[Taxacom] Checklist samples

[David Remsen]

Dear Taxacomers,

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is sponsoring the  
development of a software tool for the provision of taxonomic  
checklist data to the GBIF network.  This tool will work in a manner  
akin to the current suite of tools that provide specimen collections  
and observational data to the network.  This involves the download,  
installation, and configuration of a tool that maps data from a local  
checklist database to corresponding data elements that fit a  
particular exchange standard, in this case the Taxon Concept Schema  
(TCS).

In order to better configure and test the tool, we would like to  
evaluate it against actual data sets and this mail serves as a  
solicitation for sample checklist data.  We would like to better  
understand the ways individual datasets are formatted, and whether or  
not we have correctly anticipated the various elements that would  
compose a taxonomic or nomenclatural act.  These data are for testing  
purposes only and will not be redistributed.

Therefore, we are asking for samples of taxonomic checklist data.   
The source database might be regional or global in scope.  We would  
like to understand how issues of classification, synonymy, taxon name  
and authorship, vernacular names, etc.  are treated and annotated  
within source databases.

If you are willing to provide some sample data, please send me a mail  
with details about the dataset and a sample file (or files).  I will  
document them and provide them to the tool developer for use in  
testing the tool.  Also, please let me know if you would be willing  
to test the tool itself when it is released in the coming weeks.

A hearty thanks to all for reading and especially those who are  
willing to participate.

David Remsen
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
----
David Remsen, Senior Programme Officer
Electronic Catalog of Names of Known Organisms
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat
Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel: +45-35321472   Fax: +45-35321480
Skype: dremsen
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
----