Integrated Taxonomic Information System facts for kids
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a group of government agencies working together. They are based in the United States but also include partners from Canada and Mexico. Their main goal is to create a reliable and organized list of all living things, like plants and animals. This system helps scientists and anyone interested in nature find correct information about different species.
ITIS started in 1996 as a project among several US government groups. Over time, it grew to include agencies from other countries, making it an international effort. Many experts in taxonomy (the science of classifying living things) help build and update the ITIS database. The main team that adds information works at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Contents
What is ITIS?
ITIS helps us understand the amazing variety of life on Earth. Imagine a giant library for all living things. ITIS is like that library, but it's online. It gives each species a special scientific name and groups them together based on how they are related. This helps scientists around the world use the same names for the same creatures.
Why is it important?
Having a consistent way to name and organize species is super important. It helps scientists:
- Talk about species without confusion.
- Track changes in nature, like if a species is becoming rare.
- Protect endangered animals and plants.
- Share information easily across different countries.
Working with the Catalogue of Life
ITIS works closely with an international group called Species 2000. Together, they create something called the Catalogue of Life. This is a huge list and index of all the known species in the world.
What is the Catalogue of Life's goal?
The Catalogue of Life aims to list every single species on Earth. By May 2012, they had already listed 1.4 million species! This was a big step towards their goal of listing 1.9 million species. This project helps us get a complete picture of all living organisms.
ITIS and the Encyclopedia of Life
ITIS and the Catalogue of Life are also very important for another big project called the Encyclopedia of Life. This encyclopedia, which started in May 2007, aims to create a webpage for every species on Earth. It uses information from ITIS and other sources to build a massive online resource for everyone to learn about life.
How ITIS Keeps Information Up-to-Date
The world of science is always changing. New research often helps us learn more about species. Scientists might discover new species, or they might find out that two species thought to be different are actually the same. They might also change how species are grouped together.
Checking the facts
Because science is always moving forward, the ITIS database is regularly updated. This means they add new information as it becomes available. Each record in ITIS shows how carefully it has been checked by experts. It's always a good idea to compare information from ITIS with other reliable sources, especially original scientific studies.
Who are the ITIS Partners?
ITIS is a partnership of many different government agencies and organizations. These partners work together to share information and expertise. Here are some of the main groups involved:
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (from Canada)
- Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO) (from Mexico)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)
- National Park Service (USA)
- NatureServe (USA)
- Smithsonian Institution (USA)
- United States Department of Agriculture (USA)
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (USA)
- United States Geological Survey (USA)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USA)
See also
In Spanish: Sistema Integrado de Información Taxonómica para niños
- Encyclopedia of Life
- PlantList
- Wikispecies
- World Register of Marine Species
