From a textual checklist to an information system: The case study of ITALIC,the Information System on Italian Lichens

Abstract

Checklists are fundamental for accessing information about organisms known to occur in a given area. It is possible to convert textual, paper-printed checklists into structured digital formats. This process can eventually lead to the development of digital information systems, for which the output can be far more complex than a list of taxa. Digital information systems can be continuously updated by a constant flow of information, and their content can be exported in many other different formats, hence not only mobilising, but also making biodiversity data reusable on different platforms. The conversion of the Checklist of Italian Lichens into an information system is discussed, in order to provide some general guidelines of such a process.