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Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.

Catalog of Publications 2001

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P.O. Box 1644

Austin, Texas   78767-1644

 

Email comments or bad link reports to:  TSNL_Inc@ATT.Net

 

TSNL Background Information

The Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc. (TNSL) was founded by Texas educators and scientists to provide lands for research and teaching; to assemble historical data records; to increase knowledge and understanding of natural processes; to investigate ecological equilibrium; and to learn more about how to restore and preserve it.  TSNL was chartered July 18, 1967, under State of Texas laws, as a non-profit, charitable, educational corporation.  TSNL is a publicly supported, tax-exempt organiza­tion.  Representatives from Texas colleges and universities now direct TSNL in services to the 193 general academic institutions who are its members.

From the outset, the concept of TSNL was that of a system of natural laboratories where scientists and students could carry out a continuing program of research and teaching in the field of Ecology.  The main objective was the development of scientific information, both fundamental and applied, which would be of value to the people and the industries of Texas in preserving and enhancing the utility and productivity of natural resources, and in improving quality of life.  Furthermore, through interlocking relationships with other institutions of higher learning in other states, information was to be shared as a contribution to the national welfare.  This concept has remained intact.  It has dominated the thinking of scientists and administrators, business and professional advisors, and contributors as they have planned and worked together to combine teachers and students, land and resources into a viable system.

The Laboratory Index Series came into being in 1973, and regional inventories were added by 1976.  Regional inventories were being developed for the seven natural geographical regions of Texas, each of 36 counties or more.  The Water Matrix is a work in progress coded to Texas counties by Texas regions.  The Ecological Atlas of Texas is a series of biogeographical inventories of species coded to river and coastal basins, bay/estuary and gulf/ocean sys­tems, and counties.  All TSNL publications are keyed to the International Base Line Data Coding System (IBLDCS), the TSNL methodology for recording historical data records from the natural and social sciences for purposes of teaching and research.

The TSNL Ecological Database of 1996 represents the first software application of the IBLDCS.  Three primary types or dimensions of information comprise the databases:  1) systematic data including scientific name, authority, date of description, and common name; 2) geographic distributions; and 3) supporting bibliographic references with full citations.  Data presently has been compiled for the seagrasses, a work in progress (Texas plants), fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds of Texas.  In addition, the fish database includes habitats added to distributions, while the bird database has occurrence information (seasonality, breeding, etc.) as a fourth data dimension.  The software application provides a simple Windows-compatible, menu-driven interface that drives multidimensional queries, graphing, and report production.

The present database software allows students and researchers to obtain extensive data on fish, amphibian, reptile and bird species within the geographic scope of the work without investing a large amount of time and resources in library searches and reorganization of the data.  The databases can be queried from the standpoint of species, distributions, references, or occurrences.  The TSNL application can provide a distribution list for each species and a species list for each distribution category, along with appropriate literature citations.  Histogram type graphs provide a rough estimate of species abundance for distribution and occurrence categories, as based on literature citations.  Both graphs and query reports can be easily printed.  The compiled references include many informative but inaccessible sources such as Federal  studies on the Continental Shelf fauna and Texas Parks and Wildlife reports.

Program for Services

More students doing fieldwork.

More land for teaching and research.

More species/biogeographical inventories.

More interinstitutional cooperation.

Print Publications

 

International Base Line Data Coding Sys­tem:  A Methodology for Interrelating Resource Data Records and Developing Analyses of Resource Problems.  Second Edition.  Travis, N.T., (Ed. in Chief and Proj. Dir.), L. Margulis (Contr. Ed.), and C.R. Smith (Tech. and Design Ed.).  2000.  TSNL Laboratory Index Series No. LIS‑IBLDCS‑2000.  xxiv + 136 pp., paper.  Price:  $35.00 (plus $5.00 P&H).

The International Base Line Data Coding System (IBLDCS) provides access to published and unpublished data on physical and biological resources.  Intended areas of use for the IBLDCS and its associated databases include teaching, research, and analysis of resource problems.  While the IBLDCS adopts hierarchical coding of its resource categories, its flexibility allows addition or deletion of codes without altering the general structure.  A particular project may use restricted sections of the coding, but with added detail appropriate to the data involved.  The IBLDCS retains its flexibility across the computer database of resource information that serves as the foundation for printed and software TSNL publications.  This system provides not only a way to organize resource information in a multidimensional database but also a way to analyze the data from different perspectives.

Ecological Atlas of Texas Series

Independent dimensions or types of information comprise the current databases in the Ecological Atlas of Texas series.  Systematic data including scientific name, authority, date of description, and common name; geographical distributions; and supporting bibliographic references are common to all databases.  Compiled references include many informative but inaccessible sources such as Federal studies and Texas Parks and Wildlife reports. The series volumes provide a distribution list for each species and a species list for each distribution.  Students and researchers can obtain extensive data without investing time and resources in library searches and reorganization of the data.

Freshwater and Marine Fishes of Texas and the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico.  Travis, N.T. (Proj. Dir.).  Hubbs, C., J.D. McEachran, and C.R. Smith (Eds.).  1994.  TSNL Laboratory Index Series No. FTX/NWGM-94.  xviii + 270 pp., 3 maps, paper.  Price:  $75.00 (plus $5.00 P&H).

This volume inventories over 1000 fish species found in Texas and the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico.  In the taxonomic list of Part 1, nearly 200 coded categories provide geographic and ecological distributions for each fish species.  The distribution inventory of Part 2 catalogs the fishes reported for each distributional category.  Distributions are organized as river and coastal basins, northwestern Gulf of Mexico areas, and habitats.  Approximately 500 references from the Texas System of Natural Laboratories library document the systematic and distributional material.   The compiled references include many informative but inaccessible sources such as government studies on the Continental Shelf fauna.

Birds of Texas.  Travis, N.T. (Proj. Dir.).  Arnold, K.A., and C.R. Smith (Eds.).  1997.  TSNL Laboratory Index Series No. BTX-97.  Four volumes, 400+ pp. per volume, paper.  Price per volume:  $75.00 or per four volume set:  $250.00 (plus $5.00 P&H per volume).

The Birds of Texas volumes inventory over 600 Texas bird species in 64 families.  In the taxonomic list of Volume I, nearly 300 coded categories including all Texas counties, provide geographical distribution information for each bird species.  The distribution inventory of Volume II catalogs the birds reported for each distributional category.  Volume III presents all bird information grouped by the occur­rence categories of season, breeding, and population status.  Volume IV lists each bibliographic reference with its species, geographic coverage, and species occurrence data.  Over 400 references from the Texas System of Natural Laboratories library document the systematic, distributional, and occurrence material.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas.  Travis, N.T. (Proj. Dir.).  Dixon, J.R., and C.R. Smith (Eds.).  1999.  TSNL Laboratory Index Series No. HTX-99.  xviii + 519 pp., paper.  Price:  $75.00 (plus $5.00 P&H).

The present volume inventories the 200+ plus amphibian and reptile species found in Texas.  In the taxonomic list of Part 1, county and barrier island categories provide geographical distribution information for each species.  The distribution inventory of Part 2 catalogs the amphibians and reptiles reported for each distributional category and furnishes a second perspective on the data.  Part 3 enumerates species and distributions for each compiled reference.  Over 900 references from the Texas System of Natural Laboratories library document the systematic and distributional material.  Source materials include Dixon's (1987) Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas and Raun and Gehlbach's (1972) Bulletin 2:  Amphibians and Reptiles in Texas.

Mammals of Texas.  Currently in development.  Available Fall/Winter 2001.  Price:  $75.00 (plus $5.00 P&H).

The Mammals of Texas will inventory nearly 200 Texas mammal species.  In the taxonomic list of Volume I, nearly 300 coded categories including all Texas counties, provide geographical distribution information for each mammal species.  The distribution inventory of Volume II catalogs the mammals reported for each distributional category.  Volume III lists each bibliographic reference with its species and geographic coverage.  Over 800 references from the Texas System of Natural Laboratories library document the systematic and distributional material.  Source materials include Davis and Schmidly’s (1994) Mammals of Texas and numerous Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reports.

Distribution or Species Database Reports

TSNL can provide species lists for individual distributions and distributions for individual species.  Reports include supporting literature citations.  Distributions are counties for amphibians, reptiles, and birds, and river basins, coastal basins, Gulf of Mexico areas, and offshore banks for fish.  The charge for this service is $11.00 per report (includes $1.00 P&H).

Software Publications

TSNL Ecological Database Version 1.0.  1996, 2000.  Austin:  Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.

TSNL Ecological Database Application. (required to access databases below) $50.00

Freshwater and Marine Fishes of Texas and the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Database.  $50.00

Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas Database.  $50.00

Birds of Texas Database.  $50.00

Mammals of Texas Database.  $50.00.  Currently in development.  Available Fall/Winter 2001.

Prices include 8.25% Sales Tax.  Postage and Handling:  $5.00/order.

The TSNL Ecological Database represents a software application of the International Base Line Data Coding System (Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc. 1982).  Three primary types or dimensions of information comprise the databases:  1) systematic data including scientific name, authority, description date, and common name; 2) geographic distributions; and 3) supporting bibliographic references.  In addition, the fish database includes habitats added to distributions, while the bird database has occurrence information (seasonality, breeding, etc.) as a fourth data dimension.  Borland International’s or Corel Corporation’s Paradox Runtime for Windows is a database shell program included with the TSNL Ecological Database Application to access any available TSNL databases.  The software application provides a simple Windows-compatible, menu-driven interface that drives multidimensional queries, graphing, and report production.

 

The present database software allows students and researchers to obtain extensive data on fish, herp and bird species within the geographic scope of the work without investing a large amount of time and resources in library searches and reorganization of the data.  The databases can be queried from the standpoint of species, distributions, references, or occurrences.  The TSNL application can provide a distribution list for each species or a species list for each distribution category, along with appropriate literature citations.  Both graphs and query reports can be easily printed.  The compiled references include many informative but inaccessible sources such as Federal  studies on the Continental Shelf fauna and Texas Parks and Wildlife reports.

Sample Species Lists for Selected Texas Localities:

Fish:  Colorado River Basin, Galveston Bay, West Flower Garden Bank

Amphibians and Reptiles:  Brewster County, Cameron County, Travis County

Birds:  Brewster County, Cameron County, Travis County

 

Hardware:  80386/80486 or higher microprocessor, 6–8 MB (8-12 MB recommended) RAM, EGA or higher video monitor, mouse (recommended).

Up to 36 MB of free hard disk space:  8-13 MB for Paradox Runtime for Windows Files, 5 MB for temporary files, 1 MB for TSNL Ecological Database Application Files, 3 MB for Fish Database, 3 MB for Amphibians and Reptiles Database, 11 MB for Bird Database.

Software:  Version 3.1 or later Microsoft7 Windows.  Use of Version 5 or 9 Paradox for Windows is optional (Paradox Runtime for Windows Version 5 or 9 is supplied by TSNL).

Network:  Not required but any network that is 100% Windows compatible is supported.

 

 

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Last revised: July 18, 2001