Goal: to develop a network for communication among scientists and to provide access to relevant scientific information that is constructed to simulate a phylogenetic hierarchy, with nested sets of increasing inclusivity, to which users can connect at nodes that match their scientific interest.
Description: The network will be constructed with the phylogeny of green plants as its basis. Initially, a selected group of clades will be identified (this may be subdivided ever more finely as demand increases). An individual can register at any node (or more than one node) and be able to participate in social interactions and have access to information sources that are within the clade for which one is registered.
For example, a hierarchy might include the following set of increasingly exclusive clades (starting with Green Plants, which would be the global set): Green Plants > Land Plants > Tracheophytes > Seed Plants > Angiosperms > Eudicots > Asteridae > Lamiales > Lamiaceae. Someone doing systematic research in Lamiaceae, but not particularly interested in broader taxonomic work (hence not wanting his/her mailbox filled with information pertaining to other groups of plants), can elect to register at the node for "Lamiaceae." Similarly, someone broadly interested in angiosperm phylogeny, but not particularly interested in non-flowering plants could register at "Angiosperms." One can register for as many nodes as one likes; for example, someone interested in both "Lamiaceae" and "Fabaceae" could register for both nodes, rather than registering for "Eudicots" and having to filter through unwanted information.
An initial framework with a limited set of nodes will be set up as a starting point. This will necessarily have to balance the interest in having sufficient exclusive nodes to attract the practicing taxonomists who have a relatively narrow focus and the complexity of setting up a network with a very detailed phylogenetic network. The system should be constructed so that new nodes can be entered, either at tips or along internal branches without having to rewire the entire network. In many social networking sites, users may define groups to which they belong. Ideally, this could be set up so that a group of users can define a "clade" and the hierarchy will fill out according to interest of users.
An example of a similar network is the "Consortium for the Barcode of Life" network (http://connect.barcodeoflife.net/). This is a 'facebook' type of network with various interest groups to which one can connect. While their structure is not explicitly hierarchical, many of the groups are specific to taxonomic groups, so functions to a certain extent like a taxonomic social network.
An underlying content management system (CMS) that permits individuals to register and provide information about themselves and their taxonomic interests in a simple web page format (from which them may make links to more detailed pages of their own design) will simplify individual registration. This CMS also could be a database for phylogenetically structured data/information.
Enhancements. While this may start as a simple social network, we envision this to expand to be a data and information network that retains the same phylogenetic framework. We believe that the power of this network to provide some tangible resources in a phylogenetically organized way is one of the benefits that will attract participation world-wide. Some of the following are ideas that we would like to see implemented.
Questions:
What if someone were broadly interested in "Angiosperms," but not particularly interested in "Asteridae?" Could this be set up so that the person registers at "Angiosperms" and can choose to filter out communications and information sources for an included node, such as "Asteridae?" In other words, can someone self define a paraphyletic group? For example, could someone interested in 'bryophytes' register at "Land Plants" and opt-out of "Tracheophytes?"
How can we construct a bibliographic database that doesn't impinge copyright laws, yet still helps participants in places without full access to literature to obtain publications electronically?
What nodes will our first hierarchy include?
How can we implement a system where new nodes can be user-defined, while assuring that the phylogeny remains correct? Perhaps we will need to establish a quite elaborate underlying network, with many, many nodes, most of which are hidden from view. If a group of users wants to create a new node (eg, "Solanum), hopefully it will be present in the underlying network. If it isn't, we will need a mechanism by which the network can be expanded in a refereed way, so that "Solanum" doesn't get placed outside of "Solanaceae."
Who will serve as moderators to make sure it stays on track and is not hijacked? We want users to define own interests and participation, but, at the same time, I don't think we want another Taxacom.