Abstract | Advancements in digital technologies are rapidly improving efficiency in the aggregation, use, and sharing of natural history collections and biodiversity specimen data. Researchers now have access to ever increasing herbarium data sets for visualization, analysis, and modeling to assist with taxonomic research and conservation assessments. iDigBio (www.idigbio.org), the national resource for the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections (ADBC) program, is mobilizing data and images for millions of biodiversity specimens. Voucher specimen data, both neontological and paleontological, from island communities across the globe is available in electronic format through the iDigBio web-based graphical interface (www.idigbio.org/portal/) and APIs. It provides a wealth of information for the research community, government agencies, students, educators, and the general public, including baseline data for biodiversity assessments and non-native or invasive species distribution, providing data and images for new species discovery, and assisting with efficient location of voucher specimen collections for further research. This presentation will highlight the portal, available tools, data gaps the Island Biology community may be able to help narrow, and potential research uses of the data as they pertain to expanding the understanding of the biodiversity and biogeography of island flora and fauna and the communities they comprise. |