A vision for community involvement and integration Robert K. Peet & Alan S. Weakley Alan S. Weakley

Southeastern floristic data: A community web portal The challenge of integrating data of diverse provenance. The challenge of integrating data of diverse provenance. Example features Floristic atlas Example features Floristic atlasCollectionsCommunitiesTraitsImages

Technological foundation Concept relationships for data integration Concept relationships for data integration Cache of DIGIR queries for access to many collections Cache of DIGIR queries for access to many collections Collection databases with concepts Collection databases with concepts Alternative taxonomic perspectives Alternative taxonomic perspectives Dynamic versioning Dynamic versioning

Why we need a new Atlas New names New names New taxon concepts (lumps & splits) New taxon concepts (lumps & splits) New discoveries New discoveries Taxa new to science Taxa new to science New collections & overlooked collections New collections & overlooked collections New data sources (Plots, Heritage lists) New data sources (Plots, Heritage lists) New determinations New determinations

Challenges in creating a modern Southeastern floristic atlas 1. Regional floras are generally obsolete and incomplete. 2. Local atlases follow idiosyncratic taxonomies. 3. Few museum collections have been databased. 4. Museum collections are rarely determined to concept. 5. Floristic lists and ecological datasets with multiple taxonomic authorities and inconsistent taxonomic concepts have defied integration.

Concepts matter Andropogon virginicus complex in the Carolinas 9 elemental units; 17 base concepts, 27 scientific names

The good news: Multiple organizations are developing tools for concept use and integration. Multiple organizations are developing tools for concept use and integration. The challenge: Few large-scale compilations of concepts and their relationships are available. Few large-scale compilations of concepts and their relationships are available.

Concept mapping progress ~ relationships of taxon concepts to Weakley 2005 concepts~ relationships of taxon concepts to Weakley 2005 concepts Based on ~ 800 taxonomic references.Based on ~ 800 taxonomic references.

Toward a new Atlas Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Radford et al How to integrate new sources of data??

Add dynamic access to NCU collection Carya carolinae-septentrionalis NCURAB

NCURABUSDACVS Add USDA PLANTS records & CVS vegetation plot data

But wait !! There is a concept issue According to Radford 1968, USDA PLANTS v 4.0, & Weakley 2005According to Radford 1968, USDA PLANTS v 4.0, & Weakley 2005 –Carya carolinae-septentrionalis –Carya ovata According to Stone 1997 in FNAAccording to Stone 1997 in FNA –Carya ovata var australis –Carya ovata var. ovata

Carya carolinae-septentrionalis Some nominal occurrences might or might not represent the taxon

NCU specimen records of Carya ovata must be interpreted using nominal concepts

Recall Cleistes Cleistes bifaria was split off C. divaricata after Radford et al. was published.Cleistes bifaria was split off C. divaricata after Radford et al. was published. Radford et al. records must be mapped as ambiguous.Radford et al. records must be mapped as ambiguous. Kartesz incorrectly maps all Cleistes in the Carolinas as C. divaricata owing to uncritical import of records from Radford.Kartesz incorrectly maps all Cleistes in the Carolinas as C. divaricata owing to uncritical import of records from Radford.

Data layers SpecimensSpecimens –NCU (~80,000 - nominal) –NCSU (10,000 - nominal) –Weymouth Woods (~ Weakley) –UNCC (in process, ~43,000 - Weakley) High-quality databasesHigh-quality databases –Sorrie’s SE Costal Plain endemics (Weakley) –NC Natural Heritage Program (Weakley) –Harmon et al West Virginia Atlas (US) –Selected literature records (idiosyncratic)

Data layers – 2 Other databasesOther databases –Radford et al. (Radford) –USDA PLANTS (US) Site recordsSite records –Carolina Vegetation Survey (~300,000) Total county records in database ~1,500,000Total county records in database ~1,500,000

Specimens matching the name

..\..\New Folder\Snap32.jpg Images matching the name

Community types with the concept

Link to Vegetation plots with the taxon

Design: Allow user to select date-specific version of Weakley.Allow user to select date-specific version of Weakley. Allow user to select a Weakley, PLANTS, or FNA perspective (or others?).Allow user to select a Weakley, PLANTS, or FNA perspective (or others?). Data needs: Map relationships to PLANTS v 4.0Map relationships to PLANTS v 4.0 Map relationships between PLANTS and FNAMap relationships between PLANTS and FNA Date-stamp changes in WeakleyDate-stamp changes in Weakley More distribution layersMore distribution layers Next steps?

Issues Geographic circumscriptionGeographic circumscription Community buildingCommunity building ConceptsConcepts –Preferred perspectives –Additional floras –Monographs –How empower community –How encourage community

Issues-2 Adding county occurrence dataAdding county occurrence data – Adding state data (WV, WEWO, NCSC, UNCC…) – How to encourage other collectors of records to participate – Adding individual literature and site data records – Empowering the user base to contribute Governance / Ownership / QC roles. Who does what?Governance / Ownership / QC roles. Who does what?

Issues-3 Guidelines and best practices for determinationsGuidelines and best practices for determinations Regional web portal.Regional web portal. –UNC website to transition into regional website –Annotation & comment ? –Relationship to state websites (eg VA, TN, FL, AL) –Possible 2-way flow of information. –Region enriches state websites & vice versa. –Other functions

LinksConceptMapper Weakley flora NCU Atlas of the SE flora NSF (SEEK, VegBank), NC Bot. Garden