Recommendations for making lichen observations that will be identifiable!

Recommendations for making lichen observations on iNaturalist that will be identifiable!

1. Become familiar with the iNaturalist platform.
   This applies to both contributors and researchers.

2. Take clear, well-lit pictures.
   Quality is essential. Must be in focus. Light balance and colour must be good. Take many pictures, discard poor quality. Post-process pictures.

3. Consider your photographical equipment.
   Cellular phones: augment with hand lenses for magnification. Use tripods and stabilizing devices.
   Cameras: use tripod and timed delay.

4. Take multiple pictures of relevant structures at multiple magnifications from all angles.
   usually includes (a) the entire individual from a distance (b) multiple close-ups of reproductive structures from different angles (c) also include pictures of the lower surface, or other hidden parts.

5. Record what the species is growing on or in.
   Substrate information is often as important as a picture for identification.

6. Include microscope images and chemical tests.
   Photograph through a microscope, or photograph the chemical tests.

7. Add extensive notes.
   include substrate, habitat, descriptions of hidden characters, measurements of microscopic characters (spores, etc.), outcomes of chemical tests.

8. Limit the amount of disturbance.
   Some species require collection for ID: Get permits. Collect the minimum. Deposit vouchers in herbaria.
   (or accept that ID to family, genus or complex is fine).

9. Avoid immature individuals.
   These often cannot be identified, as reproductive organs are invariably needed.

10. Obscure locality data for rare species.
    (iNat does this automatically for sensitive species, and we have no known sensitive lichens on the subcontinent)

11. Limit reliance on machine generated identifications.
    (esp. where specialists have not vetted IDs and thus helped train the AI). Beware of identifying finer than possible.

from:
R. Troy McMullin and Jessica L. Allen (2022) An assessment of data accuracy and best practice recommendations for observations of lichens and other taxonomically difficult taxa on iNaturalist. Botany 100: 491–497 https://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2021-0160

Posted on September 26, 2023 11:41 AM by tonyrebelo