The National Park Service's Information Management Strategy, Infrastructure, and Software Applications

• Overview of Data Strategy (big picture)

• NPSpecies – Biological Data Warehouse

• Applications, Partnerships, & Beyond

• Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Natural Resource Challenge

• Conduct Baseline Inventories– GIS / Base Cartography– Bibliographic– Natural History Collections– Legacy Data

• Initiate Ecological Monitoring

Design Issues

• Decentralized System– ~270 Parks with NR data– Nine regional offices… and more sub-

offices– Maine to Guam

• Multiple Needs– Natural Resources Management– Interpretation– Maintenance, Compliance, Permitting…

Master web-based databases (Oracle)

Distributed versions in MS Access

NatureBib

NatureBib

Links to other databases

NPSpecies

Dataset Catalog

Download Download

NPSpecies

GIS Theme Manager

Dataset Catalog

Database Template

Integrated Natural Resource Data Management Framework

Permits/IARITIS, USFWSNatureServe

ArcView-Access Link Tool

Observations

• A record in which event (date/time, observer, etc.) and location information of an organism occurrence is permanently catalogued, but no physical evidence of the organism is collected.

Vouchers

• An observation record in which physical evidence of the organism (specimen, audio recording, photograph, etc.) is also collected, cataloged and archived along with the permanent cataloging of event and location information.

References• Traditional documents such as publications

and reports that document the occurrence and/or status of organisms in parks.

• Cataloged in NatureBib• NPSpecies records linked to NatureBib

references• Primary References Preferred

– Doe, John. 1999. Small Mammal Inventory of Katmai NP.

• Secondary References Okay– Birds of North America Field Guide

Standard Classification System• TSN (Taxonomic Serial Number)

– Unique number for every scientific name of each rank (kingdom,…, genus, species, subspecies, …, forma)

• ITIS-Managed Names– Permanent– Positive TSNs

• NPS-Managed Names– Semi-permanent– -500,000 to -900,000 TSNs

• Temporary Names– Temporary– Negative numbers excluding -500,000 to -900,000

Data Matching

Match

Federal T&E List

E176605Eskimo curlew

T175161Spectacled eider

StatusTSNSpecies

174999Canada goose

175161Spectacled eider

TSNSpecies

Scientific Names For a Park

Match to Federal T&E

T175161Spectacled eider

StatusTSNSpecies

Match Data Sets

• Federal Status

• State Status

• TNC Global Rank

• Ozone-Sensitive Species (in development)

Park-Specific Species Info• Checklist Fields

– Park-Status– Abundance– Residency– Nativity– Cultivation

• Management Fields– Weedy Plant– Pest– Management Priority– Exploitation Concern

“Canned” Reports

• Species Lists– Standard Taxonomy– Local Taxonomy

• Native vs. Non-Native species

• T&E records

• References

• Observations

Master web-based databases (Oracle)

Distributed versions in MS Access

NatureBib

NatureBib

Links to other databases

NPSpecies

Dataset Catalog

Download Download

NPSpecies

GIS Theme Manager

Dataset Catalog

Database Template

Integrated Natural Resource Data Management Framework

Permits/IARITIS, USFWSNatureServe

ArcView-Access Link Tool

NPSpeciesScience

eNatureInterp.

NR ProfilesPublic Access

Interp.

Recommendations

• Distributed System seems to work best

• Use TSNs– Key to integration– Everyone’s doing it…

NPSpecies Integration• Department of Agriculture - ITIS Database • NPS/eNature - Park-Species Interpretive Profiles (Online Field Guides) • FWS - National Wildlife Refuge Species Lists • FWS - Endangered Species Act Federal T&E Information • NPS - Park Profiles • NPS - Natural Resource Profiles • NPS - Fire Effects Database • NPS - Law Enforcement Critical Incident Reporting System • NPS - I&M NatureBib Bibliographic Database • NPS - I&M Dataset Catalog • NPS - Automated National Catalog System (ANCS+) • The Nature Conservancy - TNC Global Ranks • NatureServe/Natural Heritage Program • State Agencies - State T&E Information