WORM-WEB: Georeferencing Computerized Data and Linking Databases in the Manter Laboratory of Parasitology

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE

Investigators

Abstract

WormWeb: Geo-referencing computerized data and linking databases in the Manter Laboratory of Parasitology The University of Nebraska State Museum Manter Laboratory of Parasitology (HWML) proposes to increase direct user access to the HWML collections via standard internet protocols by implementing WormWeb. The two primary goals for this activity include (1) Associating each parasite specimen in the HWML database "PARASITE" with geographic locality data using a relational database structure and first level normalization; (2) Entering the Bolivian Mammal Parasite Collection data in the HWML into "PARASITE" -- linking parasite data with the mammal source data using a relational database structure and first level normalization. The HWML is one of the most significant centers of Systematic Parasitology in the world. Databases connected via the internet enable researchers to access and analyze data in ways never before possible, producing important new results and insights into causes of biological diversity, rates of speciation, and general evolutionary and ecological processes. The database in the Manter Laboratory of Parasitology (HWML) will be connected to other WWW resources via WormWeb. Making HWML data available on the WWW will give researchers worldwide the ability to obtain detailed information on parasites and their hosts. The establishment of such internet-based resources is essential for the continued growth of biodiversity research. The addition of georeferenced data will vastly increase the usefulness of the database. Researchers will be able to quickly and efficiently determine where particular specimens and species of parasites were collected. Trends in species richness or abundance through time and space can be investigated.