The Global Population Dynamics Database

As a source of animal and plant population data, The Global Population Dynamics Database is unrivalled. Nearly five thousand separate time series are available here. In addition to all the population counts, there are taxonomic details of over 1400 species. The type of data contained in the GPDD varies enormously, from annual counts of mammals or birds at individual sampling sites, to weekly counts of zooplankton and other marine fauna.
The project commenced in October 1994, following discussions on ways in which the collaborating partners could make a practical and enduring contribution to research into population dynamics. A small team was assembled and, with assistance and advice from numerous interested parties we decided to construct the database using the popular Microsoft Access platform. After an initial design phase, the major task has been that of locating, extracting, entering and validating the data in all the various tables. Now, nearly 5000 individual datasets have been entered onto the GPDD.
The Global Population Dynamics Database comprises six Tables of data and information. The tables are linked to each other as shown in the diagram shown at http://cpbnts1.bio.ic.ac.uk/gpdd/Structur.htm. Referential integrity is maintained through record ID numbers which are held, along with other information in the Main Table. It's structure obeys all the rules of a standard relational database.

作为动植物种群数据的核心来源，全球种群动态数据库（Global Population Dynamics Database，以下简称GPDD）堪称无可比拟。平台内收录了近五千条独立时间序列数据。除各类种群计数信息外，还包含逾1400个物种的分类学细节。GPDD所涵盖的数据类型跨度极大，从单个采样点位的哺乳类或鸟类年度种群计数，到浮游动物及其他海洋动物类群的周度种群统计均有覆盖。
该项目始于1994年10月，缘起于合作各方围绕如何为种群动态研究提供切实可行且长效的科研支撑所开展的研讨。项目组组建了小型团队，并在众多相关方的协助与建议下，决定采用广受欢迎的Microsoft Access平台搭建该数据库。历经初始设计阶段后，核心工作转向在各数据表中完成数据的定位、提取、录入与校验。目前，已有近五千套独立数据集被录入GPDD。
GPDD共包含六组数据与信息数据表，各表间的关联关系可参见http://cpbnts1.bio.ic.ac.uk/gpdd/Structur.htm 中展示的示意图。数据库通过记录ID编号维持参照完整性，此类编号与其他相关信息一同存储于主数据表中。其结构完全遵循标准关系型数据库的各项规则。