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.

Honeybees are shown to be able to detect, learn, and discriminate between microsculptured epidermes of flower petals. The sensilla trichodea at the tips of the bees' antennae are in the same size range as the microsculptural features of the petals (ca. 10 ,um), which presumably deflect these mechanoreceptive sensilla in characteristic ways. Honeybees were trained to associate reward with one floral texture and to choose that over another. Further, the bees also recognized differences in textures at different ends of petals of the same species. The phenomenon is significant in that it suggests another way in which insect pollinators can discriminate between the flowers of different plant species and so act as species isolators. Also, the microsculptural patterns differ from one end of a petal to the other and, therefore, can be used as nectar-guides by foraging bees. This study presents a previously unreported conditioned response to texture by insects and shows the functional significance of a floral character used in plant taxonomy.

Biodiversity data are rapidly becoming available over the Internet in common formats that promote sharing and exchange. Currently, these data are somewhat problematic, primarily with regard to geographic and taxonomic accuracy, for use in ecological research, natural resources management and conservation decision-making. However, web-based georeferencing tools that utilize best practices and gazetteer databases can be employed to improve geographic data. Taxonomic data quality can be improved through web-enabled valid taxon names databases and services, as well as more efficient mechanisms to return systematic research results and taxonomic misidentification rates back to the biodiversity community. Both of these are under construction. A separate but related challenge will be developing web-based visualization and analysis tools for tracking biodiversity change. Our aim was to discuss how such tools, combined with data of enhanced quality, will help transform today's portals to raw biodiversity data into nexuses of collaborative creation and sharing of biodiversity knowledge.

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