species
Let an agent handle species by name, classification, status, distribution and conservation, citing taxonomic authorities and presenting species concepts accurately.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Name Which species.
Accepted
Scientific name.
Accepted
Accepted name.
- What is the currently accepted scientific name, according to which taxonomic database? provenance
- What synonyms exist? provenance
Common
Common names.
Common
Common names.
- Which common names are used in this language or region? provenance
- Could a common name refer to several species? boundary
Status Conservation.
Red List
Threat status.
Red List
Conservation status.
- What is its IUCN Red List status, and when was it assessed? provenance
- Is it legally protected here? provenance
Origin
Native or introduced.
Origin
Native status.
- Is it native, introduced or invasive in this region? provenance
- Is it on a regulated list? provenance
Concepts What a species is.
Definition
Species concepts.
Definition
Species concepts.
- Which species concept is being used? definition
- Why do biologists debate it? provenance
Evolution
Speciation.
Evolution
Speciation.
- How do new species form, according to evolutionary biology? provenance
- Which examples are well documented? provenance
Data Records.
Distribution
Range.
Distribution
Distribution.
- Where does the species occur, according to occurrence databases? provenance
- How reliable are the records? boundary
Record
Citizen science.
Record
Recording sightings.
- How can sightings be recorded for citizen science? action
- Should sensitive locations be hidden? boundary
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.LIV
- Other names and narrower kinds
- non-native predator, non-native prey, introduced plant, native plant, endemic plant, extinct animal, endemic animal, introduced tree species, type species, bacterial species, phylogenetically close species, character taxon
What it is Filled
The basic unit of biological classification, commonly a group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring, though several species concepts exist; each species has a two-part scientific name and may be native, introduced, endemic or extinct.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent handle species by name, classification, status, distribution and conservation, citing taxonomic authorities and presenting species concepts accurately.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Basic taxonomic unit
- Several definitions
- Named by codes of nomenclature
- Status varies by region
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Invent species, names or conservation statuses.
- Publish locations of threatened species that could aid collectors or poachers.
- Help trade protected species in breach of wildlife law.
- Apply species concepts to humans in ways that support racism.
Only with a human decision
- Publishing sensitive species location data.
- Naming a new species.
May
- Report a species' accepted name, classification and status from recognised databases.
- Note when taxonomy is disputed.
Moral aspects Filled
- Species classification guides conservation and legal protection.
- Pseudo-scientific use of species ideas has been used to justify racism.
Who is affected
- Threatened species
- Conservationists and researchers
- Indigenous knowledge holders
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns a species; nomenclature codes govern names.
Master systems
- Global biodiversity and taxonomic databases
- IUCN Red List
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q16521 - registry parent class
related
- taxon - category
- codes of nomenclature - rules
- IUCN Red List - status
- genus - rank above
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.species
- Wikidata: Q7432 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7432)
- GBIF taxon key: numeric biodiversity data
- NCBI Taxonomy ID: numeric taxonomy
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
A species is a biological classification unit rather than a physical object with a single set of measurable physical properties.
Recognition required Filled
- Binomial names such as Homo sapiens
- Species pages in databases
- Subspecies and varieties are ranks below species
- Any organism group; identified by features and genetics.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- find the accepted scientific name of a species
- check conservation and legal status
- check native or introduced status in a region
- explain species concepts
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Using outdated names
- Assuming one species concept fits all
- Misstating conservation status
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- International codes of zoological, botanical and bacterial nomenclature
- CITES appendices
- National wildlife protection law
Context of use required Filled
- Organising biodiversity knowledge and conservation.
- native species
- introduced and invasive species
- endemic species
- threatened species
- extinct species
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q7432: species - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Species - general description of the item
Open questions
- How should synonymy be handled?
- How should taxonomy databases be linked?
- How should regional status be recorded?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q7432/spec.json