Biodiversity databases can be helpful to anyone interested in biodiversity. They offer search engines to determine the number and type of species in specific regions. They can display biodiversity hotspots, areas of concentrated biodiversity in need of protection. Students, environmentalists, scientists and policy makers can all gain valuable information from well developed and user-friendly databases.
Below are a few biodiversity databases that may help you to:
- identify plant species in your region
- find the distribution or range of your favourite mammal
- locate endangered species throughout the world.
Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/search/
This site is a comprehensive list of all vascular plants reported in Canada, Greenland (Denmark) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France).
VASCAN is literature-based, though recent additions are sometimes specimen-based.
Canadensys Explorer
http://data.canadensys.net/explorer/search
This site allows you to explore, filter, visualize and download specimen records from Canadian biological collections.
Biodiversity Hotspots – Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International
www.biodiversityhotspots.org
‘Biodiversity Hotspots’ details the state of the earth's biodiversity hotspots and allows the user to search by region, species, conservation status and presence of a species in the hotspot.
The Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI)
www.geoconnections.org
The CGDI provides Canadians with on-demand access to geographic information (e.g. maps, satellite images) and related services and applications to support sound environmental decision-making.
Canadian Information System for the Environment (CISE)
www.cise-scie.ca
The Canadian Information System for the Environment is a comprehensive gateway to environmental information. The database includes raw data, interpreted information, indicators, reports, standards and more. The ultimate goal of CISE is to provide useful, integrated, environmental information to support the decision-making for Canadians.
Species at risk – Environment Canada
www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca
This site contains information on all federally listed species, including distribution, population, habitat, biology, threats, protection and any recovery progress.
ETI BioInformatics (an non-governmental organization in operational relations with UNESCO)
www.eti.uva.nl
ETI BioInformatics aims to assist the scientific community in achieving worldwide access to quality biodiversity information. The World Biodiversity Database is a continuously growing taxonomic database and information system that allows you to search and browse a number of online species banks covering a wide variety of organisms.
Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
www.issg.org/database/welcome/
The Global Invasive Species Database contains invasive species information supplied by experts on invasive species from around the world. It provides global information to agencies, resource managers, decision-makers, and interested individuals on invasive alien species. The database focuses on invasive species that threaten biodiversity and covers all taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants.
Invasive Species in Canada
www.cwf-fcf.org
The Canadian Wildlife Federation has developed the Invasive Species in Canada database to inform the public about those species considered invasive. Information includes where they come from, their invasive range, how they are introduced, and their ecological impacts.
Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/nhic_.cfm
The Natural Heritage Information Centre generates a permanent and dynamic atlas and database on the character, distribution and conservation status of natural areas, critical flora and fauna, ecological communities and special features in Ontario.
Natural Sciences Collections Alliance – Biodiversity informatics
www.nscalliance.org/
Biodiversity informatics organizes and analyzes biological data from research collections, experiments, remote sensing, modeling, database searches and instrumentation.
NatureServe
www.natureserve.org/explorer
NatureServe Explorer is a respected source for information on more than 65,000 plants, animals, and ecosystems of the United States and Canada. Explorer includes in-depth coverage for rare and endangered species.
Explore Ontario's Biodiversity – Royal Ontario Museum
www.rom.on.ca/ontario/index.php
On this website, you may obtain regional lists and species profiles of the plant and animal species at risk in Ontario or build your own field guide to common Ontario animals of your local area.
Wild Species
www.wildspecies.ca
The Wild Species in Canada report provides an overview of the status of Canada's species. It brings the results of provincial, territorial, and federal monitoring efforts onto a single platform. The online database provides a search option for these topics.
World Database on Protected Areas
sea.unep-wcmc.org
The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) provides the most comprehensive dataset on protected areas worldwide and is managed by UNEP-WCMC in partnership with the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the World Database on Protected Areas Consortium. The WDPA is a fully relational database containing information on the status, environment and management of individual protected areas.
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
sea.unep-wcmc.org
The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is a collaboration between the United Nations Environment Programme, the world's foremost intergovernmental organization, and WCMC 2000, a UK-based charity. Access is provided to many databases and other sources of information of interest to the conservation community.
Photography
Hiker by Phil Kor
