A Workshop on
MAPPING SUBTERRANEAN BIODIVERSITY
Sponsored by:
Karst
Waters Institute
Co-chairs:
David
Culver, American University, Washington
Louis Deharveng, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse
Janine Gibert, Universite Claude Bernard – Lyon 1, Villeurbanne
To be held at
Laboratoire Souterrain
Moulis, France
March 18-20, 2001
Information
about the distribution of subterranean animals is rapidly growing, facilitated
by the availability of easily manipulated databases and mapping software
(GIS). These advances make possible
quantitative comparisons between taxa, regions, countries, and even
continents. Information about the
distribution of subterranean animals is also of special interest to
conservation planners and others concerned with the protection of
biodiversity. The purpose of this
workshop will be to facilitate the collection and dissemination of information
about the distribution of subterranean animals. The focus will be on three issues: (1) data management and ways to facilitate comparison among
regions and countries, including database structure, control of access to
information, and scales of analysis; (2) progress reports from ongoing
subterranean biodiversity mapping projects; and (3) uses of the maps and
databases, including conservation planning and explanations for biodiversity
patterns. A workshop proceedings will
be published that should serve as a guide to both new and ongoing subterranean
biodiversity mapping efforts.
This
workshop will be limited to a maximum of 50 participants, and is intended for
those actively mapping subterranean biodiversity or intending to do so. The emphasis will be on discussion and the
search for consensus, rather than on formal presentations. If you are interested in participating,
please contact one of the co-chairs, preferably by e-mail.