Papilio joanae - Heritage/TNC/ABI vs. USGS data

Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca
Tue Jan 30 12:27:35 EST 2001


Jeez, I musta missed something. I do not recall seeing any dismissive
comments. The only message I took home from the discussion and info on this
topic is that there are different databases and websites that have different
content for different users.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Quinn [mailto:Mike.Quinn at tpwd.state.tx.us]
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2001 8:26 AM
To: 'John Shuey'
Cc: Leps-L (E-mail)
Subject: RE: Papilio joanae - Heritage/TNC/ABI vs. USGS data
 
 
Dear Dr. Shuey,
 
I was a bit surprised to read your somewhat dismissive comments of the value
and veracity of the USGS data especially considering Dr. Opler is the senior
author of half the references cited for the ABI data! Personally I regularly
consult the USGS site. There are exceedingly few on-line options for
county-level invertebrate distribution data (or in Heritage parlance:
"Element of Occurrence" data). Perhaps you folks up in Illinois with access
to Illinois Natural History Survey data have more options than most other
states. My job description mentions something about my having primary
responsibility of all terrestrial invertebrates in the state of Texas, the
estimated number of insects alone exceeds 30,000 species. Yet, our in-house
literature and specimen data are rather limited to nonexistent...
 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Mike Quinn
Invertebrate Biologist
Wildlife Diversity Branch
Texas Parks & Wildlife
3000 IH 35 South, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78704
Ph/Fax: 512/912-7059, -7058
mike.quinn at tpwd.state.tx.us
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Shuey [mailto:jshuey at tnc.org]
> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2001 8:27 AM
> To: leps
> Subject: papilio joanae - Heritage data overview
>
>
>
> Ron Gatrelle noted that the USGS web page apparently ignores P joanae
> and that this has implications relative to conservation.  Keep in mind
> that that web site is designed for public consumption and
> participation,
> and while I can't claim to understand data quality or
> decisions, it does
> not play much of a role in the conservation community (in fact I think
> it probably plays zero role).
>
> In that line, I've downloaded the P. joanae abstract from the Heritage
> Network (http://www.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe) where I
> understand the decision process.  Essentially designed to capture
> recognizable evolutionary units (many with no names) for selected
> groups, this is the primary source of data for state conservation
> programs, TNC (of course) and increasingly for EPA, US-FS, US-FWS, and
> USGS.  Unlike the public USGS web site, data are tightly
> screened before
> they are entered, and the data are linked to source, site, time and
> environmental setting.  (hence the time lag in getting data into the
> system that can frustrate many contributors).  There are two parts to
> the data/web site, one private (which has all the raw data) and one
> public.  I've copied the public summary for P joanae below:
> -
> John Shuey
> ________________________________________________________
>        Comprehensive Report: Record 1 of 1 selected.
 
<snip>
 
>
>  References
>
>       Heitzman, J. R., 1974 ["1973"] Journal of Research on the
> Lepidoptera 12:3-7.
>       Heitzman, J. Richard and Joan E. Heitzman, 1987. Butterflies and
> Moths of Missouri. Missouri Dept. of Conservation, Jefferson
>       City, MO. 385pp.
>       Opler, P.A. (chair), J.M. Burns, J.D. LaFontaine, R.K. Robbins,
> and F. Sperling. 1998. Scientific names of North American
>       butterflies. Fort Collins, CO. Unpublished review draft.
>       Opler, P.A. and V. Malikul. 1992. Eastern Butterflies (Peterson
> Field Guide). Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston,
>       Massachusetts. 396 pp. + color plates.
>
>
>  The Small Print: Trademark, Copyright, Citation Guidelines,
> Restrictions on Use,
>  and Information Disclaimer.
>
>  Note: Data presented in NatureServe at
> http://www.natureserve.org were
> updated to be current with the Association for Biodiversity
>  Information's central databases as of October 31, 2000.
 
 
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