[Taxacom] GBIF: perpetuating probably defunct unpublished names

[David Remsen (GBIF)]

Yes,  we need the zoological equivalent of Index Fungorum.   Store the  
basic required facts in one place please.

On May 23, 2010, at 1:02 PM, Paul Kirk wrote:

> name orthography and authorship data correctly belong in the  
> relevant nomenclator ... fix it there, once, and everyone who 'uses'  
> that name should then link to that source - problem solved.
>
> Paul
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu on behalf of Walker, Ken
> Sent: Sun 23/05/2010 11:24
> To: 'David Remsen (GBIF)'; Stephen Thorpe
> Cc: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] GBIF: perpetuating probably defunct  
> unpublished names
>
>
>
>> - The data published through GBIF are not qualitatively transformed
> from the collections where they originate.
>
> But they do.
>
> Look at the authorship of Scolytus scolytus -
>
> In GBIF, EOL and Catalogue of Life 2007 the authorship is  
> incorrectly listed a Wood and Bright 1992:
>
> GBIF:  http://data.gbif.org/species/14616352/
>
> EOL: http://www.eol.org/pages/691357
>
> Catalogue of Life 2007: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2007/show_species_details.php?record_id=4242138
>
> However, in ITIS the authorship is corrected listed as (Fabricius,  
> 1775).
>
> The problem began when a mash up was made from the Electronic  
> Catalogue of Curculionoidea website.
>
> It correctly listed the authorship of Scolytus scolytus and cited  
> the publication of Wood and Bright 1992 as the source.  Somehow, the  
> mash up dropped the authorship name and replaced it with the  
> citation name. Then it spread ....
>
> Now, almost every weevil that occurs in North America and was listed  
> in the Wood and Bright 1992 publication has Wood and Bright as the  
> author of the those species: Here is the EOL Scoltyus species list.   
> Run your eye down the list to see how many species have Wood and  
> Bright 1992 as their authorship:  http://www.eol.org/pages/49702
>
> I sent emails to GBIF and EOL without receiving a reply and so like  
> hitting your head against a brick wall -- I felt better when I  
> stopped.
>
> I am beginning to wonder whether discrete taxon treatment websites  
> are indeed better than those that attempt to do all.
>
> Ken
>
> Ken Walker
> Museum Victoria
> Australia
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