Project Title

Development of a Biological Nomenclature and Taxonomy Data Standard 

Date of Proposal

June 3, 1998

Revised

July 22, 1999

Submitting Organization

FGDC Biological Data Working Group 

Point of Contact

Anne Frondorf, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Reston, VA  (703) 648-4205   anne_frondorf@usgs.gov

Objectives

The objectives are to provide a standard reference system for information on names (scientific and common) and associated classification (taxonomy) for biological species that can be used to help support exchange and comparison of biological and/or geospatial data sets in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).  The proposed standard will support the implementation of  the existing FGDC Vegetation Classification Standard, the FGDC Wetlands Classification Standard, and the proposed Biological Data Profile of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, as well as other biologically related FGDC standards, by serving as the standard reference for biological nomenclature and taxonomy information for use in these FGDC standards. 

It should be clarified that individual species names or classifications will not be standardized in this effort.  The proposed standard will not constitute or create (or require the use of ) a single, non-dynamic listing of biological species names and associated classifications.  Rather, the proposed standard will provide a consistent reference system or database framework for maintaining and representing dynamic, scientifically credible biological taxonomy and nomenclature information.  This information can then be used as needed as a consistent reference source for aiding in the discovery, comparison, exchange, and integration of  biological and geospatial data sets throughout the NSDI.    Mechanisms for incorporating and tracking changes in biological nomenclature and taxonomy, and which allow for multiple names and classifications to be represented, will be an important part of the proposed standard. 

Scope

This standard will focus on providing a consistent reference system for maintaining and representing dynamic, scientifically based information on scientific and common names (including scientific synonyms) for plant, animal, fungal, moneran and protist species.  By providing this reference system, the proposed standard will help facilitate discovery, comparison, exchange, and integration, through the NSDI, of any biological and/or geospatial data set (or related information product) that includes scientific names of species (or higher taxonomic groups) as part of its data structure. 

Justification/Benefits

Many biological data sets (e.g., data sets on current and historic distributions of rare species or invasive species within a certain State) include some data on the scientific names (nomenclature) and/or common (vernacular) names and associated classification (taxonomy) of the species and/or higher taxonomic groups (genera, families, etc.) which are the focus of the data set.  Biological systematics is a complex and dynamic science and scientific perspectives on nomenclature and classification are in a constant state of flux.   Because of this,  many species have been assigned two or more different scientific names and associated classifications by different specialists. The application of common names to organisms is even less consistent and thus more complex.  This relatively common situation obviously makes it difficult to discover, compare, exchange, and integrate biological data sets among different agencies and organizations, and across different time periods, in an accurate and efficient manner.   Therefore, a key element in fostering development of a distributed federation of biological data and information through the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (and the complementary National Biological Information Infrastructure) is the availability of a consistent reference system for maintaining and representing information on biological nomenclature and taxonomy.  This proposed standard will constitute this consistent reference system for the NSDI .   Participants in the NSDI (and the NBII) will thus be able to rely upon this reference system as a consistent source of information on biological species names and classifications that can help them more easily discover, compare, exchange, and integrate different biological data sets that may use different scientific or common names for the same species. 

The proposed standard will also serve as a consistent reference of biological nomenclature and taxonomy for the FGDC Vegetation Classification Standard, the FGDC Wetlands Classification Standard, and the proposed Biological Profile of the FGDC geospatial metadata content standard.  It will thus directly support the further implementation of these FGDC standards efforts.  In addition, the proposed standard will also serve as a consistent reference of biological nomenclature and taxonomy for scientific/educational communities and the general public. 

Development Approach

The FGDC Biological Data Working Group will form an appropriate team of experts (standard development team) to develop the draft standard.  The standard development team will include qualified individuals from both inside and outside the Federal government.   The team will include individuals who are qualified and experienced in the field of biological systematics; as well as individuals who are experienced in biological informatics issues, including data standards development; and individuals who are familiar with existing related FGDC standards (such as the FGDC Vegetation Classification Standard) and with the FGDC standards process. 

Several existing cooperative activities and groups are operating programs to develop and provide access to information on standardized credible nomenclatures and taxonomies for specific biological groups of interest.  In developing the proposed standard, the standard development team and the FGDC Biological Data Working Group will review, consider, and utilize to the extent possible existing sources, data systems, procedures, and protocols for biological names and taxonomy, i.e., the proposed standard will adequately reflect and incorporate existing systems and materials.   In addition, the standard development team and the FGDC Biological Data Working Group will actively solicit the involvement, input, and participation of representatives of as many of these ongoing related groups and activities as possible throughout all stages of the standard development process.

Working through the FGDC Biological Data Working Group, and in consultation with all interested individuals and organizations, the standards development team will draft a FGDC data standard for review by the FGDC Biological Data Working Group.  The draft standard then will be submitted by the Biological Data Working Group to the FGDC Standards Working Group for review and approval prior to being distributed for full public review.

Development and Completion Schedule

The Biological Data Working Group will initiate formation of the standard development team following the approval of the revised standards proposal by the FGDC Standards Working Group.  It is expected that development of a draft standard will take the standard development team approximately 3-4 full months, with another 2 months for the FGDC Biological Data Working Group to review and revise the work of the standards project team as needed.  The Biological Data Working Group will then submit the draft standard to the FGDC Standards Working Group for review and approval before release of the standard for the requisite 90-day public review period.    Following public review, the standard development team will evaluate and summarize all comments received, make the necessary revisions to the standard, and prepare the final draft for submission to the Standards Working Group, via the Biological Data Working Group.   It is expected that the standard could be completed and approved by the FGDC Steering Committee within approximately 12-18 months from the time the Standards Working Group approves this revised standards proposal. 

Resources Required

The members of the FGDC Biological Data Working Group, working with the standard development team should have adequate resources (primarily staff time) available to support development of the standard.  The FGDC has provided funds to help support travel costs for 2-3 selected non-Federal individuals to participate in 2-3 meetings of the standard development team during FY99-00. 

Potential Participants

The FGDC Biological Data Working Group includes representatives of several different Federal agencies, plus several non-Federal organizations.  The Working Group will establish a standard development team that, as noted above under “Development Approach,” will be comprised of qualified individuals from both inside and outside the Federal government.    In addition, the comments and input of a variety of other individuals, agencies, and organizations with expertise, responsibilities, and/or interests in the area of biological systematics, biological informatics, information science, data standards development,  FGDC standards processes and models, and other pertinent subjects will be actively solicited during the entire standards development process.

Related Standards

The proposed standard relates to and will support full implementation of the proposed Biological Data Profile of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, the FGDC Vegetation Classification Standard, and the FGDC Wetlands Classification Standard.

Other Targeted Authorization Bodies

This proposed standard is not currently targeted for consideration by any other authorizing bodies.  Because of its linkage to the proposed Biological Data Profile of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, the FGDC Vegetation Classification Standard and the FGDC Wetlands Classification Standard,  it is anticipated that this proposed standard (once approved by the FGDC) potentially could be “linked” with either or both of these FGDC standards in any subsequent review and authorization of these standards by ANSI, ISO, or other group.