Distribution Maps
Mary E. Barkworth
Intermountain Herbarium, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5305
Distribution mapsAre the last phase in a taxonomic study. The order of events should be: Decide what the taxa are Determine the correct names to use Prepare the maps
The last two phases can be conducted simultaneously, but one must know the taxa before one can map them.
The ideal Examine all available specimens and
conduct fieldwork About 3000 specimens/species in North
American herbaria 666 separate herbaria in North America Borrowing, annotating, and returning
specimens requires time and money Field work requires time and money
Get real! People want the maps now, not 10 years from now.
Getting RealMonographic
work All your own work Borrow from
“representative” herbaria
Which herbaria? Use other
publications as a guide for loans
Floristic work Examine as many
as possible within time costraints
Take data from published works Databases
Here be problems ….
Three situations Unchanged, easily recognized taxa
No sweat, even if name changes Unchanged, difficult taxa
Sweat, whether or not names changed
Changed taxa Lumped? See ‘unchanged’ Split or shifted? MAJOR PAIN;
concentrate efforts here.
An example of splitting Hitchcock included Echinochloa
muricata in E. crusgalli (and used a specimen of E. muricata to illustrate the combined taxa).
Many regional floras followed suit Next slide shows maps based on
literature records Note political boundaries, and absence
of E. muricata from states where E. crusgalli is widespread.
Echinochloa – “original”
E. crusgalli E. muricata
Improving the maps Borrowed 600+ specimens from
representative herbaria of states where E. muricata appears to have been included in E. crusgalli
Concluded separation of E. crusgalli and E. muricata much easier than many other in the genus
Maps improved, but a LONG way from good – see next slide
Echinochloa – 600 specimens later
Persistent problems Eliminating record – DIFFICULT
UNLESS DATA ARE LINKED TO SPECIMENS
Adding records is EASY (time consuming, but easy)
The number of specimens one needs to examine
Towards a solution • Herbaria need to share data – ASPT
Initiative? Distribution maps should come from herbaria.
• Accept for mapping purposes, a standard taxonomic treatment
• Different standards for different regions• Identify required fields for mapping• Suggest additional fields that might be
useful• No coercion – at least, not without money
Benefits of herbaria-based distribution map center Focus attention on specimens
and herbaria Provide correctable and verifiable
maps Improve distributional information Stimulate interest in regional flora Make feedback and sharing of data
entry feasible
Feedback New state or county records New distribution records for taxon Occurrence of apparent duplicates
with different names Occurrence of apparent duplicates
with different lat/lon data
Ground rules - suggestions MUST assist, encourage, persuade,
promote involvement by all herbaria Must not restrict freedom of herbaria Encourage regional and state level
initiatives Charge for access beyond basic data?
People in other countries learn more about US because US makes data available for free. Do we want to stimulate interest and encourage institutional support?
Basic Fields - Suggestions Herbarium code, accession number FNA_name, Herbarium_name State/Province, County, Region? Dec. lat, dec. lon, UTM, TRS Collectors, collection number Annotater, annotation date Day, month, year
Optional Fields Locality, (landmark, adjective) Elevation, units Ecology (physical, substrate,
biological, associates) Past names
Conclusions Distribution maps have scientific
value, public appeal, and outreach potential
Distribution maps should be tightly linked to herbarium specimens
We need to encourage databasing The ASPT should take the lead in
encouraging this endeavor
POSTSCRIPT
Please send comments to [email protected].
Feel free to copy them to Lynn Clark, President of ASPT ([email protected]), and Gerald Guala, Chairman of the ASPT’s Internet Communcations committee ([email protected]).