4D4Life LIAS Evaluation Process – Information for the Referees#
The Referees may send an email to the LIAS custodian Dagmar Triebel (triebel@bsm.mwn.de) to install the DiversityTaxonNames Client on a local PC and to get a readable only account for LIAS names.
General information
LIAS
is a multi-authored information system for the collection and distribution of descriptive and other biodiversity data on lichens and selected groups of non-lichenized ascomycetes that was developed within the last 15 years by cooperation of the Botanische Staatssammlung München (BSM) and the University of Bayreuth (UBT). The services are hosted at the IT Center of the Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns (SNSB IT Center). LIAS is a long-term designed project with the final goal to comprise global data – estimates for the total number of lichen species worldwide range between 13.500 and 20.000. Under LIAS About you will find General objectives, How to participate and Impressum. In addition, each subproject has its own editoral board.
The subprojects
LIAS main – A Global Information System for Lichenized and Non-Lichenized Ascomycetes
This is the first project, initiated already in 1993. It is very ambitious. Since 1995 the contributors (authors) have been invited to establish individual sets of descriptors (characters) selected from a master form with Global descriptors. This form includes more than 700 partly multi-stated characters. By doing so the authors create individual LIAS family-level subprojects (see Data entry forms). 60 active contributors have used this service over the years. LIAS main also offers a separate database for descriptions on genus level with predefinded characters and character states. edited online within a browser
LIAS checklists – A Database with Distribution Data of Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi
The project started in 2001. The database is generating dynamic checklists of lichens and lichenicolous fungi on country or state level linked with reference information. It is currently under reorganisation.
LIAS light – A Database for Rapid Identification of Lichens
This project was initiated in 2001. It aims at optimizing online identification of lichens from specific regions of the world by using an easily working interactive multi-access key (NaviKey client) which is based on a subset of 70 diagnostically relevant characters from the "LIAS main" set. Up to date the "LIAS light" database has its focus on lichens in Germany, Great Britain, the Sonoran Desert, and Southern Africa and covers more than 6,000 lichen taxa. edited online by browser-independent rich client DiversityNavigator.
There is also an option to work with LIAS light offline, i.e., with the LIAS light working environment installed locally.
LIAS glossary – A Database with Definitions of Descriptive Characters of Ascomycetes
LIAS glossary was set up in 2005 using the Wiki technology and is currently under major reorganisation. The glossary provides definitions for the terms used in descriptions and during identification of lichens and ascomycetes, especially those terms used in the character and character state definitions of LIAS. It covers more than 3000 wiki pages. edited online
LIAS names – A Database with names of Lichens, Lichenicolous Fungi and Non-Lichenized Ascomycetes
The project was initiated in 2003. It is currently restricted to taxon names of lichens, lichenicolous fungi and non-lichenized ascomycetes. The LIAS names web interface allows public access for checking accepted names, conceptual names, and synonyms used by LIAS. A SOAP Web Service is set up and the remote editing of data via a browser independent rich client is realized. The goal of LIASnames is to set up a taxonomic backbone for all LIAS subprojects and associated data projects which is usable in local networks of databanks as well as in linking online databanks and in delivering consistent lists of names and synonyms for German data projects in the context of the German GBIF Node for Mycology. It delivers core data in the context of Species 2000. edited online by browser-independent rich client DiversityTaxonNames
Contents in Numbers
- LIAS main Species Databases with 2,200 records
- LIAS main Genus Database with 900 records
- LIAS checklists Database with 50,300 records
- LIAS glossary with 3,000 Wiki pages
- LIAS light Species Database with 6,000 records
- LIAS names Lichen Taxon Database with 32,800 records (= names, 20,500 of these are accepted names)
- LIAS names Ascomycete Classification Database with 4,000 records
Key technologies
MS SQL Server 2008, .NET Framework 3.5, JSP, XML, PostgreSQL, JAVA, CFM, SOAP- and Rest-Webservices, MediaWiki
Applications used by LIAS subprojects
- Diversity Workbench Applications with DiversityDescriptions and DiversityTaxonNames
Funded activities in 2008 and 2009
- Content optimization of LIAS light and LIAS names within the BMBF-funded project BIOTA Africa
- Content optimization of LIAS light and LIAS names within the DFG-funded project BRAZIL Lichens
- Content optimization of the application DiversityTaxonNames within the DFG-funded project IBF
- Technical optimization of the application DiversityTaxonNames within the DFG-funded project IBF
- Technical optimization of NaviKey within the StMFWK-funded project of the SNSB IT Center
LIAS as Global Species Database for Lichens
- Within the EU funded project Species2000europa LIAS was successfully evaluated as GSD for Lichens and set up a dynamic SPICE wrapper which might be accessed under SPICE BSM Wrapper Test Page.
References on LIAS starting from 2000
- Hagedorn, G., Rambold, G. 2000. A method to establish and revise descriptive data sets over the internet. Taxon 49: 517-528.
- Hagedorn, G. 2001. Making DELTA accessible: databasing descriptive information. Bocconea 13: 261-280.
- Triebel, D. 2002. 407 - LIAS - A global information system for lichenized and non-lichenized ascomycetes. – In Anonymous (ed.), The 7th International Mycological Congress IMC7. Book of abstracts. - 127. Oslo.
- Peršoh, D., Triebel, D. 2003. LIAS - A global information system for lichenized and non-lichenized Ascomycetes. – In Anonymous (ed.), Fourth biennial conference of the Systematics Association, programme and abstracts. - 19. Dublin.
- Rambold, G., Peršoh, D. 2003. Structural optimization of the global information system LIAS by establishing a LIAS names server and expanding the Descriptors Workbench. – In Anonymous (ed.), Sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity. A challenge for society. Symposium Report Part A. - 249-250. Berlin.
- Rambold, G., Bungartz, F. & Peršoh, D. 2004. Structural optimisation of the global information system LIAS by establishing a LIAS names server and expanding the Descriptors Workbench. – In Berendsohn, W. & Oehlschlaeger, S. (eds.), GBIF-Deutschland. German participation in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Status Report 2004. - 40-41. Bonn and Berlin.
- Triebel, D., Peršoh, D., Nash III, T.H., Zedda, L. & Rambold, G. 2004. LIAS - an online database system for descriptive data of ascomycetes. – In Randlane, T. & Saag, A. (eds.), IAL 5 Book of Abstracts: Lichens in Focus. - 38. Tartu.
- Ryan, B.D., Bungartz, F., Hagedorn, G. & Rambold, G. (eds.) 2005/2010. LIAS glossary – A Wiki-based Online Dictionary for Ascomycete Terminology used by LIAS, the Global Information System for Lichenized and Non-Lichenized Ascomycetes. - http://glossary.lias.net.
- Triebel, D., Peršoh, D., Nash, T.H. III, Zedda, L. & Rambold, G. 2007. Chapter 8. LIAS - an interactive database system for structured descriptive data of Ascomycetes. – In Currey, G.B. & Humphries, C.J. (eds.), Biodiversity databases. Techniques, politics, and applications. The Systematics Association Special 73: 99-110.
- Heindl-Tenhunen, B., Zedda, L., Nash, T.H. III, Barber, A., Neubacher, D., Triebel, D. & Rambold, G. 2008. "LIAS light" – an online-identification tool for lichens. – In Nash, T.H. III & Seaward, M.R.D. (eds.), Lichenological Abstracts. The 6th IAL Symposium and Annual ABLS Meeting Asilomar, Pacific Grove, CA, USA, 13-19 July, 2008. - 27-28. Tempe, AZ.
TDWG SDD Working Group
LIAS as Real World Example for BDI.SDD_1.1
Descriptions of LIAS in two Reference Databases for online Biodiversity Projects
