Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference

Interactive online visualization tools increase accessibility of mammalian natural history databases for users of all backgrounds, aiding education, research, and policy assessment. Intuitive mapping algorithms can streamline access to and visualization of species distributions or species interactions. I built interactive maps for the Steppe Parasite Networks (STEPP-Net) project, a National Science Foundation funded grant that is focused on developing a better understanding of mammals and their associated parasites in Mongolia and other areas in Central Asia. My thesis applies interactive mapping techniques to the growing Mongolian mammal and parasite datasets held at the Museum of Southwestern Biology by using georeferenced mammal and parasite specimens to map 1) host distributions and 2) parasite distributions and associations. This interactive platform, available in both English and Mongolian, supports future research, within the STEPP-Net consortium and more broadly, by enabling visualization of host-parasite interactions across spatiotemporal scales. The maps also serve to enrich educational activities for students and community scientists, by providing opportunities to explore biodiversity interactions across Central Asia. The platform is accompanied by a module intended for classroom use that guides educators and students through the process of using the map, Global Biotic Interactions website, and Arctos database. By translating the platform into Mongolian, it enhances place-based classroom usability and facilitates education, research, and management efforts for Mongolian and Central Asian biodiversity on regional and international scales.