THE BIODIVERSITY DATABASE IN LITHUANIA—DISTRIBUTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract
The DBMS software, currently being used for the Biodiversity database management, developed by the project group “Ecological diversity of Lithuania” and currently maintained at the Institute of Ecology (Vilnius, Lithuania), is Borland® Paradox®, mainly Paradox® for DOS ver. 4.5. The relational structure of the database contains minimum of coding and allows to perform data management and all basic outputs, using forms and reports of the standard interface, it does not require special programs or applications in DBMS environment. The database contains a taxonomic and literature citation blocks, species distribution data files (Budrys, 1998, in press). Particular data block of the database contains lists of geographic names, and habitat information. These files are linked to a master file with records related to 1×1 km grid of territory, designed as a raster database. For particular purposes of inexperienced user, a minimized regional version of the database (RBIDB) with a user-friendly interface was created, compatible with the Biodiversity database. It allows to manage data on the local faunistic lists of species, distribution of species in the region, phenological data, abundance of species in particular localities and territories, digitized boundaries of protected and other important territories, and additional textual information on species, localities and territories.