animallinked

Animallinked is a proposed open-data platform that seeks to connect disparate information about animal life through linked data and semantic technologies. It aims to provide an integrated view of species, their traits, distributions, genetics, conservation status, and related media and literature.

The project envisions a collaborative, community-maintained resource, with data curated and linked to external databases to enable researchers, educators, and policymakers to query across datasets. It emphasizes interoperability, standard taxonomies, and reproducible queries.

Technically, animallinked would rely on standards such as Darwin Core for specimen data, taxon concept schemas, RDF and OWL for semantics, and open licensing. It would offer APIs and SPARQL endpoints, as well as visualization tools and reproducible data bundles.

Data sources include natural history collections, biodiversity portals, genomic databases, conservation listings, peer-reviewed literature, and citizen science observations, with provenance and licensing clearly recorded. The platform aims to harmonize and cross-link disparate data types to reduce duplication and improve discoverability.

Applications include biodiversity research, conservation planning, education, and policy analysis. Challenges include ensuring data quality and taxonomic revision, navigating licensing and privacy concerns for sensitive data, sustaining long-term maintenance, and coordinating contributions from diverse institutions. The project sits within broader efforts in biodiversity informatics and linked-data initiatives, seeking to advance open, interconnected knowledge about animal life.