1 Topic by Matt Smith

  • Matt Smith
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Topic: Typo noted in Bombus subgeneric names

Reposting this as it seems to have got lost in the switch to the new version of the forum.

Using I-Spot the other day I noticed a typo in the sub-generic names for 1 group of bumblebees when using the "get recommended" name feature.  Not sure which list I-Spot is pulling these names from, I checked the bees using the NBN Gateway and the subgeneric names were spelled correctly when looking at maps or taxonomic information.

The subgenus is "Thoracobombus", on the I-Spot list this is incorrectly given as "Thoracombus".  The species affected are B.pascuorum, B.muscorum, B.humilis, B.sylvarum and B.ruderarius, plus all subspecies and forms, together with the name "Bombus (Thoracombus).

Matt

2 Reply by Syrphus

  • Syrphus
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Re: Typo noted in Bombus subgeneric names

The iSpot dictionary is well out of date, Matt.  That is the explanation.  I sorted the subgenus misprint a year or two back with Charles, so it is OK in the current versions, and if/when iSpot gets around to updating their version that and a number of other errors and inconsistencies in the iSpot interface will disappear.

Murdo

Syrphus's Website

3 Reply by ChrisR

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Re: Typo noted in Bombus subgeneric names

Yes, iSpot have been in touch and we hope to work out the various technicalities involved so that their database will be updated in the not too distant future ... but no date has been set yet.

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)

4 Reply by Syrphus

  • Syrphus
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Re: Typo noted in Bombus subgeneric names

Following on from this, I notice that if you import Bombus pascuorum to R6, using the Aculeata list (the preferred one), the result stored is Thoracombus.

The Gateway regards the correct version as the default for returns.

This is one of these inconsistencies I don't think should exist - R6 and the Gateway should treat names identically.

The simplest solution would be (it seems to me, from my armchair well away from the NHM) to accept that the 'Thoracombus' in the Aculeata list was nothing more than a typo, and correct it.  If not that, then fiddle with nameserver or whatever to return the correct version from the 'List of additional names'.

What puzzles and irritates me is that these two interfaces which are supposed to use the same dictionary come up with different results.

M.

Syrphus's Website

5 Reply by ChrisR (edited by ChrisR 20-08-2012 10:28:17)

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Re: Typo noted in Bombus subgeneric names

Hi Murdo

I can't say for sure but this discrepancy might be to do with the NBN Gateway and your copy of Recorder using slightly different versions of the Species Inventory database, due to the different technologies and update paths. Each system is updated independently and Recorder has the disadvantage of having to do extra work to the data before it is distributed to the customers. I totally agree that they should be syncronised and it is something that we will be working to address over the coming months, along with the various NBN/JNCC teams. :)

ChrisR.

PS: I plan to write a little article for the forum, explaining the ways that different stakeholders are updated and how we maintain the UK Species Inventory ... just haven't had the time yet :D

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)