HICLAS: a taxonomic database system for displaying and comparing biological classification and phylogenetic trees

Motivation: Numerous database management systems have been developed for pr ocessing various taxonomic data bases on biological classification or phylo genetic information. In this paper we present an integrated system to deal with interacting classifications and phylogenies concerning particular taxo nomic groups. Results: An information-theoretic view (taxon view) has been applied to cap ture taxonomic concepts as taxonomic data entities, A data model which is s uitable for supporting semantically interacting dynamic views of hierarchic classifications and a query method for interacting classifications have be en developed. The concept of taxonomic view and the data model can also be expanded to carry phylogenetic information in phylogenetic trees. We have d esigned a prototype taxonomic database system called HICLAS (HIer-archical CLAssification System) based on the concept of taxon view and the data mode ls and query methods have been designed and implemented This system cart be effectively used in the taxonomic revisionary process, especially when dat abases are being constructed by specialists in particular groups, and the s ystem can be used to compare classifications and phylogenetic trees.