Missouri Botanical Garden Open Conference Systems, TDWG 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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FADA: Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment
Aaike De Wever, Hendrik Segers, Koen Martens

Building: Main Building 1st Floor
Room: Salone degli Oceani
Last modified: 2013-10-07

Abstract


The goal of  the Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment (FADA) project < http://fada.biodiversity.be/> is to increase our understanding of freshwater biodiversity by supporting a network of scientists and maintaining a taxonomic and biogeographical database on freshwater Metazoa. Ongoing activities focus on the compilation of authoritative freshwater species lists. Such basic biodiversity knowledge is indispensable for evaluating the status of freshwater biodiversity. This will allow to better address research needs and conservation issues in freshwater biodiversity. This activity has joined forces with the EU BioFresh <http://www.freshwaterbiodiversity.eu/> project, to which it acts as a taxonomic backbone.

The FADA database currently includes authoritative species lists and distribution data at the level of faunistic regions for Halacaridae, Cnidaria-Hydroida, Cladocera, Copepoda, Mysidaceae, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Macrophytes, Bivalvia, Nematomorpha, Rotifera, Turbellaria, Fish and Mammals. We are currently working with taxonomic experts focussing on major macroinvertebrate groups, which are missing from the database, these include the Coleoptera, Culicidae, Simulidae, Tipulidae and Heteroptera. In addition, we are working out a close collaboration with the World Registry of Marine Species (WoRMS) and the Registry of Antarctic Marine Species (RAMS) to ensure and enhance the interoperability and public availability of these aquatic species databases through the exchange of information and the development of a set of web services.