[Taxacom] Wikispecies is not a database: part 3 (after thinkingabout it!)

[Stephen Thorpe]

> Well, parts of this are in place, viz. the activities of the nomenclators
Parts may be in place, but many involve massive beauracracy, and  
equally massive backlogs. Also there is no attempt at "taxonomic  
synthesis" by nomenclators and the like, they are really just, well,  
nomenclators! Wikispecies, on the other hand, is quick, free, easy,  
and synthetic!

Also, Jim said that "nothing" was worse than bad information! A sort  
of "fate worse than a fate worse than death!" Definitely a moot point,  
I would say ...

Stephen

Quoting Tony.Rees at csiro.au:

> Patrick LaFolette wrote:
>
>> My ideal PUTNI tool would include links to bibliographic citation and
>> taxonomic heirarchy, cut and paste from digital page and plate
>> images, OCR, translation assistance, the ability to code taxonomic
>> acts and errors, add notes and keywords, and link from the synonymy
>> items to the PUTNIs they indicate.
>
> Well, parts of this are in place, viz. the activities of the  
> nomenclators, e.g. at genus level,  
> http://uio.mbl.edu/NomenclatorZoologicus/ and  
> http://botany.si.edu/ing/ , at species level the work of Index  
> Fungorum and others, while for original literature see e.g.  
> http://www.animalbase.uni-goettingen.de/ and the BHL. Also ZooBank  
> intends to be a registry of much of this stuff. The current thinking  
> for establishing the relevant linkages is presumably in the realm of  
> the upcoming GNA, for which I leave e.g. David Remsen to comment  
> further...
>
> Regards - Tony
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu  
> [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Geoff Read
> Sent: Friday, 14 August 2009 11:49 AM
> To: Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Wikispecies is not a database: part 3 (after  
> thinkingabout it!)
>
> Once upon a time Syngraph was developed by Adorian Ardelean to help with
> part of that PUTNI (or applied name) organizing & distilling. It's still
> there I see. I didn't know one could easily connect it to an existing
> relational database - but apparently so ....   I might give it another try
> sometime!
>
> http://web.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/syngraph/beta/index.htm
>
> Geoff
>
>
>>>> On 14/08/2009 at 11:36 a.m., Pat LaFollette <pat at lafollette.com> wrote:
>> You are not the only one thinking about this.  I've even coined the
>> seemingly obligatory acronym: PUTNI (PUblished Taxonomic Name
>> Instance).  Everyone I know who does taxonomic revision or other
>> systematic work makes them in one form or another.  Historically, one
>> would take notes on file cards, or photocopy taxonomic publications,
>> cut up the text and plates, add citation and notes, and arrange them
>> systematically in notebooks.  What is needed (what I need) is a
>> digital analog for the scissors and tape, a standard PUTNI object and
>> and tools to make them.  The raw material in digital format is
>> becoming available on Internet Archive and Biodiversity Heritage
>> Library; when necessary one packs up laptop and scanner and heads to
>> the library.  Who makes them?  Whoever needs them to support their
>> own research (or a hive of worker bees if funding were
>> available).  How long does it take?  That really depends on the
>> quality and efficiency of the tools, but probably a very long
>> time.  On the up-side, if done properly, it only needs to be done
>> once for each taxonomic work or group.
>>
>> My ideal PUTNI tool would include links to bibliographic citation and
>> taxonomic heirarchy, cut and paste from digital page and plate
>> images, OCR, translation assistance, the ability to code taxonomic
>> acts and errors, add notes and keywords, and link from the synonymy
>> items to the PUTNIs they indicate.
>>
>> Patrick LaFollette
>
>
>
>
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