Dear Steve:

Thanks for getting us information on the tdwg-content via email discussion.  I am a taxonomist/systematist working with diverse insects and for the last two decades have been actively involved in biodiversity issues, specifically insect biodiversity.  Although I have not followed your continued discussion on the issue last fall, I thought I should raise several points on individual, population and species in the context of the tdwg-contents: DwC for the semantic web.

I am impressed with enthusiasm and dedication of the tdwg for biodiversity informatics.  Assuming your focus is primarily in the taxonomic context, your effort related to bio-informatics has a considerable impact on the issues related to biodiversity homogenization and biodiversity assessment.  This involves the first detection and establishment of invasive species that is expressed in terms of individual (specimen), population, or species related to location of discovery/detection and establishment of population in specific habitat unit.  Similarly, biodiversity assessment involves the defined spatial unit and community structure and assemblage that consists of individuals and population of resident species that could be small numbers to several hundreds of species.  I have not seen any discussion on the application of your effort under tdwg, although you may have already dealt with these issues of application for your work through your discussion.  I would like to know the position of your group on these application for your current discussion on hand.  Thanks for your response.

K. C. Kim
Ke Chung Kim, Ph. D., Dipl.-ABFE
Professor Emeritus and Curator
Department of Entomology,
Frost Entomological Museum, 127 Headhouse #3;
Tel: 814-863-2863; Fax: 814-865-3048 (ENT);
Director Emeritus, Center for BioDiversity Research
PSIEE, Land and Water Research Bldg.,
Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, PA 16802, U.S.A.;
Tel: 814-863-0159; Fax: 814-865-3378 (PSIEE)
Home: 213 Morningside Circle, State college, PA 16803-1347
Tel: 814-234-1718; Fax: 814-234-8327
Founding Chair, Board of the DMZ Forum, Inc., NY
http://www.ento.psu.edu/Personnel/Faculty/kim.htm