Most of the items on your list can be done without a developer, except for the "advanced search". I strongly suggest that you use the template system for filling in the data, not just because of the unified look of things, but also because other software could then extract the information (e.g., for statistical purposes). This can also be used to maintain the category system (where you pass a parameter "family=xyz", the template could do both "[[xyz]]" and "[[category:Family xyz]]").
It would be best if you had a demo system set up to play around with.
Magnus
Benedikt Mandl wrote:
Hi,
in case you havn't read my initial e-mail: I am currently trying to establish a wiki-based, open species directory at www.wikispecies.org/, which is meant to become a wikimedia project.
I got some support for contents by a range of wikipedia writers, but what I really need now are developers who set up a basic structure so that we can get started. Jimbo Wales suggested that the inital wikispecies would be basically the same as the one of wikipedia.
I evaluated some species data bases and based on that I worked out a basic structure: a main page with search functions and sub-pages for an individual species/genus/family and so on, whith different features that can be searched for (for details see bottom of this e-mail).
If you think you can help, please let me know - every support is much appreciated! Thanks,
Benedikt
MAIN PAGE AND SUBPAGE STRUCTURE
Best viewed at: www.fishbase.org (though for a rather professional user, therefore a bit extensive). Main page would need to be a search page that provides a determination key as well.
Search terms
A general division in “standard search” and “advanced search” with details would be good.
NAME (common name, scientific names, synonyms, taxonomic number, etc.) CLASSIFICATION KEY (classification, would be perfect if we could get a PDA compatible one for field applications) GLOSSARY FAMILY (loads of detail search functions, see at fishbase) DISTRIBUTION (loads of detail search functions see at fishbase: ‘country’) ECOSYSTEM (loads of detail search functions, see at fishbase) TOPIC (special topics and articles) TOOLS (loads of detail search functions, see at fishbase; including a reference/literature search) BIODIVERSITY MAP (once again: see at fishbase) MEDIA (maps, films, pictures, if available)
Subpage for species:
CLASSIFICATION (as tree diagram, looks like a path) NAMES MORPHOLOGY (incl. picture or illustration) BEHAVIOUR RESILIANCE / REPRODUCTION HABITAT / ENVIRONMENT MEDIA (images, maps, diagrams, videos, etc.) CLIMATE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE DISTRIBUTION (geographically and in terms of countries) CONSERVATION STATUS DANGERS REFERENCES
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