Accelerating taxonomic discovery through automated character extraction

La Salle, J, Wheeler, Q, Jackway, P, Winterton, S, Hobern, D and Lovell, D (2009) Accelerating taxonomic discovery through automated character extraction. ZOOTAXA, 2217 2217: 43-55.


Author La Salle, J
Wheeler, Q
Jackway, P
Winterton, S
Hobern, D
Lovell, D
Title Accelerating taxonomic discovery through automated character extraction
Journal name ZOOTAXA  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-09-02
Sub-type Article
Year available 2009
Volume number 2217
Issue number 2217
ISSN 1175-5326
Start page 43
End page 55
Total pages 13
Editor Zhang, Z.
Place of publication New Zealand
Publisher Magnolia Press
Collection year 2010
Language eng
Subject C1
960803 Documentation of Undescribed Flora and Fauna
060301 Animal Systematics and Taxonomy
Abstract This paper discusses the following key messages. Taxonomy is (and taxonomists are) more important than ever in times of global change. Taxonomic endeavour is not occurring fast enough: in 250 years since the creation of the Linnean Systema Naturae, only about 20% of Earth’s species have been named. We need fundamental changes to the taxonomic process and paradigm to increase taxonomic productivity by orders of magnitude. Currently, taxonomic productivity is limited principally by the rate at which we capture and manage morphological information to enable species discovery. Many recent (and welcomed) initiatives in managing and delivering biodiversity information and accelerating the taxonomic process do not address this bottleneck. Development of computational image analysis and feature extraction methods is a crucial missing capacity needed to enable taxonomists to overcome the taxonomic impediment in a meaningful time frame.
Formatted abstract This paper discusses the following key messages. Taxonomy is (and taxonomists are) more important than ever in times
of global change. Taxonomic endeavour is not occurring fast enough: in 250 years since the creation of the Linnean
Systema Naturae, only about 20% of Earth’s species have been named. We need fundamental changes to the taxonomic
process and paradigm to increase taxonomic productivity by orders of magnitude. Currently, taxonomic productivity is
limited principally by the rate at which we capture and manage morphological information to enable species discovery.
Many recent (and welcomed) initiatives in managing and delivering biodiversity information and accelerating the
taxonomic process do not address this bottleneck. Development of computational image analysis and feature extraction
methods is a crucial missing capacity needed to enable taxonomists to overcome the taxonomic impediment in a
meaningful time frame.
Keyword taxonomy
taxonomic impediment
automated character extraction
image analysis
feature extraction
pattern recognition
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: 2010 Higher Education Research Data Collection
School of Biological Sciences Publications
 
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Created: Tue, 29 Sep 2009, 10:15:06 EST