Ecogeographic Surveys

The analysis of ecogeographic data can be much easier when a Geographic Information System (GIS) is used. A GIS is a database management system dedicated to handling geographically referenced spatial data (such as coordinates for site location, topography) in a graphical form together with logically related, non-spatial data (e.g. species name, morphological characters).

A GIS is a highly adaptable mapping system, which can easily cope with a wide range of geographical, ecological and biological data sets. Once cartographic data from existing maps (which will often be at different scales), aerial photographs, field surveys, remote sensing etc. are in digital form, they can be manipulated and analysed in various ways. For example, different data sets can be superimposed on a computer screen to enable direct visual comparisons.

Among other uses, a GIS makes it easier to infer features of collecting sites for which no data were recorded at the time of collection, and to locate areas with particular combinations of ecological characteristics which could be targeted for future collecting. Computer programmes are already available which will carry out such analyses.