FGDC data model:
Entity/Attribute Definitions
Data Model for Biological Nomenculature and Taxonomy

Draft 10-30-00
converted from "definitions.doc" embedded in
Biological Nomenclature and Taxonomy Data Standard's Biological Nomenclature/Taxonomy Meeting Summary, November 2-3, 2000
by Steve Taswell and Robert Peet
annotations added by Nozomi Ytow are indicated by slanted words.

Entity Attribute
Name Definition Name Definition Domain Values
BIODIVERSITYUNIT A generic term for any distinct component of biological or ecological diversity including taxonomic units (taxa) and ecological types (communities). circumscription idreference to CIRCUMSCRIPTIONsystem given
other dataTEXT-
biodiversity unit idkeysystem given
CIRCUMSCRIPTION "Of a taxon: the diagnostic limit separating the individuals that belong to a taxon from all other individuals; also used to mean the sum of the individuals within that limit." (from: An Annotated Glossary of Botanical Nomenclature, 1968).

Circumscriptions may be formal (e.g., Carya aquatica sensu Flora of North America, Vol. 3, 1997) or informal (e.g., Carya glabra sensu Kartesz, 1980).

A circumscription must have an initial reference and an initial name usage. Once assigned, these may not change since together they define the circumscription.

circumscription idkey?system given?
circumscription numberA system generated sequential number that uniquely identifies a circumscription. It is used by the user as a quick means of retrieving a circumscription.

how differs from circumscription id?

-
initial circumscription reference id The identifier for the reference initially used to record this particular circumscription in the database. In practice, this may not necessarily represent the original formal circumscription, but by inference defines the taxon and can later be used as a basis for tracing the literature back to the formal circumscription. A circumscription must have an initial reference.-
CLASSIFICATION FRAMEWORK LEVEL A vertical position in a classification framework. For levels within taxonomic systems, also known as a 'taxonomic rank'. required level indicatorThe code that indicates whether this level is a required level in this classification framework.yes
no
direct superior level id The identifier of the level that is directly above this level in this classification framework.-
required superior level id The identifier of the next higher required level above this level in the classification framework. The required superior level will not always be the same as the direct superior level.-
classification framework level id The identifier of a level in a classification framework.-
level name The name of a level in a classification framework (e.g., kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species).
  • Examples for plants:
  • Kingdom
    • Subkingdom
  • Division
    • Subdivision
  • Class
    • Subclass
  • Order
    • Suborder
  • Family
    • Subfamily
    • Tribe
    • Subtribe
  • Genus
    • Subgenus
    • Section
    • Subsection
    • Series
    • Subseries
  • Species
  • Subspecies
  • Variety
  • Examples for animals:
  • Kingdom
    • Subkingdom
    • Superphylum
  • Phylum
    • Subphylum
    • Branch
    • Superclass
  • Class
    • Subclass
    • Infraclass
    • Cohort
    • Superorder
  • Order
    • Suborder
    • Infraorder
    • Superfamily
  • Family
    • Subfamily
    • Tribe
    • Subtribe
  • Genus
    • Subgenus
  • Species
  • Subspecies
classification framework id--
CLASSIFICATION FRAMEWORK A domain entity for tracking different systems or frameworks for arranging similar taxa into groups. A classification framework defines a generic structure (typically hierarchical) for classifying taxa, independent of the actual taxa found within a particular geographic area (i.e., independent of a particular 'treatment'). classification framework idThe identifier of a classification framework.-
classification framework nameThe name of a classification framework.Examples:
Plant
Animal
CORRELATION The relationship between two circumscriptions from the perspective of a particular party. This entity allows a party to relate circumscriptions that are standard (i.e., accepted) to those that are not and to describe that relationship (broader, finer. intersecting, equal, identical, unknown). party id--
x to y correlation codeThe code that represents how a party relates one circumscription to another.broader
finer
intersecting
equal (approximately)
identical
unknown
circumscription y--
circumscription x--
LINEAGE A predecessor-successor relationship between two circumscriptions where one circumscription is a precursor to the other through some classification event (e.g., a split or lump). A chain of predecessor-successor relationships constitutes the taxonomic history of a circumscription as it is reflected in the database. This history will parallel actual events in the literature only to the extent that a complete set of circumscriptions and lineage relationships are recorded in the database. predecessor id--
successor id--
party id--
PARTY An individual or organization (e.g., institution, agency, office, department). party id A unique, system-generated identifier for a party.-
party name The name of a party.-
PARTY CIRCUMSCRIPTION STATUS The acceptance status assigned by a party to a particular circumscription. circumscription id--
party idA unique, system-generated identifier for a party-
party circumscription start date The date on which a particular party started recognizing a particular circumscription acceptance status.(A corresponding stop date for the circumscription acceptance status can be derived based upon the subsequent start of a different circumscription acceptance status at a more recent date.)-
party circumscription acceptance status The code that denotes how a party recognizes this circumscription. accepted (standard)
not accepted (nonstandard)
provisional
PARTY
CIRCUMSCRIPTION-
REFERENCE
An additional reference for a circumscription as recognized by a particular party. This entity allows a party to track comparable references or subsequent editions of a particular reference that essentially list the same circumscription without having to continually create a new CIRCUMSCRIPTION record (e.g., Kartesz 1994 and Kartesz 1999 might serve as additional references for numerous plants whose implied circumscriptions remain unchanged from Kartesz 1980). circumscription id--
party idA unique, system-generated identifier for a party.-
reference idA unique, system-generated identifier for a reference.-
index name idThe identifier for the scientific name which serves as an index in the party's additional circumscription reference.-
party circumscription primary reference indicator The code that denotes whether a particular party considers this reference the primary reference for this circumscription. yes
no
party circumscription reference commentsThe text of comments that accompany a reference being used for a circumscription by a party.-
PARTY USAGE STATUS The acceptance status assigned by a party to the usage of a particular scientific name for a particular circumscription party idA unique, system-generated identifier for a party.-
party usage start dateThe date on which a particular party started recognizing a particular usage acceptance status.(A corresponding stop date for the usage acceptance status can be derived based upon the subsequent start of a different usage acceptance status at a more recent date.)-
party usage acceptance status The code that denotes how a party recognizes this scientific name usage. accepted name (standard)
synonym (nonstandard)
provisional name
scientific name id--
circumscription id--
classification framework level id--
PARTY USAGE-SPELLING The particular spelling associated with a scientific name usage as recognized (accepted or not) by a particular party. circumscription id--
party idA unique, system-generated identifier for a party.-
party accepted spelling indicator The code that indicates whether this name is a particular party's accepted spelling of the name. A party's accepted spelling may agree with or override the accepted spelling according to the relevant International Code of Nomenclature or it may resolve ambiguities in spelling not addressed by the International Code.yes
no
scientific name id--
classification framework level id--
name spelling id--
PARTY-
CIRCUMSCRIPTION
The recognition (but not necessarily acceptance) of a particular circumscription by a particular party. party circumscription comments Taxonomic comments concerning the circumscription (including any pertinent questions or controversies regarding description or classification) according to a particular party.-
party circumscription correlation comments Comments on the relationship between one circumscription (typically standard) and one or more other circumscriptions according to a particular party.-
party idA unique, system-generated identifier for a party.-
circumscription id--
PARTY-USAGE The recognition (but not necessarily acceptance) of a particular scientific name usage by a particular party. derived classification sequence The concatenation of sibling checklist orders for this usage of the taxon plus each of the required superior groups in the classification framework (in sequential order). This is a system derived attribute shown in the logical model for information purposes.-
sibling checklist order The numer that represents the classification sequence used for this taxon within the immediate superior group according to a particular party. This number is concatenated with those of its superiors to construct the classification sequence attribute.-
composition size code The code that represents the size of the taxon according to this usage and classification as measured by the number of closest required subordinate taxa. 0 = zero members
A = monotypic circumscription
B = small circumscription (2-5 members)
C = medium circumscription (6-20 members)
D = large circumscription (21+ members)
party scientific name usage commentsThe text of comments concerning this particular usage of the taxon according to a particular party.-
scientific name id--
party idA unique, system-generated identifier for a party.-
classification framework level id--
circumscription id--
REFERENCE A source of information, published or unpublished (including journal articles, books, documents, field surveys, personal communications, etc.). reference idA unique, system-generated identifier for a reference.-
citationFormal citation for the reference.-
SCIENTIFIC NAME The scientific name for a taxon including author(s) and, where appropriate, year. The name may represent a monomial, binomial, or polynomial as appropriate to a particular taxonomic level. The name must have at least one spelling and may include orthographic variants (see SCIENTIFIC NAME SPELLING entity) scientific name idThe identifier of a scientific name-
author block textThe text of authorship information for a scientific name. This is a free text field that may include full name, abbreviated name, multiple names, and, where appropriate, year."-
hybrid indicator The code that indicates whether the name is for a hybrid.yes
no
nomenclatural type For genera and higher taxa, the nomenclatural type will be the name of a subordinate taxon; for species and lower taxa, the nomenclatural type will be a specimen.""...the single element of a taxon to which its name is permanently attached."" (from: A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 1982)-
SCIENTIFIC NAME SPELLING The particular spelling associated with a scientific name. A name must have at least one spelling and may include orthographic variants. scientific name spelling The text that represents a particular spelling used for a scientific name.-
international nomenclatural code accepted spelling indicatorThe code that indicates whether the relevant International Code of Nomenclature accepts this particular spelling of the scientific name or treats it as an orthographic variant.-
original spelling indicator The code that indicates whether this spelling is the original spelling for the name as used in the initial circumscription reference (or the author's intended spelling, if more than one spelling was used).-
name spelling id--
scientific name idThe identifier of a scientific name-
SCIENTIFIC NAME-
FRAMEWORK LEVEL
This entity is an intersection allowing a scientific name to exist in more than one classification framework. classification framework level id--
scientific name id--
SCIENTIFIC NAME-REFERENCE The intersection of a specific scientific name in a specific reference. scientific name id--
reference idA unique, system-generated identifier for a Reference.-
original publication indicatorThe code that indicates whether this reference represents the original reference in which the scientific name was first published. One and only one reference may be flagged to represent the original publication of a name.-
basionym publication indicatorThe code that indicates whether this reference represents a publication of the basionym for a particular scientific name.-
USAGE The unique application of a particular scientific name to a particular circumscription as used in a reference or by a party. One name may be applied to one or more circumscriptions; one circumscription may have one or more different names applied to it. initial usage indicator The code that indicates whether the name used for this circumscription is the name used in the initial circumscription reference (i.e., the reference initially used in the database to record this circumscription). Each circumscription must have one and only one name that serves as the index name in the initial circumscription reference.yes
no
superior idThe identifier for the name usage-
sensu modifier textThe text of any modifiers that apply to this usage. Examples: sensu lato, sensu stricto, sensu Jones, etc."-
scientific name id--
circumscription id--
classification framework level id--