Web-oriented geoinformation system on alien plant species of European Russia

Abstract

An open geoinformation system (GIS) Alien Plant Species of European Russia under construction is presented. The system is based on a database on species finds. The database includes information on species nomenclature, morphology, ecology, and distribution (the initial range and area of invasion) and a description of the particularities of carrying. For the publication on the Internet, the data are displayed in a free relational database management system MySql. The spatial data are presented by way of points with geographical coordinates (the finds of species) and polygons (administrative districts). Google maps are used as a cartographic basis, and the layer formed by the map server is overlaid on it. The entry of data on finds via the Internet directly and their saving in the database is provided. By means of GIS, the following tasks may be solved: automation of the information on alien species accumulation, alien species monitoring covering the whole territory of European Russia, combining of information on alien species with information on different environmental factors, and prediction of invasive species settlement based on analysis of correlations between the species features and environmental factors.