TreeeX: Exploring the Diversity of Tree Species

Abstract

The GlobalTreeSearch database provides a mapping between 60,065 tree species known to science and the countries where these trees grow. TreeeX is a visual exploration system that supports multifaceted analyses of the GlobalTreeSearch data. Focusing on the entire earth or a group of countries, investigating research questions on biodiversity are visually supported by interactive choropleth maps that color countries according to frequency, diversity, or uniqueness of prevalent tree species. Focusing on a single country, similarities and differences to other countries can be analyzed in detail. Several examples outline the system's capability of delivering insights concerning the geographical diversity of tree species.