FloraGREIF – An Internet-Based Data Repository for Biogeographical Research in Mongolia

FloraGREIF presents an internet-based information tool on the vascular plant flora of Mongolia combining taxon- and record-specific information, text and image information with map information and digitized plant specimens with images of living species and their habitats. Based on an updated checklist as taxonomic backbone, information is split into the "taxon" and the "record" level. At the taxon level the user finds taxonomic diagnoses, habitat information, and species distribution within the floristic regions of Mongolia. The latter is visualized in a Web GIS application. The record level offers information for all records assigned to one taxon, which may include locality data only or additional, high-resolution scans of herbarium specimens combined with images from living species and their habitats. Several query masks allow a flexible search and display of species lists. The interactive Web GIS application links taxon or record information with various map layers, comprising administrative units, topography and orography, floristic regions and vegetation zones of Mongolia. They present background information for the display of species distribution or record localities. FloraGREIF offers a virtual research environment to make the substantial information on Mongolia's flora mainly published in Russian accessible to the public.