species
Let an agent handle species by name, classification, status, distribution and conservation, citing taxonomic authorities and presenting species concepts accurately.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle species by name, classification, status, distribution and conservation, citing taxonomic authorities and presenting species concepts accurately.
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.
What it is for: Organising biodiversity knowledge and conservation.
It can be find the accepted scientific name of a species; check conservation and legal status; check native or introduced status in a region; explain species concepts.
Distinguishing features
Basic taxonomic unit
Several definitions
Named by codes of nomenclature
Status varies by region
What it looks like
Any organism group; identified by features and genetics.
How it is recognised
Binomial names such as Homo sapiens
Species pages in databases
Subspecies and varieties are ranks below species
Related models
is a kind of - category
is named under - rules
is assessed by - status
belongs to - rank above
In practice
Families and kinds
native species
introduced and invasive species
endemic species
threatened species
extinct species
Identifiers
GBIF taxon key numeric biodiversity data
NCBI Taxonomy ID numeric taxonomy
Standards and regulation
International codes of zoological, botanical and bacterial nomenclature
CITES appendices
National wildlife protection law
Failure modes and hazards
Using outdated names
Assuming one species concept fits all
Misstating conservation status
Also called
+27
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.species-cognition
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Name Which species.
Names change.
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.
Status needs sources.
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.
Definitions differ.
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.
Records support conservation.
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
What the second pass must settle
- How should synonymy be handled?
- How should taxonomy databases be linked?
- How should regional status be recorded?