Abstract:
ETI's World Biodiversity Database is a continuously growing taxonomic
database and information system that aims at documenting all presently
known species (about 1.7 million) and to make this important
biological information worldwide accessible. The WBD contains
taxonomic information (hierarchies), species names, synonyms,
descriptions, illustrations and literature
... references when
available. A direct link to CMBI provides genetic information on
protein sequence (from the PIR database) and nucleic sequence (from
the EMBL database) for each taxon. In the future the WBD will be
extended with online identification keys and an interactive geographic
information system. A section of the WBD is available on CD-ROM. Those
parts of ETI's WBD that represent so called Global Species Databases
(full worldwide coverage on specific taxa) will be linked to the
Species 2000 Index of Species, a virtual basic taxonomic reference
system, that is continuously updated by quality taxonomic
databases. The Species 2000 Index acts as a basic species name
references system that can help you to locate detailed information on
species in the member databases. The database, constructed in
cooperation with the Stichting Academisch Rekencentrum Amsterdam
(SARA), currently contains over 200.000 accessible taxa.
The WBD is intended to increase understanding and to support a
responsible use and to facilitate the management of the earths
biodiversity resources. It is built as a joint effort of specialists
worldwide who contribute basic taxonomic, ecological and biodiversity
data to ETI to make this available in electronic form, both online in
the WBD and in subsections on CD-ROMs
Information is taken from http://www.eti.uva.nl/Database/WBD.html . 
