Names issues in specimen databases

1. NAMES
Luc Brouillet
Herbier Marie-Victorin

2. Species Scientific Names
• are the handle by which we manipulate a
wealth of biological information
• are basic to classification systems
• are central to collection databasing efforts

3. Problem
• Internet-published collection databases are
deemed to be useful to all users
• if data are perceived as too difficult to use,
users will reject them
• who is responsible to ensure that the handles
used to organize information are adequate ?
– collection ?
– integrator ?
– user ?

4. Names in taxonomy
• overarching goal of taxonomy :
one name per taxon
• impediments :
– taxon concepts
– large number of taxon names not typified or not
associated to accepted names
• all kinds of names in collections
• identification errors

5. Types of species/infraspecies names
found in collections - 1
• not problematic :
– accepted names
– homotypic synonyms of accepted names
– heterotypic synonyms of accepted names
aknowledged by specialists
– homonymous infraspecific names when infrataxa
are not recognized
– orthographic variants (nom. inval.) listed in
databases

6. Types of species/infraspecies names
found in collections - 2
• problematic :
– homonyms in different kingdoms (hemihomonyms)
– controversial heterotypic synonyms
– misused homonyms
– in part names
– sensu names
– orthographic variants not listed in databases
– published names not listed in databases
– unpublished names
– names with typos (incl. total fabrications) [usu corrected at entry]
– names with proper authority but incorrect rank (var. instead of f., etc.)
– anamorphs not associated with telomorphs (Fungi)
– authority issues

7. Name validation
• db main means of validating names
• complement : BHL
• nomenclature databases :
– names + citations
– without status evaluation
– without synonymy exc. basionyms + homotypic
• taxonomic databases (often regional) :
– names (+ citations)
– synonymy
– (sources)

8. Name Databases Issues
• extensive : best sources available
• complete : no
• accurate : not always
• contradictory between db : often
• internally contradictory : sometimes
• usage requires judgement and cannot be fully
automated

9. Taxonomic Databases Issues
• two types :
– specific taxonomic focus (ex. : ferns)
– regional focus
• up-to-date : often ± dated
• sources : not always provided
• congruence between db : not always
– taxonomic traditions/usages
– taxon concepts

10. Responsibility ?
• will end-users use data if names perceived as
having no coherence ?
– no
• who has the taxonomic expertise ?
• who is managing data ?
– collection data managers
• but who has tools/resources ?
– integrators
– IT specialists

11. Needs of data managers
• in collection db, most names are probably not
problematic
• IT tools to rapidly identify names that are
problematic
• more collaboration to improve names in
databases
• international consensus on taxonomy of taxa
based on systematic data