VegCore data dictionary

VegCore combines 360+ terms from existing vegetation data formats

Notes:

  • In the data dictionary, terms are placed in the table they are most applicable to.
    In a VegCore export, they can also be placed in any other table they apply to, according to how the data is normalized.
  • Some links point to a location within a text file. For these links, mouse over the link to see the location within the file.

Examples

Example specimen data

See ACAD.Specimen.csv1, which contains well-formed Darwin Core data.

1 The dataset is from ACAD, a Canadensys herbarium, so it's public domain.
.

Index

Tables

Source
Method
Project
Event
Coordinates
Location
LocationObservation
Subplot
SubplotObservation
GeologicalContext
Community
Occurrence
Taxon
TaxonConcept
TaxonOccurrence
TaxonDetermination
TaxonObservation
AggregateObservation
Individual
IndividualObservation
Stem
StemObservation
Specimen
Voucher
Measurement
ResourceRelationship

Terms

Namespaces

DwC

Darwin Core

VegCore is a superset, adding ~200 terms to Darwin Core
Note that this is a superset of the concepts in Darwin Core, not necessarily with the same term names

TCS

Taxonomic Concept Schema

VegX

VegBank

SALVIAS

CTFS

Center for Tropical Forest Science

schema

BIEN2

web schema | core schema | databases

VegBIEN

VegCore

The namespace of all terms in this data dictionary
This is the implied namespace of terms with no explicit namespace

Special

OMIT

The field contains data but should be omitted

Comments: The reason for omission should be described in the mapping's comments

PRIVATE

The field contains private data which should be omitted from a public database

UNUSED

The field does not contain any data

Comments: The following query should return no rows: SELECT * FROM table WHERE field IS NOT NULL

Source

a "reference[...] cited within the database" (VegBank)

Synonyms:

Reference

From: VegBank

Record

From: DwC

datasource

Synonyms: BIEN2:dataSourceName

Related: DwC:institutionCode

type

Synonyms:

dcterms_type

From: DwC

referenceType

Values: herbarium, primary database, aggregator, …

Synonyms: VegBank:referenceType, BIEN2:aggregatorOrPrimary, BIEN2:isHerbarium

modified

"I think is this merely an internal timestamp indicated when record last modified, not necessarily when determination (taxon name) last modified" (Brad Boyle)

Synonyms:

dcterms_modified

From: DwC

language

Synonyms:

dcterms_language

From: DwC

rights

Synonyms:

dcterms_rights

From: DwC

rightsHolder

Synonyms:

dcterms_rightsHolder

From: DwC

accessRights

Synonyms:

dcterms_accessRights

From: DwC

bibliographicCitation

Synonyms:

dcterms_bibliographicCitation

From: DwC

references

Synonyms:

dcterms_references

From: DwC

institutionID

From: DwC

collectionID

From: DwC

datasetID

From: DwC

institutionCode

From: DwC

collectionCode

From: DwC

datasetName

From: DwC

ownerInstitutionCode

From: DwC

basisOfRecord

From: DwC

informationWithheld

From: DwC

dataGeneralizations

From: DwC

dynamicProperties

From: DwC

Method

"A specific method definition followed in the creation of the dataset. Each method links to a protocol and literature citation reference. A protocol may have many method or steps." (VegX)

From: VegX

Related: VegBank:stratumMethod, VegBank:coverMethod

Synonyms:

SamplingProtocol

From: DwC

samplingProtocolID

Related: samplingProtocol

Named like: occurrenceID

samplingProtocol

From: DwC

samplingEffort

From: DwC

observationType

Values: plot, specimen

From: BIEN2

observationMeasure

Synonyms: SALVIAS:observation_type, VegBIEN:observationmeasure, DwC:samplingProtocol

Project

A "project established to collect vegetation plot data. Each plot originates as part of a project." (VegBank)

From: VegX, VegBank

projectID

"A reference to a specific 'project'" (VegX)

From: VegX

projectName

"Title of the project" (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:title, VegX:plotName

projectStartDate

"Project start date" (VegBank)

Related: VegBank:startDate, VegX:obsStartDate

projectEndDate

"Project stop date" (VegBank)

Related: VegBank:stopDate, VegX:obsEndDate

Event

"an action that occurs at a place and during a period of time" (DwC)

From: DwC (fields)

eventID

From: DwC

eventDate

"The date-time or interval during which an Event occurred" (DwC)

From: DwC

startDate

"The start date" (VegX) of the "interval during which an Event occurred" (DwC)

Synonyms: VegX:obsStartDate

Related: DwC:eventDate

Comments: Table removed because a date range usually applies to the event

endDate

"The end date" (VegX) of the "interval during which an Event occurred" (DwC)

Synonyms: VegX:obsEndDate

Related: DwC:eventDate

Comments: Table removed because a date range usually applies to the event

eventTime

From: DwC

startDayOfYear

From: DwC

endDayOfYear

From: DwC

year

From: DwC

month

From: DwC

day

From: DwC

verbatimEventDate

From: DwC

habitat

From: DwC

authorEventCode

Named like: authorPlotCode, Event

Synonyms:

fieldNumber

From: DwC

fieldNotes

From: DwC

eventRemarks

From: DwC

Coordinates

A numerically-defined location

From: CTFS:v5

decimalLatitude

From: DwC

acceptedDecimalLatitude

Related: DwC:decimalLatitude, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

decimalLongitude

From: DwC

acceptedDecimalLongitude

Related: DwC:decimalLongitude, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

coordinateSource

Where the coordinates came from

Values: source data, GPS, georeferencing

Synonyms:

coordinateSource_bien

From: VegBIEN

longitude_DMS

Related: DwC:Longitude

Comments: Added units

latitude_DMS

Related: DwC:Latitude

Comments: Added units

verbatimCoordinates

From: DwC

verbatimLatitude

From: DwC

verbatimLongitude

From: DwC

verbatimCoordinateSystem

From: DwC

verbatimSRS

From: DwC

geodeticDatum

From: DwC

coordinateUncertaintyInMeters

From: DwC

coordinatePrecision_deg

Related: DwC:coordinatePrecision

Comments: Added units

pointRadiusSpatialFit

From: DwC

footprintWKT

From: DwC

footprintSRS

From: DwC

footprintSpatialFit

From: DwC

geovalid

Synonyms: BIEN2:isGeovalid

latLongDomainValid

Whether the coordinates are in the range of valid decimal values

Synonyms: BIEN2:isValidLatLong

latLongDomainInvalid

Whether the coordinates are not in the range of valid decimal values

Synonyms: BIEN2:isBadLatLong

Named like: BIEN2:isValidLatLong

latLongInCountry

Synonyms: BIEN2:isInCountry

Named like: BIEN2:isBadLatLong, DwC:country

distanceToCountry_km

Synonyms: BIEN2:distErrCountry

Named like: DwC:country

Comments: Added units

distanceToCountry_m

Synonyms: BIEN2:distErrCountry

Named like: DwC:country

Comments: Added units

latLongInStateProvince

Synonyms: BIEN2:isInStateProvince

Named like: BIEN2:isBadLatLong, DwC:stateProvince

distanceToStateProvince_km

Synonyms: BIEN2:distErrStateProvince

Named like: DwC:stateProvince

Comments: Added units

distanceToStateProvince_m

Synonyms: BIEN2:distErrStateProvince

Named like: DwC:stateProvince

Comments: Added units

latLongInCounty

Synonyms: BIEN2:isInCountyParish

Named like: BIEN2:isBadLatLong, DwC:county

isNewWorld

From: BIEN2

Synonyms:

isNewWorld_bien

From: VegBIEN

georeferencedBy

From: DwC

georeferencedDate

From: DwC

georeferenceProtocol

From: DwC

Synonyms:

georeferenceProtocol_bien

From: VegBIEN

georeferenceSources

From: DwC

georeferenceVerificationStatus

From: DwC

georeferenceRemarks

From: DwC

Location

"A spatial region" (DwC) or point

From: DwC (fields)

Synonyms:

Plot

From: VegX, VegBank

PlotLocation

From: Madidi

locationID

From: DwC

locationName

"Name or label for a plot" (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:plotName

Named like: DwC:locationID

Synonyms:

authorPlotCode

From: VegBank

locationNumber

Named like: recordNumber

parentLocationID

Related: DwC:locationID, VegBank:PARENT_ID

parentPlotName

"Name or label" (VegX) for "the parent plot when plot is nested within another plot" (VegBank)

Related: VegX:plotName, VegBank:PARENT_ID

higherGeographyID

From: DwC

higherGeography

From: DwC

continent

From: DwC

waterBody

From: DwC

islandGroup

From: DwC

island

From: DwC

country

From: DwC

acceptedCountry

Related: DwC:country, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

countryCode

From: DwC

stateProvince

From: DwC

acceptedStateProvince

Related: DwC:stateProvince, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

county

From: DwC

acceptedCounty

Related: DwC:county, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

municipality

From: DwC

locality

From: DwC

verbatimLocality

From: DwC

verbatimElevation

From: DwC

Comments: Must include units

verbatimElevation_m

Related: DwC:verbatimElevation

Comments: Added units

elevationInMeters

Related: DwC:minimumElevationInMeters

Comments: Prefix removed to use for non-ranges

minimumElevationInMeters

From: DwC

maximumElevationInMeters

From: DwC

verbatimDepth

From: DwC

minimumDepthInMeters

From: DwC

maximumDepthInMeters

From: DwC

minimumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters

From: DwC

maximumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters

From: DwC

locationAccordingTo

From: DwC

locationRemarks

From: DwC

LocationObservation

A sampling of a Location

Synonyms:

PlotObservation

From: VegX

VegBank_Observation

From: VegBank

PlotInventory

From: Madidi

Related: Location, VegBank:plot

plotNotes

"The text of notes taken in the field" (DwC) about the plot

Synonyms: VegX:note, DwC:fieldNotes

Comments: Table added for uniqueness

plotArea_m2

"Total area of the plot. Usually recorded in square meters." (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:area

Comments: Table added for clarity. Added units.

plotArea_ha

Synonyms: SALVIAS:plot_area_ha

slopeAspect

"Representative azimuth of slope gradient (0-360 degrees) or as a cardinal direction (e.g. N, S, NE)" (VegX)

From: VegX

minSlopeAspect

From: VegBank

maxSlopeAspect

From: VegBank

slopeGradient

"Representative inclination of slope in degrees" (VegX)

From: VegX

minSlopeGradient

From: VegBank

maxSlopeGradient

From: VegBank

landform

"A recognizable physical feature on the surface of the earth, often including consideration of the natural cause of its formation" (VegX)

From: VegX

temperature

"Temperature during observation" (VegX)

From: VegX

precipitation

Synonyms: SALVIAS:precip_mm

Comments: Expanded for clarity

phosphorus_fraction

"Phosphorus of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:phosphorus

Comments: Added units

phosphorus_percent

"Phosphorus of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:phosphorus

Comments: Added units

potassium_fraction

"Pottasium of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:pottasium

Comments: Spelling corrected. Added units.

potassium_percent

"Pottasium of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:pottasium

Comments: Spelling corrected. Added units.

magnesium_fraction

"Magnesium of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:magnesium

Comments: Added units

magnesium_percent

"Magnesium of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:magnesium

Comments: Added units

nitrogen_fraction

"Nitrogen of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:nitrogen

Comments: Added units

nitrogen_percent

"Nitrogen of soil" (VegX)

Related: VegX:nitrogen

Comments: Added units

carbon_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soil_C

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

carbon_percent

Synonyms: SALVIAS:soil_C

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

calcium_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soil_Ca

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

calcium_percent

Synonyms: SALVIAS:soil_Ca

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

sodium_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soil_Na

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

sodium_percent

Synonyms: SALVIAS:soil_Na

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

acidity_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soil_acidity

Comments: Added units

acidity_percent

Synonyms: SALVIAS:soil_acidity

Comments: Added units

organic_fraction

Related: VegBank:soilOrganic

Comments: Added units

organic_percent

Related: VegBank:soilOrganic

Comments: Added units

texture

Synonyms: VegBank:soilTexture

sand_fraction

Related: VegBank:soilSand

Comments: Added units

sand_percent

Related: VegBank:soilSand

Comments: Added units

silt_fraction

Related: VegBank:soilSilt

Comments: Added units

silt_percent

Related: VegBank:soilSilt

Comments: Added units

clay_fraction

Related: VegBank:soilClay

Comments: Added units

clay_percent

Related: VegBank:soilClay

Comments: Added units

ph

"The pH of the soil" (VegX)

From: VegX

cationExchangeCapacity_cmol_kg

Synonyms: VegBank:exchangeCapacity, SALVIAS:soil_cation_cap

Comments: Expanded for clarity

baseSaturation_fraction

Related: VegBank:baseSaturation

Comments: Added units

baseSaturation_percent

Related: VegBank:baseSaturation

Comments: Added units

conductivity

Synonyms: SALVIAS:soil_conductivity

Subplot

"subplot, line, or any other subsample or subdivision of plot" (SALVIAS)

Related: SALVIAS:subplot

subplotID

Related: DwC:locationID, SALVIAS:subplot

subplot

From: SALVIAS

subplotX

"The X-coordinate of the related items position in meters. The user will enter the relative position of related item with respect to the plot origin (in meters) with the x-axis defined by the plot azimuth." (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:relativeX

Named like: SALVIAS:subplot

subplotY

"The Y-coordinate of the related items position in metres. The user will enter the relative position of related item with respect to the plot origin (in meters) with the y-axis defined by the plot azimuth." (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:relativeY

Named like: SALVIAS:subplot

SubplotObservation

A sampling of a Subplot

Related: Subplot, LocationObservation

GeologicalContext

"information pertaining to a location within a geological context, such as stratigraphy" (DwC)

From: DwC (fields)

geologicalContextID

From: DwC

earliestEonOrLowestEonothem

From: DwC

latestEonOrHighestEonothem

From: DwC

earliestEraOrLowestErathem

From: DwC

latestEraOrHighestErathem

From: DwC

earliestPeriodOrLowestSystem

From: DwC

latestPeriodOrHighestSystem

From: DwC

earliestEpochOrLowestSeries

From: DwC

latestEpochOrHighestSeries

From: DwC

earliestAgeOrLowestStage

From: DwC

latestAgeOrHighestStage

From: DwC

lowestBiostratigraphicZone

From: DwC

highestBiostratigraphicZone

From: DwC

lithostratigraphicTerms

From: DwC

group

From: DwC

formation

From: DwC

member

From: DwC

bed

From: DwC

Community

communityID

"A community type is an abstract grouping of organisms that tend to co-occur on the landscape due to shared ecological requirements or preferences. May be designated by syntaxon or physiognomic types." (VegX)

Related: VegX:communityConcept, DwC:occurrenceID

Comments: Table shortened for standardization

communityName

"A textual label for a community type" (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:communityConcept:name

Comments: Table shortened for standardization

Occurrence

An observation of any entity, biological or otherwise

From: DwC (fields)

Synonyms:

Observation

See also: VegBank_Observation

Name from: VegBank

occurrenceID

From: DwC

occurrenceRemarks

From: DwC

recordNumber

From: DwC

recordedBy

"A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original Occurrence. The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (recordNumber), should be listed first." (DwC)

From: DwC

recordedBy_givenName

"The given name" (VegX) of "The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (recordNumber)" (DwC)

Related: DwC:recordedBy, VegX:givenName

recordedBy_surName

"The last name" (VegX) of "The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (recordNumber)" (DwC)

Related: DwC:recordedBy, VegX:surName

recordedBy_middleName

The "middle name or initial" (VegBank) of "The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (recordNumber)" (DwC)

Related: DwC:recordedBy, VegBank:middleName

individualID

From: DwC

individualCount

From: DwC

sex

From: DwC

lifeStage

From: DwC

reproductiveCondition

From: DwC

Synonyms:

phenology

From: SALVIAS:soil_acidity

behavior

From: DwC

establishmentMeans

From: DwC

cultivated

From: DwC (picklist value)

Synonyms:

cultivated_bien

From: VegBIEN

cultivatedBasis

Related: DwC:cultivated

Comments: Picklist value extracted

Synonyms:

cultivatedBasis_bien

From: VegBIEN

occurrenceStatus

From: DwC

previousIdentifications

From: DwC

associatedMedia

From: DwC

associatedReferences

From: DwC

associatedOccurrences

From: DwC

associatedSequences

From: DwC

associatedTaxa

From: DwC

Taxon

"a group of one (or more) populations of organism(s), which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit" (Wikipedia)

From: Wikipedia, DwC (fields)

Synonyms:

TaxonName

From: VegX

PlantName

From: VegBank

taxonID

From: DwC

parentTaxonID

Related: DwC:taxonID, VegBank:plantParent_ID

scientificNameID

From: DwC

acceptedScientificNameID

Related: scientificNameID, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

parentScientificNameID

Related: DwC:scientificNameID, VegBank:plantParent_ID

acceptedNameUsageID

From: DwC

parentNameUsageID

From: DwC

originalNameUsageID

From: DwC

namePublishedInID

From: DwC

scientificName

From: DwC

taxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: DwC:scientificName

Named like: DwC:Taxon

acceptedTaxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:Taxon, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalTaxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:Taxon, DwC:originalNameUsage

taxonNameOrEpithet

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:Taxon, DwC:specificEpithet, DwC:higherClassification

verbatimTaxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:Taxon, DwC:verbatimTaxonRank

acceptedScientificName

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalScientificName

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:originalNameUsage

verbatimScientificName

Related: DwC:scientificName, DwC:verbatimTaxonRank

scientificNameWithMorphospecies

Related: DwC:scientificName, SALVIAS:morphospecies

morphoname

The name assigned in the field (the original TaxonDetermination), which is unique within the plot

From: SALVIAS

speciesBinomial

genus+specificEpithet

Related: Wikipedia:Binomial_nomenclature, DwC:Species

acceptedNameUsage

From: DwC

parentNameUsage

From: DwC

originalNameUsage

From: DwC

namePublishedIn

From: DwC

namePublishedInYear

From: DwC

higherClassification

From: DwC

higherPlantGroup

From: BIEN2

Related: DwC:higherClassification

Synonyms:

higherPlantGroup_bien

From: VegBIEN

kingdom

From: DwC

acceptedKingdom

Related: DwC:kingdom, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalKingdom

Related: DwC:kingdom, DwC:originalNameUsage

phylum

From: DwC

acceptedPhylum

Related: DwC:phylum, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalPhylum

Related: DwC:phylum, DwC:originalNameUsage

class

From: DwC

acceptedClass

Related: DwC:class, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalClass

Related: DwC:class, DwC:originalNameUsage

order

From: DwC

acceptedOrder

Related: DwC:order, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalOrder

Related: DwC:order, DwC:originalNameUsage

family

From: DwC

acceptedFamily

Related: DwC:family, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalFamily

v: DwC:family, DwC:originalNameUsage

genus

From: DwC

acceptedGenus

Related: DwC:genus, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalGenus

Related: DwC:genus, DwC:originalNameUsage

subgenus

From: DwC

specificEpithet

From: DwC

acceptedSpecificEpithet

Related: DwC:specificEpithet, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalSpecificEpithet

Related: DwC:specificEpithet, DwC:originalNameUsage

morphospecies

From: SALVIAS

infraspecificEpithet

From: DwC

acceptedInfraspecificEpithet

Related: DwC:infraspecificEpithet, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalInfraspecificEpithet

Related: DwC:infraspecificEpithet, DwC:originalNameUsage

forma

Synonyms: TCS:fm, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:forma

Comments: "Form, race, variety are not subject to regulation in zoology; see ICZN Article 1.3.4" (TCS)

acceptedForma

Related: TCS:fm, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:forma, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

Comments: "Form, race, variety are not subject to regulation in zoology; see ICZN Article 1.3.4" (TCS)

originalForma

Related: TCS:fm, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:forma, DwC:originalNameUsage

Comments: "Form, race, variety are not subject to regulation in zoology; see ICZN Article 1.3.4" (TCS)

variety

Synonyms: TCS:var, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:variety

Comments: "Form, race, variety are not subject to regulation in zoology; see ICZN Article 1.3.4" (TCS)

acceptedVariety

Related: TCS:var, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:variety, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

Comments: "Form, race, variety are not subject to regulation in zoology; see ICZN Article 1.3.4" (TCS)

originalVariety

Related: TCS:var, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:variety, DwC:originalNameUsage

Comments: "Form, race, variety are not subject to regulation in zoology; see ICZN Article 1.3.4" (TCS)

cultivar

Synonyms: TCS:cv

Comments: "The epithet is usually output in single quotes and may contain multiple words, see ICBN §28" (TCS)

acceptedCultivar

Related: TCS:cv, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

Comments: "The epithet is usually output in single quotes and may contain multiple words, see ICBN §28" (TCS)

originalCultivar

Related: TCS:cv, DwC:originalNameUsage

Comments: "The epithet is usually output in single quotes and may contain multiple words, see ICBN §28" (TCS)

subspecies

Synonyms: TCS:ssp, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:subspecies

acceptedSubspecies

Related: TCS:ssp, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:subspecies, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalSubspecies

Related: TCS:ssp, Wikipedia:Ranks_in_botany:subspecies, DwC:originalNameUsage

taxonRank

From: DwC

acceptedTaxonRank

Related: DwC:taxonRank, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalTaxonRank

Related: DwC:taxonRank, DwC:originalNameUsage

verbatimTaxonRank

From: DwC

scientificNameAuthorship

From: DwC

acceptedScientificNameAuthorship

Related: DwC:scientificNameAuthorship, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalScientificNameAuthorship

Related: DwC:scientificNameAuthorship, DwC:originalNameUsage

vernacularName

From: DwC

nomenclaturalCode

From: DwC

taxonomicStatus

From: DwC

taxonIsCanonical

Related: DwC:accepted

nomenclaturalStatus

From: DwC

taxonRemarks

From: DwC

threatened

Synonyms: IUCN:The_IUCN_Red_List_of_Threatened_Species

TaxonConcept

A Taxon described by a specific Reference

From: VegX

Synonyms:

PlantConcept

From: VegBank

Related: taxonConceptID

taxonConceptID

From: DwC

parentTaxonConceptID

Related: DwC:taxonConceptID, VegBank:plantParent_ID

nameAccordingTo

"Information about the authorship of this concept which uses the Name in their sense (i.e. secundum, sensu)" (TCS)

From: DwC

Synonyms:

accordingTo

From: TCS

nameAccordingToID

From: DwC

TaxonOccurrence

Any entity on which TaxonDeterminations can be made

"A taxon name string occurring within the dataset. This is a usage concept defined by the dataset author which may follow, or be according to, an additional third party. It may be further related to a published name (taxon name, tcs:TaxonName) and or taxonomic name (taxon concept, tcs:TaxonConcept) in taxonDetermination." (VegX)

Requirements: Should be at the finest level of granularity possible, i.e. each specimen, plant, size class, etc. gets its own TaxonOccurrence

Synonyms:

TaxonNameUsageConcept

From: VegX

Named like: DwC:Occurrence

authorTaxonCode

Synonyms:

authorPlantName

From: VegBank

Related: recordNumber, VegBank:authorPlotCode, VegBank:stemCode, Taxon

taxonOccurrencePkey

Related: taxonOccurrenceID

taxonOccurrenceID

Synonyms:

taxonNameUsageConceptID

From: VegX

Related: VegBank:taxonObservation

Named like: DwC:occurrenceID

dateCollected

Related: DwC:EarliestDateCollected-2007-04-17

Comments: Prefix removed to use for non-ranges

yearCollected

Synonyms: DwC:YearCollected

monthCollected

Synonyms: DwC:MonthCollected

dayCollected

Synonyms: DwC:DayCollected

growthForm

Related: VegBank:growthform1Type, habitClassIncluded

oldGrowth

Synonyms: BIEN2:oldgrowth

TaxonDetermination

An assertion that a TaxonOccurrence is a particular Taxon

From: VegX

Synonyms:

Identification

From: DwC (fields)

TaxonInterpretation

From: VegBank

identificationID

From: DwC

identificationType

Synonyms:

interpretationType

From: VegBank

Named like: Identification

identifiedBy

From: DwC

dateIdentified

From: DwC

yearIdentified

Synonyms: DwC:YearIdentified

monthIdentified

Synonyms: DwC:MonthIdentified

dayIdentified

Synonyms: DwC:DayIdentified

identificationReferences

From: DwC

identificationVerificationStatus

From: DwC

identificationRemarks

From: DwC

identificationQualifier

From: DwC

acceptedIdentificationQualifier

Related: DwC:identificationQualifier, DwC:acceptedNameUsage

originalIdentificationQualifier

Related: DwC:identificationQualifier, DwC:originalNameUsage

matchedTaxonFit_fraction

Related: VegBank:taxonFit, TNRS:Overall_score, TNRS:Name_matched

Comments: Added units

matchedFamilyFit_fraction

Related: VegBank:taxonFit, TNRS:Family_score, TNRS:Family_matched

Comments: Added units

matchedGenusFit_fraction

Related: VegBank:taxonFit, TNRS:Genus_score, TNRS:Genus_matched

Comments: Added units

matchedSpeciesFit_fraction

Related: VegBank:taxonFit, TNRS:Specific_epithet_score, TNRS:Specific_epithet_matched, DwC:Species

Comments: Added units

typeStatus

"Indicates whether this specimen served as type for taxon name" (Brad Boyle)

From: DwC

TaxonObservation

An observation of a Taxon's existence

From: VegBank

taxonObservationID

From: VegBank

AggregateObservation

"An observation applying to all occurrences of an organism based on an aggregation factor" (VegX)

"the importance (i.e. cover, basal area, biomass) of [a] taxon observed on a plot" (VegBank)

Synonyms:

AggregateOrganismObservation

From: VegX

AggregateOccurrence

From: VegBIEN

TaxonImportance

From: VegBank

Related: VegBank:stemCount, IndividualObservation

aggregateOccurrenceID

The ID for the aggregateOccurrence

Synonyms: VegX:aggregateOrganismObservation

Named like: DwC:occurrenceID

coverPercent

"Average cover of the index in percent" (VegX)

From: VegX

intercept_cm

From: SALVIAS

intercept_m

Related: SALVIAS:intercept_cm

Comments: Changed to SI base units

individualCount_1cm_or_more

Synonyms: BIEN2:abund1

Related: DwC:individualCount

individualCount_2_5cm_or_more

Synonyms: BIEN2:abund2.5

Related: DwC:individualCount

individualCount_10cm_or_more

Synonyms: BIEN2:abund10

Related: DwC:individualCount

Individual

A distinct biological organism

Synonyms:

IndividualOrganism

From: VegX (also organism)

Tree

From: CTFS

Related: IndividualObservation

tag

Synonyms: VegX:identificationLabel, SALVIAS:tag2

Comments: Number removed for clarity

IndividualObservation

An observation of an Individual

Synonyms:

IndividualOrganismObservation

From: VegX (also organismObservation)

PlotObservations

From: Madidi

Related: Individual

individualObservationID

The unique identifier for the observation of an individual

Requirements: Must be unique within the datasource

Synonyms:

individualOrganismObservationID

From: VegX

Related: individualID

Suggestions: Usually set to a database primary key

individualCode

From: SALVIAS

Synonyms:

authorPlantCode

Named like: authorPlotCode, PlantConcept

organismX_m

"The X-coordinate of the related item position in m. The user will enter the relative position of related item with respect to the plot origin (in meters) with the x-axis defined by the plot azimuth." (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:relativeX

Comments: Table added for clarity. Added units.

organismY_m

"The Y-coordinate of the relatedSpatialItem position in m. The user will enter the relative position of relatedSpatialItems with respect to the plot origin (in meters) with the y-axis defined by the plot azimuth." (VegX)

Synonyms: VegX:relativeY

Comments: Table added for clarity. Added units.

censusNumber

Synonyms: SALVIAS:census_no

Comments: Expanded for clarity

stemCount

From: VegBank

canopyForm

Synonyms: SALVIAS:stem_canopy_form

canopyPosition

Synonyms: SALVIAS:stem_canopy_position

lianaInfestation

Synonyms: SALVIAS:stem_liana_infestation

Stem

An "individual tree stem" (VegBank)

From: CTFS

Synonyms:

StemLocation

From: VegBank

Related: StemObservation, Individual

stemID

Synonyms: SALVIAS:stem_id

StemObservation

An observation of a Stem

Related: Stem, IndividualObservation

authorStemCode

"Name or code applied to a specific stem in the plot. This is generally a numeric label to associate a field data entry with a stem in the database." (VegBank)

Synonyms:

stemCode

From: VegBank

Named like: VegBank:authorPlotCode

height_ft

"The measured height of the stem" (VegBank) in feet

Related: VegX:height, VegBank:stemHeight

Comments: Added units

height_m

"The measured height of the stem in meters" (VegBank)

Related: VegX:height, VegBank:stemHeight

Comments: Added units

heightFirstBranch

Synonyms: SALVIAS:ht_first_branch_m

diameterBreastHeight_cm

Related: SALVIAS:stem_dbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

diameterBreastHeight_in

Related: SALVIAS:stem_dbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

diameterBreastHeight_m

Related: SALVIAS:stem_dbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

diameterBreastHeightGentry

Synonyms: SALVIAS:gentry_dbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity

basalDiameter

Synonyms: SALVIAS:basal_diam

Comments: Expanded for clarity

stemNotes

Synonyms: SALVIAS:stem_notes

Specimen

A "part of a plant" (Wikipedia) collected from it

From: Wikipedia, CTFS

Related: DwC:Occurrence:specimen

catalogNumber

From: DwC

preparations

From: DwC

disposition

From: DwC

otherCatalogNumbers

From: DwC

Voucher

voucherType

Values: direct, indirect

Synonyms: SALVIAS:det_type

Measurement

An attribute of any type of Occurrence

Synonyms:

MeasurementOrFact

From: DwC (fields)

TraitObservation

From: BIEN2

Trait

Named like: TraitObservation

measurementID

From: DwC

measurementType

From: DwC

Synonyms:

traitName

From: BIEN2

measurementValue

Synonyms: DwC:measurementValue, BIEN2:TraitValue

measurementAccuracy

From: DwC

measurementUnit

Synonyms: DwC:measurementUnit, BIEN2:Unit

measurementDeterminedDate

From: DwC

measurementDeterminedBy

From: DwC

measurementMethod

From: DwC

measurementRemarks

From: DwC

ResourceRelationship

"information pertaining to relationships between resources (instances of data records, such as Occurrences, Taxa, Locations, Events)" (DwC)

From: DwC (fields)

resourceRelationshipID

From: DwC

resourceID

From: DwC

relatedResourceID

From: DwC

relationshipOfResource

From: DwC

relationshipAccordingTo

From: DwC

relationshipEstablishedDate

From: DwC

relationshipRemarks

From: DwC

See also

Regenerating the VegCore terms list

See README.TXT > Maintenance > VegCore data dictionary

ACAD.Specimen.csv Magnifier (12 KB) Aaron Marcuse-Kubitza, 12/05/2012 09:21 am