"Database" - what is it, definition of the term
«Database» представляет собой электронный набор структурированных данных, упорядоченных согласно выбранной модели (реляционной, документной, графовой и др.) и предназначенных для быстрого доступа, изменения и администрирования. Система управления обеспечивает хранение информации в виде таблиц, записей и полей, а также поддерживает связи между элементами, гарантируя целостность и согласованность данных. Использование такой организации позволяет реализовать эффективные запросы, масштабируемость и надёжную защиту информации.
Detailed information
A data repository designed for biological records stores information on arthropods such as ticks, true bugs, lice, and fleas. Each entry includes taxonomic identifiers, collection locality, host details, and observation dates, enabling comprehensive analysis of population dynamics and disease vectors.
Key structural elements of such a repository include:
- Tables that separate taxonomic hierarchy, specimen metadata, and ecological measurements.
- Fields defining attributes like species name, developmental stage, and geographic coordinates.
- Indexes on taxon codes and location coordinates to accelerate retrieval.
- Relationships enforcing referential integrity between specimens and their associated sampling events.
Data integrity mechanisms prevent duplication and ensure consistency. Primary keys uniquely identify each record, while foreign keys link specimens to collection events. Constraints on field formats (e.g., ISO‑8601 dates, WGS‑84 coordinates) reduce entry errors.
Query languages provide precise extraction of subsets. Structured queries can isolate all records of a specific louse species collected within a defined time frame, or aggregate flea occurrences by region for epidemiological mapping. Export functions support standard formats such as CSV, JSON, and XML for downstream analysis.
Integration with taxonomic databases and geographic information systems enriches the repository. Cross‑referencing with external nomenclatural resources validates species names, while spatial layers enable mapping of vector distributions relative to environmental variables.
Maintenance procedures include regular backups, performance monitoring, and schema evolution to accommodate new data types, such as molecular markers or resistance profiles. These practices sustain the repository’s reliability as a central resource for entomological research and public health surveillance.