Open WL Archief (OWA)

I have been a WoRMS editor since 2009 and currently serve as one of the chief taxonomic editors for MolluscaBase. My growing interest and concern about the spread of invasive marine species led me to also joining WRiMS as a thematic editor. My main research background lies in molluscan phylogenetic systematics and my work has included projects such as leading the Bivalve-Tree-of Life effort, developing higher-level classifications, engaging in monographic studies involving a broad range of morphological-anatomical and molecular data, and investigating changes to regional biodiversity (especially in coral reef environments) over time. As a practicing taxonomist and museum curator, I have enjoyed experiencing the rapid development of WoRMS into the World’s leading nomenclatural resource. Now I am excited about the prospect of taking this to the next level, by further integrating additional biodiversity information (such as expert-vetted images, type specimen data, distributions in space and time), and by improving the range and research-usefulness of linked "attributes", which will connect us to even broader user communities. At the North American end, I am spearheading a multi-institutional effort of mobilizing millions of collection specimen records through the "Eastern Seaboard" project and am actively involved in other such collaborations (InvertEBase/DigBio). I believe that we can engage in novel and very fruitful partnerships that will enhance and improve our WoRMS database.