Workshop I. Columbia University, New York City, Fall 2007

Workshop 1 tasks:

Steering committee: Review and establish conceptual framework

Theory working groups: 1) Describe central theory, hypotheses, objectives, and challenges of trait-based research; 2) Identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary trait-based research; 3) Identify Core Hypotheses and associated research agendas, as well as data gaps; 4) Identify the critical environmental metadata desirable for individual trait observations.

Trait working groups: 1) Define trait concepts and associated trait protocols (data dictionaries); 2) Where multiple protocols exist for a given trait concept, quantitatively define relationship betwee the trait values of various protocols (thesauri); 3) Coordinate with Technology working group to implement trait concepts and protocols into Ecological Metadata Language.

Cross-taxa working group: 1) Identify commonalities between and among traits for various taxa; 2) How extensible are plant trait methods to other taxa? 3) Identify and recruit additional participants within their field of expertise.

Technology working group: 1) Develop near-term database schema to accommodate trait
concepts, taxon concepts and environmental metadata; 2) Develop trait concept and protocol guidelines to ensure that TraitNet data dictionaries and thesauri will be compatible with formal ontologies under development at SEEK; 3) Work with Trait groups to document metadata in EML; 4) Develop long-term database schema to facilitate the incorporation of additional traits and taxa.

Education working group: Coordinate with Technology and Trait working groups to develop user friendly tools and protocols for trait annotation.

Workshop II. NCEAS, Santa Barbara, 2009

Theory working groups: Address Core Hypotheses with aggregated trait data, begin or continue analyses and manuscript preparation;

Trait working groups: 1) Review and finalize trait concepts, associated trait protocols; 2)
Publish trait concepts and associate trait protocols on website; 3) develop additional trait
concepts and protocols as additional participants join TraitNet.

Technology working group: 1) Identify tools and infrastructure required to bring the TraitNet approach to the wider scientific community and the general public.

Education working group: Develop Educational Training Seminars to be presented at ESA and Evolution annual meetings (see Educational Training Seminars, below).

After workshop 2, Associate Coordinator, in collaboration with the Technology working group, will establish a web-enabled search mechanism for the model database and invite network participants to test and evaluate.

Principle and Associate Coordinators and core participants publish framework and summaries of cross-disciplinary challenges electronically and in journals, and present findings at national meetings. Associate Coordinator and working groups clarify cross-disciplinary challenges.

Workshop III. Columbia University, New York City, 2011

At Workshop 3:
1. Review handbook sections
2. Review proposed design for TraitBank
3. Develop timeline and challenges for the implementation of TraitBank

Principle and Associate Coordinators organize symposium at national meeting to review TraitNet’s findings.
Associate Coordinator; coordinates TraitNet participant finalization of handbook and plan for release prior to national meetings; organizes final training sessions. Representatives from the Education working group present seminars at ESA and Evolution annual scientific meetings.