Taxonomy has developed in practice over hundreds (or thousands) of years. Humans have always been interested in the world around them and using names to communicate what they know about the organisms that they see. From simple beginnings lost in the origins of human culture, this process has developed into taxonomy as we know it. Though it has become formalized, it is still mainly about learning about the organisms that we share the planet with and using names to communicate about them.

In order to do this, we have developed systems of nomenclature for applying names to organisms; collections of preserved organisms which serve to help us understand, document, and apply names to what we observe to be taxa (taxon concepts); and ways to document the information in publications. After 300+ years of generating these systems and collections, there is a vast body of existing knowledge that is used routinely in current taxonomic work. Additional sources of data have been added recently and been incorporated into workflow.

Understanding the information flow between different data and information sources as employed by taxonomists and others is important to model how interoperable data systems should connect. The results of an analysis of the data flow and working practices can be depicted in the following diagram. Standards and schemas employed for the different elements are identified. The diagram also indicates where interoperability between particular schemas must be developed.

We will present and explain the diagram, especially as it relates to the user needs presented at the opening of TDWG 2007. At the close of TDWG 2007, we will present it again in the context of the entire meeting’s discussions and presentations, with any amendments that have been shown to be needed.