastructures with databases, data standards, client software based on advanced technologies, and web services, and (c) for data repositories for sustainable storage of a wide range of biodiversity data domains and types. The products of the IT Center of the Bavarian Natural History Collections (SNSB) with a focus on the Diversity Workbench framework (http://www.diversityworkbench.net) and the data flows realised there exemplify the challenges when building up biodiversity informatics infrastructure.