Missouri Botanical Garden Open Conference Systems, TDWG 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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A names backbone – a graph of taxonomy
Nicky Nicolson

Building: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
Room: Sala dei Continenti
Date: 2013-10-31 09:15 AM – 09:30 AM
Last modified: 2013-10-07

Abstract


The "names and taxa" information space is often divided into three distinct layers:

-          Taxon concepts

-          Names (code governed nomenclatural acts)

-          Name strings

Kew is working to build an interconnected set of systems to manage nomenclature and taxonomy, and to enable translation between these layers. Central to this is a graph data model which provides the ability to:

-          reuse nomenclatural information as the raw materials for the formation of multiple, overlapping taxonomic classifications

-          reliably version taxonomic concepts (e.g. tracking changes such as the addition of new synonyms), to allow precise citation of concepts

-          compare the differences between overlapping classifications

Workflows for the creation and curation of taxonomic names are being created, and TDWG standards (Taxonomic Concept Transfer Schema : TCS) are being used to facilitate communication between components.