# dots on maps

[Dr. Neil Snow]

Steven's disagreement about the need for vouchers is probably influenced by the
fact that the collecting of ornithological vouchers (see his reference to
Breeding Bird Atlas) is far more problematic than collecting insects, plants, or
many other taxa.  Shotguns generally are not easily carried about, particularly
overseas.  (I realize mist nets are used as well.)

Why vouchers?  Because many of us place no weight whatsoever on non-documented
(unvouchered) reports.  Vouchers allow repeatability.  They serve a lot of other
purposes as well (see Snow & Keating in Cons. Biology 13: 943-944.)

Also,  Steven may wish to clarify his last sentence, which begins "I think that
observations....."?

NS

Steven Clemants wrote:

> I have found that using a grid pattern, such as the breeding bird atlas,
> allows one to see distribution patterns better.  There is less build up of
> dots over university sites.
>
> I must disagree about the need for vouchers.  Vouchers are to be preferred
> but the Breeding Bird Atlas and other projects and phenomenally useful even
> though they are not based on vouchers.  I think that observations which can
> be referenced to vouchered distributions can fill in distributions without
> clogging museums and herbaria with thousands of specimens of common species.
>
> Steven Clemants
> Director of Science
> Brooklyn Botanic Garden
> 1000 Washington Ave.
> Brooklyn, NY 11225
> (718) 623-7309


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