An Anatomical Ontology for the Class Collembola (Arthropoda: Hexapoda)

Abstract

Communication in science requires standardized terminology with concepts unified that facilitate the processing and exploration of information in any knowledge domain. The morphology is not the exception; however, it has challenged problems, called “the linguistic problem of the morphology”, which is related to the processing of morphological data result of taxonomic work. Ontologies, standardized vocabularies expressed through language parsable (Resource Description Framework, RDF) by machines, are proposed to resolve the linguistic problems in morphology. Springtails are dominants in the soil and other types of habitats with ca 9000 described species. The anatomical terms employed in Collembola are not exempt from problems such as the presence of homonyms related to the chaetotaxy, idiosyncratic language employed in morphological descriptions, and lack of consensual definitions of anatomical terms, which difficult the comparison of morphological data. Collembola Anatomy Ontology (CLAO) is built according to principles established by The OBO Foundry and includes 1554 anatomical terms for the region of the cuticle, appendages, anatomical systems, and cells. CLAO is directed toward morphological descriptions and the production of phenotypic data produced from taxonomic and anatomical works before the obtaining of homologies in a phylogenetic framework. Also, to increase the interoperability with other anatomical ontologies for Arthropoda and knowledge domains.