Semantic enrichment and mobilization of data in distributed repositories for taxonomy and ecology: Solving a Gordian knot in the taxonomy of neotropical jumping spiders and trait-based ecological habitat assessment with spider assemblages

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The efficiency and potential of linked data repositories and research information systems will be enhanced and demonstrated by the following research approaches: 1. Based on digital data for voucher specimens of the extremely genera- and species-rich subfamily Euophryinae (Salticidae) in the collection of SMNK, the species will be described and a description scheme developed and integrated in the virtual research environment Diversity Workbench. The revision of these genera will help to overcome the taxonomic impediment in neotropical jumping spiders, promoting further phylogenetic studies and allowing species identification in faunistic and ecological studies, which is important for conservation management. The research infrastructure enables the digital processing and mobilization of standardized morphometric and ecological data for the international community, produces permanently updated interactive determination keys and semi-automatic species descriptions, directly compiled into an electronic publication. 2. The analysis of a large data package of species occurences in Germany, originating from different sources (collections, unpublished studies, literature) provides trait-based associations of species with habitat and land use types. Carrying capacity of selected habitat types will be compared using biomass of spiders calculated from size measurements via regression. Using classic inductive methods of discrimant analysis as well as transductive appraoches of machine learning (stochastic neuronal networks), species occurences are correlated with ecological preferences, environmental variables and traits and habitat-specific assemblages defined. In the course of data selection and preparation for these analyses extensive digital information on spiders in Germany will be compiled under a concept for semantic enrichment of existing data from collections and ecological studies. By definition of standards and hierarchical lists (habitat types, landscapes, land use forms, strata - on European scale) with synonyms and by the use of tools for annotation and upscaling of measures from the specimen to the species, data from independent studies can be analysed newly. This is a precondition for the (repeated) assessment of habitat quality and its change over time by land use or climate change. All data and tools will be supplied in several data repositories and websites. Resulting descriptions with taxonomic and ecological information are presented in species fact sheets. Checklists for habitat types show the species occurences and abundances. These portrayals are always based on the updated data pool, during the increase of collections and studies of the participating institutions. Such dynamic references, representing the actual data pool, are especially important to users from conservation authorities.