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Data about biodiversity are either scattered in many databases or reside on paper or other media not amenable to interactive searching. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is a framework for facilitating the digitization of biodiversity data and for making interoperable an as-yet-unknown number of biodiversity databases that are distributed around the globe. In concert with other existing efforts, GBIF will catalyze the completion of a Catalog of the Names of Known Organisms and will develop search engines to mine the vast quantities of biodiversity data. It will be an outstanding tool for scientists, natural resource managers, and policy-makers.

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ABSTRACT-An epidemiological survey of the fish diseases lymphocystis, epidermal papilloma and skin ulcers in common d a b Limanda limanda L. was conducted in the southern Kattegat each year in May from 1984 to 1993. During the period of investigation, severe oxygen depletion occurred in late summer 1986 and 1988. After the oxygen deficiency in 1986. the occurrence of lymphocystis and epidermal papilloma increased and peaked in 1989 with prevalences of 14 7 and 3.3%, respectively. The prevalence of skin ulcers never exceeded 0.6 %. The relative nsk of contracting lymphocystis increased significantly from 1987 to 1991 compared with 1984 to 1986, the p e r~o d prior to the severe oxygen depletion. A significant increase in the relative risk of contracting epidermal papilloma was observed from 1987 to 1990. Females were 3 times more likely to contract this disease than males. The relative risk of skin ulcers did not change significantly during the investigation period. The prevalence of lymphocystis and epidermal papilloma was negatively correlated with the minimum oxygen levels measured in August and September the previous year; this negative correlation was significant ( p c 0.05) for lymphocystis in September, while not for epidermal papilloma ( p < 0.1). The prevalence of lymphocystis and epidermal papilloma was significantly correlated ( p < 0.01). No significant correlation was observed between stock density (expressed as catch per unit effort) a n d the diseases in question. It is probably the stress caused by the oxygen deficiency -especially the sublethal levels -that triggered the outbreak of the 2 viral diseases lymphocystis and epidermal papilloma.

A survey of fish diseases in the common dab Limanda limanda L. was conducted in 4 areas (the German Bight, 2 areas along the west coast of Denmark and the Skagerrak) in May during the years 1983 to 1993. A total of 53302 dab were examined for the presence of the diseases lyrnphocystis, epldermal papilloma and skin ulcers. The present study describes long-term variations in the prevalence of these 3 chseases. The German Bight and the 2 areas along the west coast of Denmark showed significant similarities in the temporal trend of the diseases investigated with peaks in 1985 and 1988 for both lymphocystis and epidermal papilloma. A similar trend was not observed in the Skagerrak. Skin ulcerations did not reveal any specific temporal trends in any of the 4 areas. The highest prevalence of lymphocystis was observed in the most offshore area along the Danish west coast with a peak value of 14.9% in 1988; epidermal papilloma in the German Bight showed a peak value of 9 4 % in 1988 and skln ulcers in the Skagerrak a peak of 4.4 % In 1989. Areas in the German Bight and along the west coast of Denmark had suffered from oxygen deficiency in late summer during the years 1981 to 1983. These events may have been an important factor triggering the outbreak of lymphocystis and epidermal papilloma, as the prevalence of these diseases increased from 1983 until 1985 followed by a decline until 1988. Although it was not possible to establish significant correlations between the oxygen levels at the bottom and the disease prevalence in the present case, the disease pattern showed evident similarities with formerly described oxygen deficiency-induced outbreaks of lymphocystis and epidermal papllloma in dab in the Kattegat. In 1988, the prevalence of lymphocystis and epidermal papllloma increased significantly without any apparent reason. The disease pattern observed in the Skagerrak differed significantly from the other 3 areas with skin ulcerations being the most prevalent disease. A part of the explanation for this may be that the Skagerrak has not suffered from the same impaired environmental conditions as the other areas.