Publication Date:
2024-02-24
Description:
We provide an overview of the World Amphipoda Database (WAD), a global species
\ndatabase that is part of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Launched in 2013, the database
\ncontains entries for over 10,500 accepted species names. Edited currently by 31 amphipod taxonomists,
\nfollowing WoRMS priorities, the WAD has at least one editor per major group. All accepted species
\nare checked by the editors, as is the authorship available for all of the names. The higher classification
\nis documented for every species and a type species is recorded for every genus name. This constitutes
\nfive of the 13 priorities for completion, set by WoRMS. In 2015, five LifeWatch grants were allocated
\nfor WAD activities. These included a general training workshop in 2016, together with data input for
\nthe superfamily Lysianassoidea and for a number of non-marine groups. Philanthropy grants in 2019
\nand 2021 covered more important gaps across the whole group. Further work remains to complete the
\nlinking of unaccepted names, original descriptions, and environmental information. Once these tasks are
\ncompleted, the database will be considered complete for 8 of the 13 priorities, and efforts will continue
\nto input new taxa annually and focus on the remaining priorities, particularly the input of type localities.
\nWe give an overview of the current status of the order Amphipoda, providing counts of the number of
\ngenera and species within each family belonging to the six suborders currently recognized.
Keywords:
Amphipoda
;
Crustacea
;
databases
;
global
;
biodiversity
;
nomenclature
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
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