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Abstract Detail

Digitized natural history collections records in traditional research, collaborative research, and big data research

PhyloJIVE: Integrating biodiversity data with the Tree of Life.

Rich collections of biodiversity information such as spatial distributions, species descriptions and trait data are now synthesized in publically available online sources such as iDigBio, EOL, ALA and GBIF. Also phylogenetic knowledge now provides a sound understanding of the origin of organisms and their place in the tree of life. However, biodiversity is neither a list of taxonomic entities with morphological and geographic attributes nor solely a phylogeny with divergence dates. Comparative biology is predicated on the expectation that closely related organisms share traits—such as morphology, ecology, biogeography, disease resistance, ecosystem services—that are not common in more distantly related organisms. Therefore the rich biodiversity data in online sources is under-utilized because it is not integrated with the tree of life. We address this problem with PhyloJIVE (Phylogeny Javascript Information Visualiser and Explorer), which integrates biodiversity information aggregated from many sources onto phylogenetic trees. PhyloJIVE is available via GitHub http://trin.github.io/phyloJIVE/ for use on individual webpages or can be accessed at the Atlas of Living Australia (http://phylojive.ala.org.au/). Users can upload their own phylogenies and trait data or access datasets from a variety of sources including IndentifyLife. PhyloJIVE can map and visualize up to ten traits as well as compute ancestral character state information for all nodes. Distribution maps, with environmental data layers, for individual species or clades with up to 32 taxa can be generated with a mouse click. Links to external webpages are available at each terminal and node. PhyloJIVE demonstrates that it is possible and useful to assemble interactive biodiversity data from diverse sources. Viewed through phylogeny, the evolutionary context of morphological, spatial and ecological data becomes clear and accessible to non-specialists. PhyloJIVE connects biodiversity and phylogeny knowledge bases by providing an integrated evolutionary view of biodiversity data which in turn can improve biodiversity research and the conservation decision making process.

1 - Centre For Australian National Biodiversity Research, CSIRO Plant Industry, Australian National Herbarium, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

Keywords:
Biodiversity Informatics
PhyloJIVE.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY05
Location: Snake/Boise Centre
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2014
Time: 8:45 AM
Number: SY05003
Abstract ID:155
Candidate for Awards:None