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Research draft

species

vr.tr.species · PHY.LIV

Let an agent handle species by name, classification, status, distribution and conservation, citing taxonomic authorities and presenting species concepts accurately.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

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

taxon

is named under - rules

codes of nomenclature

is assessed by - status

IUCN Red List

belongs to - rank above

genus

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Using outdated names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

non-native predatornon-native preyintroduced plantnative plantendemic plantextinct animalendemic animalintroduced tree speciestype speciesbacterial speciesphylogenetically close speciescharacter taxonintroduced speciescharacteristic speciesanimal specieschronospeciesancient woodland speciesfoundation speciesmigratory speciesmutualistclimate-sensitive speciesprotected speciesvicarious speciesdifferential taxonaquatic speciesspecial concern speciessubterranean speciesclonal speciestropical speciestransgressive taxonvagrancyflagship speciesfocal speciesdiagnostic taxoncharismatic speciesmorphospeciesallospeciesthreatened speciesnative speciesbibliographic index

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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.

  1. What is the currently accepted scientific name, according to which taxonomic database? provenance
  2. What synonyms exist? provenance

Common

Common names.

Common

Common names.

  1. Which common names are used in this language or region? provenance
  2. Could a common name refer to several species? boundary
Status Conservation.

Status needs sources.

Red List

Threat status.

Red List

Conservation status.

  1. What is its IUCN Red List status, and when was it assessed? provenance
  2. Is it legally protected here? provenance

Origin

Native or introduced.

Origin

Native status.

  1. Is it native, introduced or invasive in this region? provenance
  2. Is it on a regulated list? provenance
Concepts What a species is.

Definitions differ.

Definition

Species concepts.

Definition

Species concepts.

  1. Which species concept is being used? definition
  2. Why do biologists debate it? provenance

Evolution

Speciation.

Evolution

Speciation.

  1. How do new species form, according to evolutionary biology? provenance
  2. Which examples are well documented? provenance
Data Records.

Records support conservation.

Distribution

Range.

Distribution

Distribution.

  1. Where does the species occur, according to occurrence databases? provenance
  2. How reliable are the records? boundary

Record

Citizen science.

Record

Recording sightings.

  1. How can sightings be recorded for citizen science? action
  2. 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?