Scientists Launch Massive Plant Database with Information from Species Across the Globe

Scientists have taken a big step forward when it comes to plant research. Botanists have launched a database with information that documents significant events for nearly 600 plants species across the globe. The findings could help with future research in plants.

As our climate changes and human populations increase, it's important to examine how plants are being re-shaped through their distribution and even through their very genetics. That's why the scientists created the new database, called the COMPADRE Plant Matrix database. They hope that it will help foster collaborations between scientists in order to answer questions such as how best to conserve species.

"We hope that other scientists will use these data to answer questions such as why, unlike humans, some plants don't deteriorate as they age, why some environments are better for agriculture than others, and how fast plant populations will move in response to climate change," said Yvonne Buckley, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Making the database freely available is our 21^st Century revamp of the similarly inspired investments in living plant collections that were made to botanic gardens through the centuries; these were also set up to bring economic, medicinal and agricultural advantages of plants to people all over the world. Our database is moving this gift into the digital age of 'Big Data.'"

The database itself houses information that's been collected over the past 48 years by many scientists on five continents. This means that the database represents one of the most complete to date, and allows researchers to keep track of everything from reproduction to lifespan in plants.

Moving forward, the new database could help further plant research and perhaps even inspire new questions to explore. Because the database is freely available, scientists across the world can now utilize its information.

The findings are published in the Journal of Ecology.

Want to learn more? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.