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- ETE Program ›Database ›Database Manual ›Terrestrial Arthropod Species Data Fields
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Tables and Fields of the ETE Database (Summary)
- Overview of Data Field Listings
- The Locality Data Fields
- Locality Data Fields -- Lists
- The Plant Species Data Fields
- The Terrestrial Arthropod Species Data Fields
- The Mollusc and Other Invertebrate Species Data Fields
- The Vertebrate Species Data Fields
- Reference Data Fields
- Bibliography
The Terrestrial Arthropod Species Data Fields
The terrestrial arthropod species entity contains taxonomic, morphological, and ecological ("ecomorphic") data for each species of arthropod. Data is provided in the ETE database only for the particular life stage encountered as a fossil (notably for insects: naiad, nymph, larva, pupa or adult) without extrapolation of presumed ecomorphic, morphological or other attributes to conspecific life stages. In addition to the Data-Entry Authorization section, each species entry must be associated with at least one reference (which requires the fields ref.author_1 and ref.date). See Reference Data Fields.
Required fields for a terrestrial arthropod species consist of:
| Genus | asp.genus |
| Species | asp.species |
| Unique field | asp.unf |
| Data Coordinator | sau.coordinator |
| Data Authorizer | sau.authorizer |
Higher taxonomic information should be supplied for any genus that is new to the database. Later entries of congeneric species will be automatically supplied with the higher taxonomic information by the software, so it is not necessary to provide it in these cases.
Activity
Descriptor of activity period for the species.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
Time during a 24 hour cycle during which activity (feeding, reproduction, etc.) is greatest.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.activity
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| crepusc | crepuscular (dawn and dusk) | many Sphingidae, Lampyridae |
| diurnal | diurnal (day) | Apidae |
| noctur | nocturnal (night) | Cimicidae |
| undet | undetermined |
Anti-Predator Devices
Anti-predator devices inferred for the species.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A categorization of defensive structures that assist in avoiding predation.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.antipred
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| absent | absent | Aphididae |
| bite | to bite, puncture, etc. from the caudal region | Centromachidae |
| cerci | cerci | Japygidae |
| color | coloration | some Nymphalidae |
| cuticle | thick cuticle | some Tenebrionidae |
| feign | behavioral modification: threat posturing or feigning death | some Scarabaeidae |
| glands | special glands | Coreidae |
| ins_fabr | insect constructed (web tunnels, cases) | Embiidae |
| mimicry | mimicry | many Membracidae |
| other | ||
| pla_fabr | plant constructed (galls, mines, borings) | Gracillariidae |
| spines | spines | some Acrididae |
| sting | sting | Megachilidae |
| undet | undetermined |
Body Length
Average adult body length, excluding appendages such as antennae and ovipositor, for the species.
DATA TYPE
A real number (optional decimal point).
DESCRIPTION
The average adult body length estimated for the species, in millimeters. This length estimate excludes appendages.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.body_length
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Class
The Linnean class to which the species belongs.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 30 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The Linnean class to which the species belongs.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.class
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Comment
A comment on the addition of a new species, or an update.
DATA TYPE
Character field not exceeding 255 characters.
DESCRIPTION
Each time a species is added to the database, the Data-Entry Authorization section (see the Overview) must be filled out. The same thing occurs whenever the data for the species are updated. Included in this part of the data fields is a comment field. Include here reservations about certain data, explanations of what some inferences were based on, what references were used for what data, and other miscellaneous useful comments on your work in preparing the data for entry. Be brief!
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
sau.comment
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Data Authorizer
The authorizer of the data.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 25 characters. MANDATORY FIELD.
DESCRIPTION
The name of the member of a research group who authorizes the entry of information into the database. This may or may not be the same as the Data Coordinator. It is intended that the currently empowered Authorizers be a small and restricted set of research group members who work closely with the database. Their job is to certify that the data prepared by the Data Coordinator(s) meet the current standards for scientific accuracy and have been entered logically. They are also responsible for catching major errors of a scientific nature, inconsistencies, and misunderstandings on the part of whoever filled out the datasheet. No datasheet can be entered without an Authorizer.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
sau.authorizer
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Data Coordinator
The name of the researcher preparing the data for entry.
DATA TYPE
A character string not exceeding 25 characters. MANDATORY FIELD.
DESCRIPTION
The data for each entity are prepared by or under the supervision of a particular researcher (or group of researchers). This (these) person(s) is designated the Data Coordinator, and is the primary source of the information and is responsible for its accuracy. Data Coordinators may or may not also be Data Authorizers. Data Coordinators possess such rights over the data as the Consortium has decided in its general policy on the subject. Briefly, for entities designated as "private", the Data Coordinator's data are treated as a collection that the Data Coordinator is actively working on. Thus, the Data Coordinator must be consulted/informed when other researchers use the data in some project intended for publication. The Data Coordinator may deny permission for such use. The Data Coordinator may initially or at a later time designate the status of a species or locality as "public". In this case, the data become "public domain" and can be used by anyone with access privileges to the database, for any purpose, without informing or obtaining permission from the Data Coordinator. The Consortium has established a time period (5 years from date of entry or last modification) after which data of a particular entity will convert to "public" status, unless there are compelling reasons to retain private status.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
sau.coordinator
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Developmental Type
Type of ametamorphic or metamorphic development.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The primary type of ametamorphic or metamorphic development for the species.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.development
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| ametabol | ametabolous (metamorphosis absent) | Archaeognatha |
| hemimet | hemimetabolous (adult-dissimilar naiads present; pupae absent) | Hemiptera |
| holomet | holometabolous (larvae and pupae present) | Hymenoptera |
| hypermet | hypermetamorphic (larvae strongly differentiated morphologically) | many Rhipiphoridae |
| oligomet | oligometabolous (adult-similar nymphs present; pupae absent) | Dermaptera |
| other | other | |
| undet | undetermined |
Diet Type
General food type category.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The most general food type consumed by the taxon being entered (commonly, the genus).
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.diet_type
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| algae | algivory (algae) | Hydroscaphidae, some Corixidae |
| all | omnivory (eclectic diet) | Blatellidae, some Forficulidae |
| animal | carnivory (live animal tissue) | Aeshyidae, Belostomatidae |
| blood | sanguinivory (blood, lymph, liquified tissues, or any other internal bodily fluids) | female Simuliidae, female Culicidae |
| carrion | necrivory (dead animal tissue) | Calliphoridae, most Silphidae |
| detritus | detritivory--macrovorous (consump- tion of dead macroscopic particles, including unspecific necrivory) | Ephemerellidae, some Perlidae |
| eggs | ovivory (eggs) | some Phoridae, some Chloropidae |
| excreta | stercovory (excreta) | Scatophagidae, many Muscidae |
| fil_feed | filter feeder (siever or filterer of microscopic particles) | larval Simuliidae |
| flowers | flowers | some Scarabaeidae |
| fruit | fruit | some Tortricidae |
| fungi | fungivory (fungi) | some Staphylinidae, Mycetophilidae |
| gran_sem | granivory/seminivory (seeds and grain) | Bruchidae, Xyelidae |
| leaves | folivory (leaves) | most Pyralidae, Chrysomelidae |
| nectar | nectarivory (flower, fungal and plant fluids, including nectar, honeydew, guttated fluids, surface sweat, deliquescing fungal surfaces, etc.) | Sphingidae, Nemestrinidae |
| nontroph | nontrophic (no feeding) | adult Ephemeroptera, some adult Lepidoptera (e.g. Tineidae) |
| plan_sap | phytosuccivory (plant sap) | Cicadellidae, Thripidae |
| plants | herbivory (undifferentiated) | many Acrididae |
| roots | roots | Hepialidae |
| spor_pol | sporivory/pollenivory (spores and/or pollen) | some Curculionidae, some Helio-dinidae |
| undet | undetermined | |
| unique | unique | Galleria on wax (Pyralidae), Psilopa on petroleum (Ephydridae) |
| wood | lignivory (wood) | larval Siricidae, larval Buprestidae |
Egg Laying Strategy
Mode of egg deposition for the species.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
Mode of egg deposition, including the presence and/or type of egg-embedding substances.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.eggs
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| ani_ovip | animal-piercing ovipositor (narrow and stylate) | Ibaliidae |
| free | eggs freely laid (external ovipositor absent) | Mallophaga |
| gen_ovip | generalized ovipositor (unelaborated) | Cleridae |
| marsup | marsupiate | Belostomatidae |
| mucus | embedded in fluid polysaccharide (froth, mucus, colloidal matrix) | some Chironomidae |
| ootheca | oothecate (eggs in leathery case) | Blaberidae |
| other | other | |
| pla_ovip | plant-piercing ovipositor (broad and serrate, or telescopic for inserting eggs into crevices of plants, flower buds, etc.) | Tenthredinidae |
| sting | ovipositor with a sting | Anthophoridae |
| undet | undetermined | |
| wd_ovip | wood-boring ovipositor (very long with a drill tip) | Ichneumonidae |
Family
The Linnean family to which the species belongs.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 30 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The Linnean family to which the species belongs. It should, as usual, begin with an upper-case letter.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
vsp.family
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Feeding Habitat
General habitat where the species feeds.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The microhabitat where feeding occurs.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.feeding_hab
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| aerial | aerial (in air) | Asilidae |
| algae | algicolous (algae) | most Elmidae |
| benthic | benthic (in substrate; aquatic) | Chironomidae |
| caverns | cavernicolous (in caverns) | some Gyrillidae |
| dung | in dung | Scathophagidae |
| edaphic | edaphic (in soil on land) | most Termitidae |
| epibenth | epibenthic (on substrate; aquatic) | nymphal Perlidae |
| epiedaph | epiedaphic (on soil on land; unspeci- fied, generalized, and ecologically broad in feeding habitat that may include terrestrial ground-level feeding among dead or live plant material such as, leaves, foliar litter, tree trunks,and decomposing wood, and on soil and unspeci- fied detritus) | Carabidae |
| epizoic | epizoic (on animals) | Pulicidae |
| flowers | floricolous (flowers) | Thripidae |
| fruit | in or on fruit | Tephritidae |
| fungi | fungicolous (fungi) | many Ciidae |
| intrzoic | intrazoic (in animals) | Hypodermatidae |
| in_wood | in or on wood, includ. tree trunk surf. | Cupedidae |
| leaf_lit | in leaf litter | larval Dolichopodidae |
| leaves | folicolous (foliage) | Tenthrediniidae |
| nektonic | nektonic (in water column) | Dytiscidae |
| nests | in or on animal's nests, including other insects, mammals, birds, & arthropods | Paussidae |
| neuston | neuston (in neuston zone) | larval Culicidae |
| not_app | aphagic organisms | adult Ephemeroptera |
| other | other | |
| roots | radicicolous (roots) | Hepialiidae |
| sem_gran | seminicolous or granicolous (seeds/grains) | some Eurytomidae |
| shorelin | along the shoreline of fresh or marine bodies | many Staphylinidae |
| stems | caulicolous (stems) | Cephidae |
| wat_surf | water surface | Gerridae |
| undet | undetermined |
Food Form
Macroscopic food form type.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The macroscopic form of the food for the species.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.food_form
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| liquid | liquid | Lygaeidae |
| not_app | not applicable | some adult Lasiocampidae & Saturniidae |
| particle | particulate | larval Simuliidae |
| solid | solid | Petaluridae |
| undet | undetermined |
Fossil Parts
How the fossil is assembled or disassembled.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 9 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A general descriptor of how the fossil is assembled or disassembled.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.fos_pts
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | |
| fi_arti | final instar, articulated |
| fi_disart | final instar, disarticulated |
| mt_arti | molt, articulated |
| mt_disart | molt, disarticulated |
| not_app | not applicable, as in the case of trace fossils |
Fossil Type
The body part or collection of body parts that constitute the fossil.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A general descriptor of what body part or collection of body parts that constitute the fossil.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.fos_type
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| bf_soft | body fossil--organs other than wings | |
| bf_valves | body fossil--valves | |
| bf_wings | body fossil--wings | |
| tf_cases | trace fossil (e.g. caddisfly cases) | Phryganeidae |
| tf_plant | trace fossil--plant damage (e.g. wood-boring, stem gall, leaf mine) |
Cynipidae, Incurvariidae |
| tf_soil | trace fossil--trail or burrow | larval Chironomidae |
Functional Feeding Group
Mode by which food is consumed.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A general descriptor of the mode by which food is consumed.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.feeding_grp
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| borer | borer (in indurated tissue; no nutritive tissue) | larval Anobiidae, larval Xiphydriidae |
| chewer | chewer | |
| cutan | cutaneous adsorber (nutrients sequestered through the skin) | larval Gasterophilidae, female Halic-tophagidae |
| eff | external foliage feeder (on live foliage) | Acrididae, larval Saturniidae |
| fil_feed | filter feeder (small particle siever or filterer) | larval Hydropsychidae, nymphal Oligo-neuridae |
| galler | galler (in various tissues; nutritive tissue present) | most Cecidomyiidae, most Cynipidae |
| gras_pre | grasper-predator (chewer with raptorial structures) | Coenogrionidae, Nepidae |
| miner | miner (in soft tissue; no nutritive tissue) | Nepticulidae, Agromyzidae |
| not_app | not applicable | |
| pier_suc | piercer-and-sucker (suction of subcutaneous fluids, including specialized methods such as piercing-and-cutting) | Membracidae, Reduviidae |
| sff | surface fluid feeder (e.g. honeydew, urine, wounds) | Muscidae, Apidae |
| undet | undetermined | |
| unique | unique |
Genus
The generic name of the species.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 30 characters in length. MANDATORY FIELD.
DESCRIPTION
The generic name of the species. It should, as usual, begin with an upper-case letter. Exception: Generic names may also be given as "cf." followed by a generic name, or the entries "gen." or "indet.".
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.genus
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Hunt/Forage
Life-history strategy by which food is obtained.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A general descriptor of the life-history strategy by which food is obtained for the species.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.hunt_forage
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| amb_pred | ambush predator (prey can be smaller or larger than predator and not necessarily consumed in its entirety) |
many mygalomorph spiders; larval Myrmeleontidae; adult Odontomachus (Formicidae) |
| ectopara | ectoparasitic (host is initially larger than "predator") | Ceratophyllidae |
| endopara | endoparasitic (host is larger than "predator") | Stylopidae |
| ex_plant | external plant feeder (includes plant fluids) | larval Sphingidae |
| net_capt | net capture | Philopotamidae |
| not_app | not applicable | |
| scaveng | scavenging or foraging (includes mucus entrapment) | some Mycetophilidae |
| stl_pred | stalk predator (prey can be smaller or larger than predator and not necessarily consumed in its entirety) | Mantidae; Reduviidae; Psychodidae |
| undet | undetermined | |
| unique | unique |
Life Stage
Major life-stage of the fossil.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A general descriptor of the major life-stage of the fossil.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.life_stage
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | |
| adult | adult |
| egg | egg |
| larva | larva |
| nym_nai | nymph (terrestrial) or naiad (aquatic) |
Locomotion
Dominant mode of movement from one place to another.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The dominant mode of organismic movement from one place to another.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.locomotion
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| bur_nat | burrower and natant undifferentiated | Phryganeidae |
| burrow | burrower (sensu lato) | Gryllotalpidae |
| cursor | cursorial/gressorial (walking) | Salpingidae |
| hydrosta | hyrdrostatic creeping (e.g. apodous larval movement) | larval Sciaridae |
| natant | natant (swimming) | Hydrophilidae |
| other | other | |
| phoretic | phoretic (attached to a shelter host) | Nycterbiidae |
| saltator | saltatorial (jumping) | Tettigoniidae |
| undet | undetermined | |
| volant | volant (flying) | Papilionidae |
Mouthpart Class
Categorizes structurally the mouthpart ensemble and adjacent structures on the head capsule.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 9 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A category that structurally categorizes the mouthpart ensemble (both single and functionally co-opted elements) and adjacent structures on the head capsule. The phenetic analysis for which mouthpart classes were established for modern insects is Labandeira (1990).
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.mouthpart
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| adu_ecto | adult ectognathate | adults & nymphs of most mandibulate in-sects |
| buc_cone | buccal cone | Anoplura, Haematomyzidae |
| cheli | generalized chelicerate | Araneida |
| chel_sty | chelicerate-stylate | some Acari |
| di_tetr | distylate/tetrastylate | adult Anisopodidae, Rhagionidae, Mydidae, Therevidae, Ironomyiidae |
| ecto_sty | ectognathous-stylate | some adult taxa in Sphaeridae, Rhysodidae, Leiodidae, Cerylonidae, Corylophidae, Eu-cinetidae, Coolooidae |
| entognat | entognathate | Collembola, Diplura |
| ento_sty | entognathous-stylate | Protura, Neanuridae |
| fos_com | fossate complex | larval Planipennia |
| glossate | glossate | adult Sapygidae, Scolioidea, Vespoidea & Apoidea; Nemopteridae |
| haust | haustoriate | adult Trichoptera |
| hexasty | hexastylate | most adult nematocerous Diptera, Tabanoidea |
| labellate | labellate | adult Tipuloidea, Tanyderidae, Ptycho-pteridae, Bibionoidea, Brachycera, Nannochoristidae |
| laciniate | laciniate | hypoperlids (e.g. Caloneuridae) |
| lar_ecto | larval ectognathate | larvae of Mecoptera, Siphonaptera, many Diptera, Coleoptera & Lepidoptera |
| mandibul | mandibulobrustiate | larval Trichoptera |
| maxillo | maxillolabiate | most adult apocritan Hymenoptera |
| max_man | maxilloped and mandible bearing | Crustacea |
| monocond | monocondylate | Archaeognatha |
| mono_di | monostylate/distylate | adult Asilidae, Acroceridae, Empididae, Bombyliidae |
| mor_pes | mortar-and-pestle | Psocoptera, Mallophaga |
| mthbrush | mouthbrush | many larval nematocerous Diptera |
| mouthcone | mouthcone | Thysanoptera |
| mouthhook | mouthhook | larval Cecidomyiidae and Brachycera |
| nontroph | nontrophic | adults of Ephemeroptera, Hepialoidea, Lasiocampidae, and Saturniidae |
| pectinate | pectinate | subadult Ephemeroptera |
| rap_ecto | raptorial ectognathate | Odonata |
| rasp | hypostomal rasp | some Acari |
| red_trop | reduced trophic | adult Nymphomyiidae, Hyperoscleidae, Gasterophilidae, Acroceridae, Zygaenoidae; adult Hymenoptera-'Parasitica' |
| rhyncho | rhynchophorate | adult Curculionoidea |
| rob_beak | robust beak | Palaeodictyopteroidea |
| rostrate | rostrate | adult Mecoptera, adult Nemopteridae |
| seg_beak | segmented beak | Hemiptera |
| sericter | sericterate | most larval glossate Lepidoptera and larval symphytan Hymenoptera |
| siph_man | siphonomandibulate | some adult Meloidae and Rhipiphoridae |
| siphonate | siphonate | most adult Lepidoptera |
| siph_sty | siphonostylate | some adult Noctuidae |
| tristylat | tristylate | adult Siphonaptera |
| tub_sty | tubulostylate | adult Glossinidae, Hippoboscidae, Streb-lidae, Nycterbiidae |
| tubulo | tubulomandibulate | larval Hygrobiidae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Lampyridae, Drilidae, Lycidae, Pheno-godidae, Cantharidae |
| undet | undetermined |
Order
The Linnean order to which the species belongs.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 30 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The Linnean order to which the species belongs. It should, as usual, begin with an upper-case letter.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.lorder
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Physiognomy
Measure of shape and appendicularity.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
A descriptor of the measure of shape and appendicularity of the fossil.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.physiog
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| asthenic | asthenic (gracile; high surface to volume ratio) | Hydrometridae |
| mesic | mesic (moderate body shape) | Tenebrionidae |
| pycnic | pycnic (robust; low surface to volume ratio) | many Scarabaeidae |
| undet | undetermined |
Population Structure
Indicates whether the species is solitary, social or gregarious.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The degree to which the population structure is characterized by caste polymorphism and division of labor.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.pop_struct
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| sbsocial | subsocial or gregarious | Cryptocercidae |
| social | social (castes) | Formicidae |
| solitary | solitary | Labiidae |
| undet | undetermined |
Reproduction
Descriptor of reproduction by a gravid female.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The degree to which embryo-surrounding tissues and structures are produced and/or retained by a gravid female.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.reproduction
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| other | other | |
| ovipar | oviparous (eggs are laid) | Corydalidae |
| ovi_viv | ability to switch between oviparous and viviparous | |
| ovovivi | ovoviviparous (eggs hatched Tachinidae internally) | |
| undet | undetermined | |
| vivipar | viviparous (no eggs) | Hippoboscidae |
Selectivity
Descriptor of the taxonomic specificity to which host tissue is consumed.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 7 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The taxonomic specificity to which host tissue (plant, fungal, animal or otherwise) is consumed. Stenophagy=a few related species within a genus; Oligophagy=related genera within a family or among closely-related families; Euryphagy=no pattern of host specificity.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.selectivity
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | |
| eury | euryphagous (broad specificity) - unrelated species, genera and families |
| not_app | not applicable |
| oligo | oligophagous (intermediate specificity) - closely related genera within families |
| steno | stenophagous (narrow specificity) - closely related species |
| undet | undetermined |
Species
The species epithet of the species.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 30 characters in length. MANDATORY FIELD.
DESCRIPTION
The species name of the species. It is always entirely in lower case. Species may also be recorded as "sp.", "indet.", or preceded by "cf." to indicate different levels of uncertainty in assignment. These three strings are the only ones that the graphical interface recognizes as alternatives to Linnean names. "sp." implies that it is known that this is a new or separate species, but that it currently has no formal taxonomic name; use "indet." for a species that is not identifiable at the species level. "cf." is to indicate any of the many tentative assignments (including "aff.", "near", ? species, etc.). "cf." entries always are recorded as separate species, not as instances of the referred species.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.species
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Status
The current status (public or private) of a species record.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 15 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
Every species or locality record in the Database at any moment is assigned a status, which indicates the level of access permitted to that record. Currently, the value "public" indicates that the record is essentially "public domain" and will be made available without restriction in the public domain version of the ETE Database. The value "private" indicates that the record will be accessible only to those researchers who have access to the ongoing working database. Records will ordinarily be entered with "private" status until the members of the Project (q.v.) that has generated them releases them to the public. The Data Coordinator (q.v.) for each record is ultimately responsible for any changes of its status. Additional values for status may eventually be added if it becomes necessary to specify in finer detail the access level of an entity.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.status
ALLOWED VALUES
private
public
Unique
Makes the species entry unique.
DATA TYPE
A character field not exceeding 30 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
At times the occurrences of the same species at different localities will still differ in some ecologically meaningful way. For example, the same named species may be of substantially different size in different fossil localities. In order to record the size appropriate to each locality, one must somehow separate the two species occurrences -- as if they were two separate species. At other times, adequate identifications may be unavailable, or systematic work needs to be done, such that the best one can do is to identify to some higher taxon (e.g., Somegenus sp.). In such a case, "Somegenus sp." is what the computer will search on when a species list is entered. But there may be many undescribed species of Somegenus, each different in ecologically meaningful ways, and found in a variety of localities. Yet, they all have the same generic and specific name as far as the computer is concerned. They need to be treated individually.
The unique field is the way to do this. In addition to Genus and Species, this field is also searched when a species name is input as part of a species list. In effect, the ETE Database uses "trinomial" designations for its "species". Thus, to separate occurrences of Somegenus, all one has to do is to specify an entry in the unique field. It might be a letter or a number, or an abbreviation for a locality, or any string of 30 characters or fewer that will serve to identify it uniquely. Remember that other people might be working with Somegenus as well, so naming a species "Somegenus sp. A" (i.e., the unique field = "A") might inadvertently identify it incorrectly as another one already in the database. One fairly safe solution would be to include some kind of locality, regional, or temporal designations within the 30-character string -- increasing the probability that the unique field will really be unique.
Data Coordinators must keep track of their own usages and assignments using this field, and they should become aware of the ways in which the species (or close relatives) that they are working with may have already been entered by other workers. The computer cannot sort out a nomenclatural mess where two different things have been given the same name by mistake. On the other hand, excessive use of the unique field, resulting in a situation where all or most occurrences of a species are distinguished as unique, should also be avoided. This is surely unnecessary, takes up valuable storage space, and can also become confusing to other workers.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.unf
ALLOWED VALUES
Any
Vagility
Spatial mobility of an individual during the lifetime.
DATA TYPE
A predefined character string not exceeding 8 characters in length.
DESCRIPTION
The degree of spatial mobility during the lifetime of an individual.
INTERNAL TABLE.FIELD NAMES
asp.vagility
ALLOWED VALUES
| Explanation | Example | |
| act_vagi | actively vagile (under own power) | Lestidae |
| pas_vagi | passively vagile (external power) | Ricinidae |
| sessile | sessile (fixed) | Pseudococcidae |
| undet | undetermined |
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