Flag for Taxon: Subspecies Opuntia macrorhiza pottsii
| Flagger | Content Author | Content | Reason | Flag Created | Resolved by | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| davidferguson | Subspecies Opuntia macrorhiza pottsii |
I don't know if it can be fixed. The taxon swap was to species Opuntia pottsii, but taxon ID number for Opuntia macrorhiza is apparently there instead. The output from the swap seems to be confused now. I don't know how to fix it - if it can be? |
Sep. 9, 2019 18:47:40 +0000 | borisb |
Comments
I tried to add a comment to O. pottsii, but I can't figure out a way to do it. It's easy to comment on the swap itself, and on the flag these messages are connected to; but as you say, they will just be out of sight and buried for somebody posting a new observation, unless they hunt for them. The swapped taxon will continue to act mysteriously incorrectly. I did put a note on each of the instances (as you said - there were only a few), but that only helps if you look at those particular ones. I sent a note to the person who made the observations too (a second person had put the observation for the taxon on a totally different species, so that one is irrelevant).
I'm hopping around here, so hope I haven't lost you. Anyway, back to the main issue - do you know a way to add a little note to the species entry itself? What am I missing? Thanks much
I guess this is a good example that makes the point - tripple check, and then check again, and before you push "committ" check again. I'm not sure how I could have made the mistake - since I didn't enter a taxon ID number (not knowingly), I just wrote in the name O. pottsii, and committed. Can iNaturalist fill in the number automatically based on the species that is being swapped? That makes no sense. Anyway, it happened, and I appreciate the advice. I hate making a mess of things when I really am trying to do the opposite. :-(
"Anyway, back to the main issue - do you know a way to add a little note to the species entry itself? What am I missing? Thanks much"
Don't think so, but that shouldn't matter. Inactive taxa won't show up in searches etc. for the most part. Try it - you will find it rather difficult to navigate to https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/241859-Opuntia-macrorhiza-pottsii if you don't already have the link.
The other thing I would do is:
Add the name Opuntia macrorhiza ssp. pottsii as a synonym to https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/441424-Opuntia-pottsii
Remove that name from https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/165891-Opuntia-macrorhiza (I think this should work, not entirely sure)
Is this resolved?
I don't think there's any simple way to undo it. Luckily its not a big deal I think. There are only a few observations with the old subspecies designation: https://www.inaturalist.org/identifications?taxon_id=241859¤t=false
Only two people have ever used this taxon, and both are still active on iNat. I would suggest flagging them on each observation explaining what happened and asking them to change their ID.