MATERIALS

What is the ChecklistBank? 

ChecklistBank is a tool to manage taxonomic checklist data, aiming to improve all aspects. It supports the publication and curation of various checklists from different sources. The taxonomic community can publish a checklist to the web either 

a) by directly uploading it to ChecklistBank along with metadata describing its content or 

b) by publishing elsewhere on the Internet (for example through the World Register of Marine Species, WoRMS) in a form that COL can consume and then registering the dataset in ChecklistBank. ChecklistBank will maintain a local copy to ensure that users can always review how COL has interpreted the original data.

The following sections offer an introduction to the use of ChecklistBank.

The Challenge 

COL aims to improve all aspects of the management of taxonomic checklist data. COL’s primary deliverable is the COL Checklist (with all its versions). The primary inputs to the COL Checklist are the sector checklists provided by contributing taxonomic communities. However, there are many other sources and uses for taxonomic checklists. These may summarise taxonomic publications, or they may have a geographic focus (national or regional species lists), summarise local biodiversity (park checklists, etc.), or list species that share a common attribute or importance (Red Lists, invasive species lists, etc.). The authors and maintainers of these lists have the same requirements as those communities that contribute sectors to the COL Checklist. In many cases, the expertise encapsulated within these checklists may contribute additional names, synonyms, or novel species concepts that should be captured within the COL Checklist. COL therefore aims to support the publication and curation of all these checklists and to provide a platform for their consistent discovery, use, and citation. 

This is the role of the ChecklistBank, to offer a consistent foundation and repository for all COL datasets and any other publicly published species lists.

The Added Value of the ChecklistBank 

Every dataset published through ChecklistBank will receive a DOI for ready citation and will be accessible through the same interfaces and API as the COL Checklist, ensuring that the contents of any checklist can be used within a wide range of biodiversity software and tools. COL will track report uses and citations of each checklist. Where relevant, publishing information to ChecklistBank will accelerate corresponding updates to the COL Checklist.

ChecklistBank provides several benefits to biodiversity research:

1. Centralized Repository:

   • Acts as a centralized repository for taxonomic checklists from various sources, making it easier for researchers to access and utilize diverse biodiversity data.

2. Standardization:

   • Standardizes data through the COL Data Package format, ensuring consistency in how information is presented and making it easier for researchers to work with the data.

3. Facilitates Collaboration:

   • Allows taxonomic communities and individual researchers to share their checklists, fostering collaboration and creating a platform for the exchange of valuable biodiversity information.

4. Enhances Data Accessibility:

   • Provides a platform for the publication and curation of species lists, making biodiversity data more accessible to a wide range of users, including scientists, policymakers, and the general public.

5. Accelerates Updates:

   • Speeds up updates to the COL Checklist by encouraging authors to publish their work through ChecklistBank, ensuring that the most recent and accurate biodiversity information is available.

6. DOI Integration:

   • Assigns DOIs to datasets, simplifying the citation process for researchers and facilitating the tracking and reporting of checklist usage.

7. Supports Multiple Use Cases:

   • Accommodates various types of checklists, such as taxonomic publications, geographic lists, and those focused on specific attributes like Red Lists or invasive species lists, catering to the diverse needs of biodiversity research.

In summary, ChecklistBank acts as a collaborative and standardized platform, promoting accessibility, collaboration, and the efficient management of biodiversity data, ultimately benefiting researchers and contributing to the advancement of biodiversity science.

• Using the ChecklistBank