DATABASING DIVERSITY - A DISTRIBUTED, PUBLIC-DOMAIN APPROACH

Distributed, public domain databases (DPDD) offer solutions to many of the problems that hinder compilation of information on biodiversity. Existing DPDD projects on Internet, especially in molecular biology, p rovide relevant paradigms. The software tools necessary for world-wide retrieval of associated text and images are all freely available on I nternet. Essential features of DPDDs include universal access, decentr alized maintenance of component data sets, and the use of standard, ta gged formats for entries. Desirable validation protocols include cross -checks for consistency, use of quality control tags and tracing data lineage back to specimens. These issues highlight a need for new conve ntions on nomenclature and for registering field keys and other second ary taxonomic indexes.