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Database Title	6.2 Biodata/ NIWA Museum database
Keywords Type1. Type 11.	New Zealand EEZ; marine ;species; distribution; collections
Abstract	This database catalogs all the identified species in the NIWA Museum. Material in the Museum has come from research trawls and more recently commercial fishing operations. The Museum contains a lot of unidentified material-some of which is identified a long time after its collection date by visiting experts.
Geographical Coverage	95% of the collection is from the New Zealand EEZ. Some material is from Antarctica and the Pacific Islands.
Dataset start date.	1956
Dataset end date.	Current
Status/currency.	In progress
Update frequency.	Ongoing
Maintenance.	NIWA

 

Technical Evaluation
Parameters- what is measured	Genus and species name Links to phylum, orders and families Station location, depth and sometimes sediment
Parameters- what is calculated	Species distribution
Methods used to measure parameters	Material is collected in scientific trawls and commercial fishing operations.
Scale of use.	N/A
Number of records	120,000 Museum records from 7000 stations (NIWA has a total of 25,000 stations).
GIS compatibility.	The database is not on GIS. Locations are included so it is likely that it will eventually be on GIS.
Available formats for users.	The database is on MS Access. User requests are usually responded to in Excel.
Access constraints.	There is no charge for the data but there is a cost to extract the information ($100/search).
Measurement Accuracy	To be completed by database manager.
Completeness of dataset	To be completed by database manager.
Positional accuracy	To be completed by database manager.
Database steward	NIWA
Database custodian	NIWA
Database custodian contact person	Dick Singleton
Database custodian Contact Address Phone Fax Email	PO Box 14 901 Kilbirnie Wellington +64 4 386 0300 +64 4 386 2153 r.singleton@niwa.co.nz
References	Numerous monographs of taxonomic groups.
Date metadata record prepared.	June 2000
Author of metadata record.	Victoria Froude

 

Management Evaluation
Original purpose.	To catalogue the NIWA Museum collection
Relationships with classification systems.	The database uses NRDC codes. This is a hierarchical taxonomic code that allows sorting by phylum, order and family.
Relationships with other databases	The database is evolving so that it will be able to link with data sets of physical parameters. The NIWA station database can facilitate the linking of biological and physical data.
Known relationships with proposed EPIP indicators.	Not known
Database uses?	The database is used for species taxonomic and ecological studies primarily by NIWA biologists. There are also some outside organisation requests.
Public awareness of the database	Low
Database strengths.	This is one of the most comprehensive collections of deepwater species anywhere There is excellent coverage of non coastal waters There is a big range of species included in the database
Database limitations.	Early data was entered from paper sheets by students onto an old computer system with no screen. This has created some accuracy problems. There is poor coverage of coastal waters shallower than 30m deep because most material comes from ships.

 

What are the Current and Emerging Uses of the Database for:
Assisting with determining historic state/baseline.	There is not time series data and so records are usually not sufficient for determining historic baselines. There are some exceptions where more detailed information exists, e.g. Marlborough Sounds.
Assisting with determining current state/baseline.	The database can identify species distribution, and biological assemblages.
Assisting with modeling possible future outcomes.	Not possible
Risk assessment.	The database can identify the approximate location of rare species. It can be used to identify biological assemblages on pipeline routes.
Monitoring site selection and sample design.	N/A
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally or nationally.	N/A