Ten rules for robust taxonomy in ecological datasets
Abstract
Accurate taxonomy, including species identification and naming, underpins ecological inference, yet taxonomic information in ecological datasets is often inconsistently recorded or weakly standardized. With the increasing integration of ecological datasets across taxa and regions, datasets with poor taxonomic practices can hinder data exchange and propagate errors. We propose 10 rules to improve the storage and management of taxonomic information in ecological datasets. These rules draw on our experiences in plant ecology and taxonomy, but the conclusions may be generalized to other organisms and disciplines. They emphasize aspects from species identification to the permanent storage of verifiable records (e.g. voucher specimens) and include taxonomic standardization, nomenclature, validation, and updating. We also address the treatment of morphotypes and incomplete identifications, the use of automated name-matching tools, and (meta)data standards. Closer collaboration between ecologists and taxonomists is key to ensuring more robust datasets. The application of these rules consumes more time and resources, but they enhance data quality and interoperability, saving time during data integration and improving the reliability and scalability of ecological research.
Authors 19
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Renato A. Ferreira de Lima corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” Universidade de São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 13418‐900 Piracicaba Brazil
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Affiliation as printed
Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Recursos Florestais, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” Universidade de São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 13418‐900 Piracicaba Brazil
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Affiliation as printed
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond TW9 3AB Surrey UK
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Hans ter Steege Aachen
Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Utrecht University
Affiliation as printed
Naturalis Biodiversity Center 2333 CR Leiden the Netherlands
Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology Utrecht University 3584 CH Utrecht the Netherlands
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh · University of Turin · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi Università di Torino 10123 Turin Italy
School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh EH8 9XP Edinburgh UK
Taxonomy and Macroecology, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh EH3 5LR Edinburgh UK
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Affiliation as printed
School of Geography University of Leeds LS2 9JT Leeds UK
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Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro
Affiliation as printed
Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro Rua Pacheco Leão, 915 22460‐030 Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse · Géosciences Environnement Toulouse · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Affiliation as printed
Centre de Recherche Biodiversité Environnement UMR 5300 (CNRS/IRD/UPS/INPT) 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9 France
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Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · Universidade de Brasília · Forests and Societies
Affiliation as printed
Cirad, UPR Forêts et Sociétés University of Montpellier 34398 Montpellier France
Department of Forestry University of Brasilia Campus Darcy Ribeiro 70910‐900 Brasília Brazil
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University of Bristol · Universidade Federal do Pará
Affiliation as printed
Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Federal do Pará 66075‐110 Belém Brazil
School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol BS8 1TQ Bristol UK
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International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Affiliation as printed
International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service 00926‐1119 Río Piedras Puerto Rico
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University of Concepción · Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity
Affiliation as printed
Departamento de Botánica Universidad de Concepción 4070386 Concepción Chile
Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB) 7800024 Santiago Chile
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh EH8 9XP Edinburgh UK
Taxonomy and Macroecology, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh EH3 5LR Edinburgh UK
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biology, ESCET Universidad Rey Juan Carlos 28933 Madrid Spain
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Fundación para la Educación y el Desarrollo Social
Affiliation as printed
Fundación Ecosistemas Secos de Colombia 081001 Puerto Colombia Colombia
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National University of Tucumán · Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán
Affiliation as printed
Instituto de Ecología Regional Universidad Nacional de Tucumán – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Casilla de Correo 34 4107 Tucumán Argentina
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Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango · CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology
Affiliation as printed
Environmental Change Institute University of Oxford OX1 3QY Oxford UK
Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango 34120 Durango Mexico
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Universidade Regional de Blumenau
Affiliation as printed
Departamento de Ciências Naturais Universidade Regional de Blumenau 89030‐903 Blumenau Brazil
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh · Washington University in St. Louis · University of Exeter · Missouri Botanical Garden
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biology Washington University St Louis MO 63130 USA
Geography Department, College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter EX4 4QE Exeter UK
Missouri Botanical Garden St Louis MO 63130 USA
Taxonomy and Macroecology, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh EH3 5LR Edinburgh UK