Scanned (PDF) original descriptions

[Fabio Moretzsohn]

Hi Rich

You may remember a paper I wrote proposing a database (TaxonBank) for type
specimens in a format similar to GenBank, that would include PDF (or
similar) facsimiles (i.e., scanned for older papers, or the original PDF
version for recent online journals) of original descriptions, photos of the
types, description and keys, phylogenetic data, information on depository
collection, links to other databases (e.g. Genbank) or sites with ecological
information on the taxon, experts, etc. I presented this idea at the Species
2000 meeting in Tsukuba, in 1999, and finally the paper was just published.
I can send the paper, in PDF to those who ask for it - I think Taxacom does
not allow for attachments. For an (old) outline of TaxonBank see:
http://www.geocities.com/fmoretzsohn/outline.html

I know that some people have strong feelings against name (taxon)
registration, but I believe that there would be more benefits than problems
with registration. Perhaps one day we will see registration as a normal part
of the process of new taxa description, as it is with molecular data.
TaxonBank or similar database could be the central depository for taxonomic
data, and a convenient place to look for original descriptions and taxonomic
papers, locate type specimens, and to help with identifications.

Right now it sounds like a dream, but it could be done with proper funding
and commitment. If the human genome could be done in a relatively short
time, scanning ALL old literature could also be accomplished in our
lifetime. Just imagine a whole bunch of computers hooked up to scanners with
autofeeders (good for loose paper, but not for books), scanning and doing
OCR and then PDF all night.

Aloha,  Fabio

----------------------------------------
Fabio Moretzsohn
Ph.D. candidate
Department of Zoology
University of Hawaii
2538 The Mall
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
fmoretzsohn at hotmail.com (preferred)
fmoretz at hawaii.edu


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