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VegCore data dictionary

VegCore combines 360+ terms from existing vegetation data formats

Notes

  • Copying a term name gives you a permalink to that term, which can be pasted into an HTML-formatted e-mail
  • 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.
  • Ambiguous terms are indicated with a leading ?
  • Some links point to a location within a text file. For these links, mouse over the link to see the location within the file.

Editing

  • Field names start with a lowercase letter (fieldName), while table names are capitalized (TableName)
  • Table names should always be singular, not plural
  • To get the Redmine syntax for linking to a term, copy that term's header (which will have the form [[VegCore#term_anchor|term_name]])
  • When adding a term or synonym, make sure its header has the form [[VegCore#term|term]]
    • For an ambiguous term, instead use the form [[VegCore#term|?term]]
      The leading ? will be displayed in the data dictionary but won't be part of the HTML anchor. This allows the term to be permalinked using just its name.
  • Ambiguous terms, other than for quantities with different units, must be defined after all alternatives to ensure that the alternatives' anchors link to their definition rather than to their appearance in the alternatives list

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
SoilObservation
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 new terms (i.e. terms that do not come from another schema)

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

"Internal BIEN string. Uniquely identifies the person on institution that provided the data to BIEN (the proximate data provider). This could be an aggregator (such as GBIF or SALVIAS) or an original source (a herbarium such as ARIZ)." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

Synonyms:

dataSourceName

From: BIEN2

Related: institutionCode

type

Synonyms:

dcterms_type

From: DwC

referenceType

Values: herbarium, primary database, aggregator, ...

From: VegBank

Synonyms:

aggregatorOrPrimary

From: BIEN2

isHerbarium

From: BIEN2

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

dateLastModified

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

A list of datasources through which the record passed, starting with the original provider (where the record was created) and ending with the top-level provider (where the record was obtained)

Synonyms:

dcterms_references

From: DwC

institutionID

From: DwC

collectionID

From: DwC

datasetID

From: DwC

institutionCode

"Identifies the institution where a specimen is held. For herbaria, this will be the acronym of the herbarium. In general, use the verbatim value provided by the data provider, unless this is incorrect. For an aggregator such as GBIF, this column will contain many values corresponding to different data providers. For a primary source (e.g., New York Botanical Garden), all values should be the same (e.g., "NY"). Some herbaria incorrectly list the acronym that sent them the specimen if it was an exchange or trade. This is incorrect. Only the acronym of the herbarium providing the data should be listed here, regardless of whether they collected the specimen themselves or received it as a duplicate from another herbarium." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: DwC

collectionCode

"Identifies the collection within the institution where a specimen is held. This is not an important field for herbaria because the herbarium acronym (institutionCode) is already globally unique. Herbaria typically use a word describing the type of collection, such as "herbarium", although I have also seen the acronym repeated here. Needed for animal collections where institutionCode is the name of a university and collectionCode distinguishes one of several collections (e.g., institutionCode="University of Colorado", collectionCode="Mammals"). In general, use whatever the data provider provides, unless badly formed." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: DwC

datasetName

"Internal BIEN string. Uniquely identifies a dataset belonging to a designated primary data owner, either a person or an institution. For a specimen record provided to BIEN by an aggregator, datasource<>(dataset=institutionCode). For a specimen record provided to BIEN by the herbarium which holds that specimen, datasource= dataset =institutionCode. For a plot provided by the data owner, datasource= dataset <>(institutionCode=NULL). For a plot provided by an aggregator, datasource<> dataset <>(institutionCode=NULL)." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: DwC

Synonyms:

dataset

From: Brad's DwC ID terms

ownerInstitutionCode

The institution which owns the specimen replicate

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

Synonyms:

method

Named like: Method

methodology

Named like: plotMethodology

plotMethodology

From: SALVIAS

samplingEffort

From: DwC

observationGranularity

Values: plot, specimen

Synonyms:

observationType_BIEN2

From: BIEN2

observationMeasure

From: Brad Boyle's method attribute examples spreadsheet

Values: count, cover, presence, points-intercepted, distance-intercepted

Synonyms:

observationType_SALVIAS

From: SALVIAS

?observationType

AMBIGUOUS

Alternatives:

observationType_SALVIAS

observationType_BIEN2

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:

projectTitle

From: VegX

Named like: 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:

obsStartDate

From: VegX

Related: 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:

obsEndDate

From: VegX

Related: 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: decimalLatitude, acceptedNameUsage

decimalLongitude

From: DwC

acceptedDecimalLongitude

Related: decimalLongitude, 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: coordinatePrecision

Comments: Added units

pointRadiusSpatialFit

From: DwC

footprintWKT

From: DwC

footprintSRS

From: DwC

footprintSpatialFit

From: DwC

geovalid

Synonyms:

isGeovalid

From: BIEN2

latLongDomainValid

Whether the coordinates are in the range of valid decimal values

Synonyms:

isValidLatLong

From: BIEN2

latLongDomainInvalid

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

Synonyms:

isBadLatLong

From: BIEN2

Named like: BIEN2:isValidLatLong

latLongInCountry

Synonyms:

isInCountry

From: BIEN2

Named like: BIEN2:isBadLatLong, country

distanceToCountry_km

Synonyms:

distErrCountry

From: BIEN2

Named like: country

Comments: Added units

distanceToCountry_m

latLongInStateProvince

Synonyms:

isInStateProvince

From: BIEN2

Named like: BIEN2:isBadLatLong, stateProvince

distanceToStateProvince_km

Synonyms:

distErrStateProvince

From: BIEN2

Named like: stateProvince

Comments: Added units

distanceToStateProvince_m

latLongInCounty

Synonyms:

isInCountyParish

From: BIEN2

Named like: BIEN2:isBadLatLong, 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:

plotName

From: VegX

authorPlotCode

From: VegBank

locationNumber

Named like: recordNumber

Named like: Location

parentLocationID

Related: 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: country, acceptedNameUsage

countryCode

From: DwC

stateProvince

From: DwC

acceptedStateProvince

Related: stateProvince, acceptedNameUsage

county

From: DwC

acceptedCounty

Related: county, acceptedNameUsage

municipality

From: DwC

locality

From: DwC

verbatimLocality

From: DwC

verbatimElevation

From: DwC

Comments: Must include units

verbatimElevation_m

Related: verbatimElevation

Comments: Added units

elevationInMeters

Related: 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_VegX

From: VegX

Observation_VegBank

From: VegBank

PlotInventory

From: Madidi

Related: Location, VegBank:plot

plotNotes

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

Synonyms:

plotNote

From: VegX (table added for uniqueness)

Named like: fieldNotes

plotArea_m2

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

Synonyms:

area

From: VegX

Comments: Table added for clarity. Added units.

plotArea_ha

From: SALVIAS

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

precipitation_mm

Synonyms:

precip_mm

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity

SoilObservation

A sampling of a Location's soil

Synonyms:

AbioticObservation

From: VegX

SoilObs

From: VegBank

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:soilC

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

carbon_percent

Synonyms:

soilC

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

calcium_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soilCa

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

calcium_percent

Synonyms:

soilCa

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

sodium_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soilNa

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

sodium_percent

Synonyms:

soilNa

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

acidity_fraction

Related: SALVIAS:soilAcidity

Comments: Added units

acidity_percent

Synonyms:

soilAcidity

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Added units

organic_fraction

Related: VegBank:soilOrganic

Comments: Added units

organic_percent

Related: VegBank:soilOrganic

Comments: Added units

texture

Synonyms:

soilTexture

From: VegBank

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:

exchangeCapacity

From: VegBank

soilCationCap

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity

baseSaturation_fraction

Related: VegBank:baseSaturation

Comments: Added units

baseSaturation_percent

Related: VegBank:baseSaturation

Comments: Added units

conductivity

Synonyms:

soilConductivity

From: SALVIAS

Subplot

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

Related: SALVIAS:subplot

subplotID

Related: 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:

plotRelativeX

From: VegX (table added for uniqueness)

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:

plotRelativeY

From: VegX (table added for uniqueness)

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, occurrenceID

Comments: Table shortened for standardization

communityName

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

Synonyms:

communityConceptName

From: VegX

Comments: Table shortened for standardization

Occurrence

An observation of any entity, biological or otherwise

From: DwC (fields)

Synonyms:

Observation_VegCore

Named like: Observation_VegBank

occurrenceID

"A globally unique identifier for the specimen or observation, formed by combining the [...] unique identifier of the collection with the locally unique identifier of the specimen. For specimens, construct as follows: "urn:catalog:[institutionCode]:[collectionCode]:[catalogNumber]". If a properly formed occurrenceID is provided by the data provider, use it. For plots, construct as follows: "urn:observation:[datasource]:[dataset]:[catalogNumber]. Replace any spaces in dataset name with hyphens." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: DwC

datasetRecordID

"Unique ID (database primary key) for the specimen or observation in the dataset, if provided." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: Brad's DwC ID terms

Related: dataset

Named like: recordNumber, occurrenceID

datasourceRecordID

"Unique ID (primary key) within datasource database. Will be same as datasetRecordID if dataset and datasource are the same." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: Brad's DwC ID terms

Related: datasource

Named like: recordNumber, occurrenceID

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

Synonyms:

collector

From: DwC

recordedBy_givenName

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

Related: 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: 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: recordedBy, VegBank:middleName

individualID

From: DwC

individualCount

From: DwC

sex

From: DwC

lifeStage

From: DwC

reproductiveCondition

From: DwC

Synonyms:

phenology

From: SALVIAS:soilAcidity

behavior

From: DwC

establishmentMeans

From: DwC

cultivated

From: DwC (picklist value)

Synonyms:

cultivated_bien

From: VegBIEN

cultivatedBasis

Related: 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

?Observation

AMBIGUOUS

Alternatives:

Observation_VegCore

Observation_VegBank

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: taxonID, VegBank:plantParent_ID

scientificNameID

From: DwC

acceptedScientificNameID

Related: scientificNameID, acceptedNameUsage

parentScientificNameID

Related: scientificNameID, VegBank:plantParent_ID

acceptedNameUsageID

From: DwC

parentNameUsageID

From: DwC

originalNameUsageID

From: DwC

namePublishedInID

From: DwC

scientificName

Taxonomic name with author

From: DwC

Compare to: taxonName

taxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Compare to: scientificName

Named like: DwC:Taxon

acceptedTaxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: scientificName, Taxon, acceptedNameUsage

originalTaxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: scientificName, Taxon, originalNameUsage

taxonNameOrEpithet

Related: scientificName, Taxon, specificEpithet, higherClassification

verbatimTaxonName

Taxonomic name without author

Related: scientificName, Taxon, verbatimTaxonRank

acceptedScientificName

Related: scientificName, acceptedNameUsage

originalScientificName

Related: scientificName, originalNameUsage

verbatimScientificName

Related: scientificName, verbatimTaxonRank

taxonNameWithMorphospecies

Related: taxonName, SALVIAS:morphospecies

morphoname

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

From: SALVIAS

speciesBinomial

genus+specificEpithet

From: Wikipedia

Named like: DwC:species

acceptedNameUsage

From: DwC

parentNameUsage

From: DwC

originalNameUsage

From: DwC

namePublishedIn

From: DwC

namePublishedInYear

From: DwC

higherClassification

From: DwC

higherPlantGroup

From: BIEN2

Related: higherClassification

Synonyms:

higherPlantGroup_bien

From: VegBIEN

kingdom

From: DwC

acceptedKingdom

Related: kingdom, acceptedNameUsage

originalKingdom

Related: kingdom, originalNameUsage

phylum

From: DwC

acceptedPhylum

Related: phylum, acceptedNameUsage

originalPhylum

Related: phylum, originalNameUsage

class

From: DwC

acceptedClass

Related: class, acceptedNameUsage

originalClass

Related: class, originalNameUsage

order

From: DwC

acceptedOrder

Related: order, acceptedNameUsage

originalOrder

Related: order, originalNameUsage

family

From: DwC

acceptedFamily

Related: family, acceptedNameUsage

originalFamily

Related: family, originalNameUsage

genus

From: DwC

acceptedGenus

Related: genus, acceptedNameUsage

originalGenus

Related: genus, originalNameUsage

subgenus

From: DwC

specificEpithet

From: DwC

acceptedSpecificEpithet

Related: specificEpithet, acceptedNameUsage

originalSpecificEpithet

Related: specificEpithet, originalNameUsage

morphospecies

From: SALVIAS

infraspecificEpithet

From: DwC

acceptedInfraspecificEpithet

Related: infraspecificEpithet, acceptedNameUsage

originalInfraspecificEpithet

Related: infraspecificEpithet, originalNameUsage

forma

From: Wikipedia

Synonyms:

fm

From: TCS

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

acceptedForma

Related: Wikipedia:forma, fm, acceptedNameUsage

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

originalForma

Related: Wikipedia:forma, fm, originalNameUsage

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

variety

From: Wikipedia

Synonyms:

var

From: TCS

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

acceptedVariety

Related: Wikipedia:variety, var, acceptedNameUsage

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

originalVariety

Related: Wikipedia:variety, var, originalNameUsage

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

cultivar

Synonyms:

cv

From: TCS

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

acceptedCultivar

Related: cv, acceptedNameUsage

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

originalCultivar

Related: cv, originalNameUsage

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

subspecies

From: Wikipedia

Synonyms:

ssp

From: TCS

acceptedSubspecies

Related: ssp, Wikipedia:subspecies, acceptedNameUsage

originalSubspecies

Related: ssp, Wikipedia:subspecies, originalNameUsage

taxonRank

From: DwC

acceptedTaxonRank

Related: taxonRank, acceptedNameUsage

originalTaxonRank

Related: taxonRank, originalNameUsage

verbatimTaxonRank

From: DwC

scientificNameAuthorship

From: DwC

acceptedScientificNameAuthorship

Related: scientificNameAuthorship, acceptedNameUsage

originalScientificNameAuthorship

Related: scientificNameAuthorship, originalNameUsage

vernacularName

From: DwC

nomenclaturalCode

From: DwC

taxonomicStatus

From: DwC

taxonIsCanonical

Synonyms:

taxonIsAccepted

From: DwC (enum value accepted)

Named like: Taxon

nomenclaturalStatus

From: DwC

taxonRemarks

From: DwC

threatened

From: IUCN

TaxonConcept

A Taxon described by a specific Reference

From: VegX

Synonyms:

PlantConcept

From: VegBank

Related: taxonConceptID

taxonConceptID

From: DwC

parentTaxonConceptID

Related: 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: occurrenceID

dateCollected

Related: DwC:EarliestDateCollected-2007-04-17

Comments: Prefix removed to use for non-ranges

yearCollected

From: DwC

monthCollected

From: DwC

dayCollected

From: DwC

growthForm

Related: VegBank:growthform1Type, habitClassIncluded

oldGrowth

From: BIEN2

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

From: DwC

monthIdentified

From: DwC

dayIdentified

From: DwC

identificationReferences

From: DwC

identificationVerificationStatus

From: DwC

identificationRemarks

From: DwC

identificationQualifier

From: DwC

Synonyms:

taxonFit

From: VegBank

acceptedIdentificationQualifier

Related: identificationQualifier, acceptedNameUsage

originalIdentificationQualifier

Related: identificationQualifier, originalNameUsage

matchedTaxonFit_fraction

Synonyms:

overallScore

From: TNRS

Related: taxonFit, TNRS:Name_matched

Comments: Added units

matchedFamilyFit_fraction

Synonyms:

familyScore

From: TNRS

Related: taxonFit, TNRS:Family_matched

Comments: Added units

matchedGenusFit_fraction

Synonyms:

genusScore

From: TNRS

Related: taxonFit, TNRS:Genus_matched

Comments: Added units

matchedSpeciesFit_fraction

Synonyms:

specificEpithetScore

From: TNRS

Related: taxonFit, TNRS:Specific_epithet_matched

Named like: DwC:Species

Comments: Added units

typeStatus

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

From: DwC

TaxonObservation

An observation of just a Taxon's presence

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:

aggregateOrganismObservationID

From: VegX

Named like: 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:

abund1cm

From: BIEN2

Related: individualCount

individualCount_2_5cm_or_more

Synonyms:

abund2_5cm

From: BIEN2

Related: individualCount

individualCount_10cm_or_more

Synonyms:

abund10cm

From: BIEN2

Related: individualCount

Individual

A distinct biological organism

Synonyms:

IndividualOrganism

From: VegX

Organism

Named like: IndividualOrganism

Tree

From: CTFS

Related: IndividualObservation

tag

Synonyms:

identificationLabel

From: VegX

tag2

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Number removed for clarity

IndividualObservation

An observation of an Individual

Synonyms:

IndividualOrganismObservation

From: VegX

OrganismObservation

Named like: IndividualOrganismObservation

PlotObservation_SALVIAS

From: SALVIAS, 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:

individualOrganismObservationRelativeX

From: VegX (table added for uniqueness)

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:

individualOrganismObservationRelativeY

From: VegX (table added for uniqueness)

Comments: Table added for clarity. Added units.

censusNumber

Synonyms:

censusNo

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity

stemCount

From: VegBank

canopyForm

Synonyms:

stemCanopyForm

From: SALVIAS

canopyPosition

Synonyms:

stemCanopyPosition

From: SALVIAS

lianaInfestation

Synonyms:

stemLianaInfestation

From: SALVIAS

?PlotObservation

AMBIGUOUS

Alternatives:

PlotObservation_VegX

PlotObservation_SALVIAS

Stem

An "individual tree stem" (VegBank)

From: CTFS

Synonyms:

StemLocation

From: VegBank

Related: StemObservation, Individual

stemID

From: SALVIAS

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:

htFirstBranch_m

From: SALVIAS

diameterBreastHeight_cm

Related: SALVIAS:stemDbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

diameterBreastHeight_in

Related: SALVIAS:stemDbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

diameterBreastHeight_m

Related: SALVIAS:stemDbh

Comments: Expanded for clarity. Added units.

diameterBreastHeightGentry

Synonyms:

gentryDbh

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity

basalDiameter

Synonyms:

basalDiam

From: SALVIAS

Comments: Expanded for clarity

stemNotes

From: SALVIAS

Specimen

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

From: Wikipedia, CTFS

Related: Occurrence

barcode

"a bar code, machine-generated and glued or stamped to the specimen and recorded in the database" (e-mail from Brad Boyle on 2013-1-31)
"IF a herbarium provides a field labelled "barCode" (or similar) that value goes here, otherwise NULL. Should be locally unique within the dataset (it may also be unique within the datasource if datasource=dataset)." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: Brad's DwC ID terms, NCU, U

catalogNumber

"an accession number stamped physically on the specimen [...] The accession number is the most widely used, but is not guaranteed to be unique because of the physical stamping process, human error, etc." (Brad's DwC ID terms)
"Whatever the data provider provides, as long as catalogNumber is unique within the dataset. If no catalogNumber provided, use accessionNumber, but only if it is unique within the dataset. If no accession number, use datasetRecordID, else use barCode, else use datasourceRecordID. This usage differs from DwC in that catalogNumber is constrained to be unique within the dataset. It is populated for plot data as well as specimens." (Brad's DwC ID terms)

From: DwC

Synonyms:

museumAccessionNumber

From: VegBank

accessionNumber

From: Brad's DwC ID terms, REMIB

Named like: museumAccessionNumber

accession

From: UNCC

Named like: accessionNumber

preparations

From: DwC

disposition

From: DwC

otherCatalogNumbers

From: DwC

Voucher

voucherType

Values: direct, indirect

Synonyms:

detType

From: SALVIAS

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

From: DwC

Synonyms:

traitValue

From: BIEN2

measurementAccuracy

From: DwC

measurementUnit

From: DwC

Synonyms:

unit

From: BIEN2

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

Changes from other formats

Brad's DwC ID terms: vegbien_identifier_examples.xlsx

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

vegbien_identifier_examples.xlsx (28.6 KB) Aaron Marcuse-Kubitza, 01/31/2013 04:40 pm