speciesLink: rich data and novel tools for digital assessments of biodiversity

• Autor(a) principal: Canhos,Dora Ann Lange
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Almeida,Eduardo A. B., Assad,Ana Lucia, Cunha Bustamante,Mercedes Maria da, Canhos,Vanderlei Perez, Chapman,Arthur David, Giovanni,Renato De, Imperatriz-Fonseca,Vera Lúcia, Lohmann,Lúcia Garcez, Maia,Leonor Costa, Miller,Joseph T., Nelson,Gil, Peterson,A. Townsend, Pirani,José Rubens, Souza,Sidnei de, Stehmann,João Renato, Thiers,Barbara
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Biota Neotropica
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1676-06032022000500603
• topic: speciesLink; data; biodiversity; information network; e-infrastructures; tools; biological collections; microorganisms; pollinators; bees; botany; plants; flora; fungi; algae; gaps; assessment; research; education; conservation; policy

Abstract speciesLink is a large-scale biodiversity information portal that exists thanks to a broad collaborative network of people and institutions. CRIA’s involvement with the scientific community of Brazil and other countries is responsible for the significant results achieved, currently reaching more than 15 million primary biodiversity data records, 95% of which are associated with preserved specimens and about 25% with high-quality digital images. The network provides data on over 200,000 species, of which over 110,000 occur in Brazil. This article describes thematic networks within speciesLink, as well as some of the most useful tools developed. The importance and contributions of speciesLink are outlined, as are concerns about securing stable budgetary support for such biodiversity data e-infrastructures. Here we review the value of speciesLink as a major source of biodiversity information for research, education, informed decision-making, policy development, and bioeconomy.