Biodiversity and Ecosystem Informatics: VLDB Scientific Research or an Applications Area for Computer Database Technology? Kathleen M. Bergen, Ph.D. School of Natural Resources and Environment The University of Michigan
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Informatics: Three Questions 1. Is this a Very Large Database problem? 2. Are there research challenges for VLDB researchers or is this another applications situation? 3. Is BDEI a valid emerging field of science and applications research?
1. Is This A Very Large Database Problem? – Biological Species Diversity • N of named species is approximately 1.5 million to 1.8 million. • The full N of species may be up to 10 million • Large numbers of species specimens and locational observations are distributed throughout the world in numerous museums, herbaria, organizations, and agencies – Ecosystems • In-situ and traditional ecosystem measurements by agencies and scientists • NASA Earth Science satellites beam home image data at the rate of 1.2 terabytes per day. • Currently at 500 terabytes, NASA digital image archives will grow to greater than 10 petabytes by 2010 • Scientists and organizations create derived datasets
2. Are there Research Questions for VLDB in BDEI? • Research Problem: Biologists and managers want to map the location of known species occurences, and, given known occurances, model, predict and map where additional members of that species may live, based on other ecosystem variables AND then biologists want to know what will be the effect of change in these ecosystem or environmental variables on the persistence of species and their ranges.
University of Michigan BDEI Project Methods: Bird Species Habitat Envelope Atomic GARP Logistic Assemble Assemble Spatial Derive New Develop and Species Habitat Species Database of Multi-dimensional Apply Algorithm Range and Occurrence Ecosystem Vegetation e.g. GARP Method Suitability Models point samples Variables Structural (Genetic and Spatial from field or • climate Characteristics Algorithm Datasets museum • vegetation type from Remote for Rule-Set collections with • hydrology Sensing Data Production), geographic • topography and Test: ISOCLUS or other coordinates Improvement • height • basal area • biomass/carbon • overstory/ understory
3. Is Biodiversity and Ecosystem Informatics a Field of Scientific Research or an Application of Computer Database Technology? Globe Biome Levels of Organisation in Biology Ecosystem Organism Cell Gene
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Informatics: Three Questions 1. Is this a Very Large Database problem? 2. Are there research challenges for VLDB researchers or is this another applications situation? 3. Is BDEI a valid emerging field of science and applications research?
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