[Taxacom] What can Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) do for you?

[Tony.Rees at csiro.au]

Hi Ken and Mary, also Rod (and all),

Agreed, there are issues with the GBIF backbone taxonomy - to do with the method of its creation ("semi-automated" and rebuilt from scratch from incoming taxonomic resources more or less annually I believe), the level of resourcing devoted to its scrutiny (perhaps) and the lack of a facility for users to engage in spotting issues or reporting errors. Also there is the question of whether GBIF should need to engage in this activity or whether it can be outsourced to more taxonomically authoritative providers (I suspect not, at the present time at least, to cover the "whole of life" which is GBIF's remit). Some of these are big questions especially to do with resourcing and method of construction; I guess Rod in his new role is in a position to investigate further with relevant persons and report back...

Regards - Tony


> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-
> bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Ken Kinman
> Sent: Monday, 21 October 2013 2:05 PM
> To: Mary Barkworth; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] What can Global Biodiversity Information
> Facility (GBIF) do for you?
> 
> Hi Mary,
> 
> 
> 
>       I agree with that minor point.  Alismaceae is an incorrect
> spelling (by someone who didn't know proper Latin).  But the major
> point is that it certainly is not incertae sedis, and it should be
> listed under Alismataceae by GBIF (not incertae sedis).  Incertae sedis
> should be reserved for taxa which are truly of uncertain placement----
> not a dumping ground for names like Alismaceae.  I'm a zoologist, not a
> botanist, and even I spotted that one immediately.
> 
> 
> 
>                -------------------Ken
> 
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> > From: Mary.Barkworth at usu.edu
> > To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> > CC: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> > Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 01:44:57 +0000
> > Subject: Re: [Taxacom] What can Global Biodiversity Information
> Facility (GBIF) do for you?
> >
> > Minor point but Alismaceae is not an alternative spelling in the
> sense that Poaceae and Gramineae are alternatives. It is an incorrect
> spelling. For convenience it could be treated as a synonym - just to
> take care of the records that use it - but it is simply a mispelling.
> > Mary
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> Celebrating 26 years of Taxacom in 2013.