Project:BB|3029

Title
Providing access to biodiversity data on African Rodentia
Acronym
 
URL
http://projects.biodiversity.be/africanrodentia
StartDate
2007-02-01
EndDate
2007-12-01
Amount
 

Abstract

African rats and mice adversely affect the lives of millions of Africans. These small mammals not only destroy crops, but also damage stored foods and several species are known reservoirs and vectors for several human diseases. (more)

The extensive African Rodentia specimen and tissue collections of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and the University of Antwerp (UA) provide taxonomical, ecological, geographical and genetic information, as well as measurements and data on parasitic and viral infections. The scientific importance of these collections is that – although numerous African rats and mice have been described over the last 150 years – many species descriptions are based on very few specimens. The aim of this project is to make our collections accessible to a wider public. While working on the different databases we decided to include not only the Muridae, but the other African rodent families as well.

The website provides an advanced search function, which allows you to access all the information we have about every specimen, family, genus and species in our database. For most of the species, detailed information such as photos, original species descriptions and literature is available as well. All the specimen information can be exported, but you'll have to register to access this functionality. This collection is also provided to GBIF. Although the project has completed, the database is still updated regulary.

Keywords

Rodentia, Muridae, African, collections, pest-control, digitization call 2006

Classifications

Population and Ecological Genetics {Research discipline}
Molecular Evolution {Research discipline}
Animal Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny {Research discipline}
Terrestrial Ecology {Research discipline}
Information Systems {Research discipline}
Crop and Pasture Production {Research discipline}
Environmental Impact Assessment {Research discipline}
Public Health and Health Services {Research discipline}
Genetic {Integration level}
Species {Integration level}
Ecosystem {Integration level}
National {Cooperation status}
With High Priority Countries {Cooperation status}
Systematics, Inventorying and Classification {Research orientation}
Africa {Geographical scope}
Congo, Democratic Republic of {Geographical scope}
Ivory Coast {Geographical scope}
Tanzania {Geographical scope}
Agricultural {Habitat type}
Dry and Sub-humid Lands {Habitat type}
Forest {Habitat type}
Mountain {Habitat type}
Access to Genetic Resources {Research purpose}
Access to and Transfer of Technology {Research purpose}
Exchange of Information {Research purpose}
Technical and Scientific Cooperation {Research purpose}
Identification and Monitoring {Research purpose}
Research and Training {Research purpose}
Impact Assessment and Minimizing Adverse Impacts {Research purpose}
Mammalia {Taxonomical scope}

Fundings

Name Role Amount
Science for Sustainable Development unknown

People

Name Role Start End
Desmet, Peter member 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Leirs, Herwig co-promotor 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Cigar, Julien member 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Verheyen, Erik co-promotor 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Wendelen, Wim curator 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Lenglet, Georges curator 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Heughebaert, André member 2007-02-01 2007-12-01

Orgunits

Name Role Start End
Evolutionary Biology Group member 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Section Vertebrates member 2007-02-01 2007-12-01
Systematics and biochemical taxonomy member 2007-02-01 2007-12-01

Collaborations

Name Role Start End
Belgian Biodiversity Platform partner

Publications

Reference Role
Project description author
This collection on GBIF author

created:2011-12-14 14:18:59 UTC, source:web

© 2012 by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform