Determination Formula
Determiner
Determination Date
Nature of Determination
Sensu Publication
Remarks
Determinations, or “identifications” (IDs), apply taxonomic terms to specimens. In other words, determinations are not necessarily just taxonomic terms. Information about taxonomic names (which are used to compose determinations) is in Taxonomy.
A taxonomic determination is comprised of:
- the taxonomic term, or combination of terms and/or modifiers
- the name (or names) of the determiner(s)
- the date of the determination
- and the nature, or basis of the determination
Arctos maintains a history of determinations for each specimen. Specimens are therefore reidentified by adding a new determination and retaining prior determination(s) as “unaccepted.” This means that there can be only one accepted determination, but not necessarily that prior identifications are wrong. In fact, complimentary IDs by experts or by alternative methods enhance the value of the specimen.
Scientific Name If important to distinguish between Identification.Scientific_Name and Taxonomy.Scientific_Name. The latter is (supposedly) formal Taxonomy, while the former is a namestring applied to a specimen. Only in the case of taxa_formula “A” is Identification.Scientific_Name is identical to Taxonomy.Scientific_Name (although forms often display Taxonomy.Display_Name). The following table is illustrative.
Determination Formula:
A determination can contain more than one taxon, possibly in conjunction with modifiers. Taxa are combined with each other, or with modifiers, according to a formula. For example:
| Identification.Scientific_Name | Formula | Taxonomy.Scientific_Name(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sorex cinereus | one taxon (A) | A = Sorex cinereus |
| Sorex cinereus ? | taxon (A) + “?” | A = Sorex cinereus |
| Sorex cinereus or Sorex ugyunak | A “or” B | A = Sorex cinereus B = Sorex ugyunak |
| Sorex sp. | A + “sp.” | A= Sorex |
| Canis latrans x Canis lupus familiaris | A “X” B | A = Canis latrans B = Canis lupus familiaris |
NUMBER not null (FK)
Determiner: The determiner is the agent (or agents, usually a person) who identified the specimen. More than one agent can be entered. The order in which such co-determiners are displayed is set in the form by the order in which they were added to the determination. To change the displayed order, create a new copy of the determination with the determiners in the desired order, then delete the old record.
DATE null
Determined Date: ISO8601 date-type. The chronological order of determinations may be the most critical issue.
VARCHAR2 (30) not null
ctnature_of_id
Nature of ID: The basis of the identification. Vocabulary is defined in, and controlled by, a code table.
NUMBER NOT NULL (FK Publication.Publication_ID)
Sensu Publication:
Signifies that a determination is made in the sense of (sensu) a particular publication. This may be used both in the taxonomic sense (“this specimen fits in with Some Author’s concept of Aus bus“) and as supporting documentation (“We’ve determined this to be Aus bus using the methods provided by Some Author”).
VARCHAR2 255
Remarks can elaborate or clarify any signficant aspect of a determination. This is a good place for recording the verbatim form of a Determined Date if it was not recorded as an exact day.
