Linking heterogeneous biodiversity information systems on the grid: The grab prototype

In the field of biodiversity informatics a wide range of diverse databases and tools already exists. The challenge is to integrate such resources in order to support scientists wishing to explore complex problems of relevance to biodiversity, and to create new resources where necessary. In this paper we outline the relevance of biodiversity informatics requirements to the future development of the GRID, identifying the main issues that need to be addressed in this area. We present GRAB (GRid And Biodiversity), which is a prototype demonstrator illustrating how one particular biodiversity-related task, namely bioclimatic modelling, can be supported in a Globus-based environment. We also describe a much larger-scale GRID application project that is just commencing (BiodiversityWorld) in which a flexible problem-solving environment is to be built for full-scale investigations by scientists working in a number of biodiversity research areas.