Type Reference/Voucher Collections

This project is for accessioning observations on iNaturalist that are part of Type collections published in the literature.

There are three fields in this project:

1. Prepublication names:
   New species reference and name (https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/8546)
   [for undescribed species with a conspectus name, MS name, checklist name or place holder]
   This field allows quick access to all specimens of the specific undescribed species. (but it depends on consistent use of the name - kiss).
   Because undescribed species are not included in the iNaturalist taxonomy dictionary, this is the primary link on the platform to unpublished names.

2. Collector (Herbarium/Museum) collection number:
   Specimen Herbarium/Museum Voucher Number (https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7437)
   This provides the link to the voucher or type specimen.

3. Type of type:
   Type illustrations (https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/14451)
   This field specifies the type form of the specimen, and is the master link to all type specimens on iNaturalist.

How you enter the data depends on your activities.

• Surveillance and monitoring studies by Citizen Scientists would probably use https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/redlist-s-afr
This is the primary data collection project for CREW and the Red Listing projects.

• Taxonomists and collectors posting undescribed species (primarily to try and get users to find new localities and help with distribution and variation) would use https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/undescribed-species-and-taxa
Taxonomists would probably also use this project to access observations for distributions and illustrations and vouchers, when preparing species descriptions.

• Collectors (and taxonomists) adding illustrations to voucher specimens submitted to herbaria/museums/data banks would probably use https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/specimens-collected-s-afr

• Taxonomists collecting voucher specimens and documenting the use of iNaturalist material for publication would probably use https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/type-reference-voucher-collections

Note that these projects share the same data fields. Which specific project is largely immaterial for data capture, and will depend on user preferences and experience.
However for extracting data, it is recommended that you filter on the observation fields rather than the projects. You can also download data from the filter box for use/analysis in spreadsheets (please see the discussion within the observation fields for nuances in downloading filtered data).

Posted on December 2, 2021 07:27 AM by tonyrebelo