[Nhcoll-l] Uploading collection catalogs online

[Rob Robins]

The debate over permissive or restrictive use of collection information has a history as long as many of our oldest museum specimens and stirs strong feelings in many. Before it is re-engaged on this list-serv I would remind folks that Ms. Beas-Moix did not ask for philosophical views on the topic, but rather asked a direct question.

Did you clean your data and hide information for particular specimens, species or localities?  For example, you may want to block access to the geographic coordinates for the locality of an endangered species.

Sincerely,

Rob Robins

Robert H. Robins
Senior Biologist/Collection Manager
Division of Ichthyology

Florida Museum of Natural History
Dickinson Hall, Museum Road
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu<mailto:rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu>
(352) 273-1957
FAX 352-846-0287

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Ellen Paul
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 1:05 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Uploading collection catalogs online

I beg to differ. I can't speak to taxa other than birds, but there are thousands and thousands of recreational birders and wildlife photogs around the world who would love to have the coordinates of rare species, particularly if taken on nesting grounds (as so many are philopatric). And there are problems like the greatly misguided reward for proof of a living Ivory-billed Woodpecker. More modern records with precise GPS data (as opposed to block and minute) would be quite useful in cases like these.

Ellen


Ellen Paul

Executive Director

The Ornithological Council

Email: ellen.paul at verizon.net<mailto:ellen.paul at verizon.net>

"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"<http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET>

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET"<http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET>
On 7/11/13 12:54 PM, Doug Yanega wrote:
On 7/11/13 9:01 AM, Mireia Beas-Moix wrote:
I have a question for curators who have uploaded their specimen records to an online database. Did you clean your data and hide information for particular specimens, species or localities?  For example, you may want to block access to the geographic coordinates for the locality of an endangered species.
I've heard this idea (re: endangered taxa in databases) voiced repeatedly for at least 20 years now, and have found that in reality it rarely makes a difference; *most* such species have their distributions well-enough known and publicized that there is no new information being offered by putting the specimen records online. This includes the fact that a lot of specimen records of such taxa are old enough that the species no longer occurs where the specimen was found, meaning that not only does concealing the data serve no purpose, but it makes it harder for researchers using data to track changes in species distributions over time. I consider data concealment something that can only be decided on a record-by-record basis, with careful thinking about the consequences - any "blanket" policy stands to do more harm than good. If you're concerned enough, then spend some time googling your taxon of interest and SEE for yourself how much detail you can find online regarding the distribution - and only be concerned if the information in your database would be a significant addition to what is already easily available.

Peace,


--

Doug Yanega      Dept. of Entomology       Entomology Research Museum

Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314     skype: dyanega

phone: (951) 827-4315 (disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)

             http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html<http://cache.ucr.edu/%7Eheraty/yanega.html>

  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness

        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82




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