Taxon

Meanings of the most common latin abbreviations used in taxa:

Species code In some data collections or systems a species code is used (Pangaea text parameter ID = 49736). The species code can be a number or just an abbreviation of the name; in most cases it is proprietary and thus does not follow any standard. When ever a code is provided with a data set, its source, reference or basic definition must be explained in the data series comment. Any abbreviations could also be substituted by its full meaning.

Linking taxonomy The data model of Pangaea was designed for georeferenced primary data and is not suitable to hold taxonomic information. Georeferenced and taxonomic databases need different data models which are not usefull to be combined in one system. Even though, species defined as parameters can be linked via an URL field in the parameter table to taxonomic databases. Parameters with a URL field will be hyperlinked in the metaheader of the related data sets. Species names should only be linked to taxonomic databases which are widely acceted and long-term operational (e.g. ITIS, Species 2000, FishBase).

Data sets with species names are archived/published as provided by the author at the time of publication (including the related reference(s) if applicable). Similar to publications, no part of the data set, i.e. names of species, can be changed after the data sets is set to published. It will always reflect the state of the art at the time when the data were made public available - equivalent to a printed publication. It is in the responsibility of the taxonomic databases to keep track on the changes of taxa names, the assignments to groups or the naming history of a name and its synonyms.

Pangaea will be linked to biogeographical information systems and portals (OBIS, MARBEF, GBIF), ensuring, that the species with its geographical occurrence will also be served via those global portals, binding the information from many system together.

Reference sites:
 * ITIS
 * Species2000
 * Fishbase
 * MARBEF
 * OBIS
 * GBIF