Arthropod Easy Capture (AEC): history, workflows, and impact
Christiane Weirauch, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside
Randall T. Schuh & Katja Seltmann, Invertebrate Zoology American Museum of Natural History 1 The beginnings: The Plant Bug Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) database
2 Data output and dissemination
3 PBI database in the true bug community and from bugs to bees
4 Mono-trophic to tri-trophic database: from PBI database to Arthropod Easy Capture Development started in 2003/2004 as part of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) Plant Bug PBI project
Dilatops fici Weirauch, 2006
Global revisionary taxonomic studies of two subfamilies of Miridae or plant bugs PIs R. T. Schuh and G. Cassis 2003-2011 ~60 papers >550 new species described 70 new genera > 250,000 specimens treated Taxonomic work on Miridae: some challenges Several 100 to 1,000 specimens per project Genitalic dissections Images: males and females
Lots of information to keep track of 1 The Plant Bug Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) database: basics
Taxonomic work on Miridae: some challenges Specific to certain plant hosts Distribution maps important for forming species concepts Additional layers of information that need to be integrated 1 The Plant Bug Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) database: basics
Goal: track specimens throughout the revisionary process Generate material examined sections from the database Allow data download for geographic mapping (distribution maps) Produce lists of plant host species (appendix) Generate tables for a) imaged specimens b) measurements c) dissections (for appendices) Direct dissemination of research outputs to the public: generate “Species Pages” with maps, images, etc.
Initial goals did NOT include: Descriptive database, e.g., semi-automated species descriptions Mapping directly from database Species Pages for public outreach
BUT: All three tools were subsequently developed and implemented with instances of the original PBI database How does the database achieve these goals? MySQL database with PHP-driven web pages Darwin Core standards (TDWG, 2010) Schuh et al. (2010): Specimen Databases: A Case Study in Entomology using Web-based Software. American Entomologist 56: 206-216. 3 “modes”: Museum, Edit, Report
1 Museum Mode: data entry 1 Museum Mode: data entry 2 Edit Mode: data edits, updates, and error fixes 3 Report Mode: tables, material examined, etc.
Unique Specimen Identifiers
Matrix code labels Unique combination of prefix and number Uniquely identify each specimen Read by barcode scanner and human eye Project code and depository information USI information: “Material Examined” of publications Taxonomic work Vouchers for ecological, behavioral, and molecular studies Georeferencing Attachment of latitude/longitude data to localities Increases value of specimen records Specimen can be mapped and becomes available for GIS analysis & ecological modeling Various tools: Fuzzy Gazeteer, GEOLocate, Google Earth “Heteroptera Species Pages”
Assembled directly from database Publicly available
Mapped from database Simple Mapper Simple maps, but effective for taxonomic publications
Discover Life Discover Life Species Pages (maps, images, etc.) Mapping tools: Global Mapper Discover Life Linked to Online Systematic Catalog Host association The Reduviid PEET (= Partnership for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy)
Taxonomic and phylogenetics of Reduviidae PI C. Weirauch 2009-2014 Emphasis on student training examples for use of database Taxonomic revision of Apiomerus Hahn: our approach Assembled specimens from >30 collections Databased 16,717 specimen records Semi-automated species descriptions (Winclada, Delta) 2 species groups revised (Berniker et al. 2011), remaining in progress Apiomerus Hahn: what to do with distributional data? Evaluate geographic distribution of polychromatism Color gradient in A. flaviventris
Test hypotheses on historical biogeography Isthmus of Tehuantepec divides Nearctic and Neotropics for Apiomerus
Berniker & Weirauch (2012) Synopsis of Reduviidae of California (work in progress) Species list and distribution maps for all species of Reduviidae in California Representative images Bee databasing project Assemble specimen records of bees at 10 US collections
PIs J. Asher (AMNH) and D. Yanega (UCR); 2010-2013 J. Asher PBI database, File Maker Pro, and others: data served to Discover Life Oonopidae PBI
W. Fannes
Planetary Inventory of Oonopidae Only 20% described Lead-PI N. Platnick (AMNH) 30 investigators 2005-2012/3 PBI database: new instance 26,873 specimen records Oonopidae PBI o Initiated Species Pages & Simple Mapper o Developed descriptive database Output to Species Pages Tri-Trophic Database (TTD): Advancing the Digitization of Biological Collections (ADBC) Thematic Collections Network (TCN) Geographic focus: North America Hemiptera, their host plants, and hymenopteran parasitoids 10 PIs, numerous collaborators
5 Mono-trophic to tri-trophic database
Tri-Trophic Collections Network: PIs and Project Manager
plants
Hemiptera
parasitic Hymenoptera Tri-Trophic Database (TTD): main goals 1. Database >1.1 million Hemiptera specimens; assemble > 390,000 existing records. 2. Image and database ~600,000 specimens in 20 host-plant families. 3. Capture ~200,000 records for hymenopteran parasitoids; assemble 12,000 existing records. 4. Capture images for ~7,000 species of Hemiptera; assemble images for ~2,000 additional species; and capture/assemble images for ~2,000 species of parasitoid Hymenoptera. 5. Integrate specimen data and digital images for all taxa in the tri- trophic association through Discover Life; provide records to GBIF; and collaborate with the ADBC-HUB.
Collaboration between 34 museums Making available more than 2.3 million specimen records Tri-Trophic Database (TTD): approaches
Network of collaborative grants and subcontracts Databases: mixed approach – some institutions use PBI database, some their own Data are being integrated through Discover Life and the iDigBio Portal (among other sites) Tri-Trophic Database (TTD): where are we?
457,500 new insect records added to Arthropod Easy Capture database; some additional data in the other databases >520,000 plant specimens imaged Databasing and imaging ongoing