FreshwaterLife principle focus areas

1. The habitat and life-history of freshwater fauna and flora
2. Identification guides and training, principally through online keys
3. Standards and methods
4. Facilitating communication between stakeholders

1. The habitat and life-history of freshwater fauna and flora [top]

This is the main focus of FreshwaterLife. The Information Management System (IMS) the comprehensive Ecological Database provide a framework for the storage and retrieval of species data. The database documents the ecological attributes of all major groups of freshwater species including invertebrates and vertebrates, macrophytes and algae.

For each group the database describes:

1. names and classification
2. conservation status and distribution
3. habitat preferences (e.g. waterbody category, water chemistry, microhabitat) and
4. life-history attributes (e.g. fecundity, life span, dispersal ability).

Information can be accessed as written summaries, and through data-querying and analysis software that allows users to collate, sort and view life-history data in a wide range of formats.

2. Identification guides and training [top]

The web site provides a central access point for the identification of freshwater species. Current work is concentrated on:

1. creating a comprehensive list of the identification keys and guides available for each major taxonomic group, and
2. pioneering the development of on-line keys, which will extend existing keys through, amongst other things, the innovative use of graphics, video and sound.

Currently FreshwaterLife is working on the first online interactive keys. This is a pilot which will be available shortly.

3. Standards and methods [top]

The web site can be used to provide information about standards and methods for many different areas of freshwater work, ranging from scientific methods and standards, such as survey methods and equipment for gathering data for biological data standards. The initial focus of work will provide a comprehensive list of standard survey methods for the main groups of organisms and the range of freshwater habitats.

In the longer term, descriptive ‘manuals’ of standard methods will be created on-line.

4. Facilitating communication between stakeholders [top]

FreshwaterLife provides a point of contact for all freshwater stakeholders: scientists, regulators, industry, policy makers and implementers, and consumers throughout the world. FreshwaterLife aims to facilitate communication within and between these groups, across the globe.

FreshwaterLife is an informal 'club' for those with freshwater interests, using the internet as a medium for discussion and information exchange.

The FreshwaterLife Network is intended to be for those with a particular interest in the freshwater field, who wish to support the aims of FreshwaterLife and be consulted on the project's development. The Network now includes over 200 organisations, groups and individuals working in, or concerned with, freshwater. For more information on the FreshwaterLife Network and to join click here.

Topic Editors and Subject Specialists are drawn from the FreshwaterLife Network and are examples of how Network members are given greater opportunity to interact with the FreshwaterLife community.

Subject Specialists are those with acknowledged credentials in a specialist area who are willing to be consulted on difficult issues or problems, for example, an expert willing to identify specimens in association with national recording schemes. FreshwaterLife makes finding and contacting such individuals easy.
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