"BIFloraExplorer": A Taxonomic, Genetic, and Ecological Data Resource for the Vascular Plants of Britain and Ireland.

Abstract

The vascular flora of Britain and Ireland is a historically well-documented and clearly delimited study system that offers itself to large-scale analyses of ecology and species assemblages. However, such analyses require clean, curated, and taxonomically resolved data, which are often unavailable. In this chapter, we describe how to access and use a key data resource that combines a taxonomically stable species list with genetic data (genome size, chromosome counts, and DNA barcode information), ecological information (such as life-form, realized niche description, and geographic origin) and distribution records. The data resource enables and encourages the study of natural ecological and evolutionary patterns and processes within the vascular flora of Britain and Ireland.