new terms for lagoon environment

[cmungall]

Hi, I’m Carla Floris, I work at the University of Padua with professor Giorgio Valle and I am involved on a metagenomic sequencing project on the Venice lagoon. I would like to use the environmental ontology, but many terms that I need to describe the lagoon are missing. For these reasons I would like to suggest a new term:

Brackish water biome Definition: aquatic biome with water that has more salinity than fresh water but not as much as seawater. Biome [i] Aquatic biome ENVO: 00002030 [i]-- Brackish water biome ENVO:new Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brackish

I would like also to change the definition of the term Lagoon ENVO:00000038

Old definition: A sheet of saline water separated from the open sea by sand or shingle banks. The sheet of water between an offshore reef, especially of coral and mainland. The sheet of water within a ring or horseshoe shaped atoll.

New definition: a body of comparatively salt or brackish water separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed send bank or coral reef or similar feature. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoon

Environmental features ENVO:00002297 Geographic features ENVO:00000000 Hydrographic features ENVO:00000002 [i]--coast ENVO:00000303 [p]-- coastal wetland ENVO:00000230 [i]-- lagoon ENVO: 00000038

And I would like to add three new terms: Open lagoon Definition: A lagoon that is connected with the open sea. Source: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna

Closed lagoon Definition: A lagoon that is surrounded by mainland. Source: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna

[i]--coast ENVO: 00000303 [p]--coastal wetland ENVO:00000230 [i]--lagoon ENVO:00000038 [i]--open lagoon ENVO:new [i]--closed lagoon ENVO:new

The other new term is: Atoll

Definition: An island of coral that encircles a lagoon partially or completely . Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atoll

[p]--coastal wetland ENVO:00000230 [i]--Atoll ENVO: new

Thanks, Carla Floris

Original comment by: caflo

[cmungall]

Logged In: YES user_id=1908421 Originator: NO

Hi Carla,

Thank you for your suggested terms. We are always looking to expand and improve the ontology, so they are very welcome.

We have an informal policy of allowing 1 week for comments before incorporating changes or including new terms.

You said that many terms that you need to describe the lagoon are missing, if you have any other lagoon related terms that you would like including please let us know. We are always looking for input from domain experts.

May I also ask where you found out about the Environment Ontology and how you plan to use it?

Thanks, Norman

Original comment by: normanmorrison

[cmungall]

• assigned_to: nobody --> normanmorrison

Original comment by: normanmorrison

[cmungall]

Logged In: YES user_id=456775 Originator: NO

atoll is already in envo.gaz the new defn of lagoon seems ok

Original comment by: ma11