Field definitions
The fields used in Biota of New Zealand are listed below. For each field a short definition is provided along with an indication of whether the field is available in the record pages, in the downloads, as a filter on the search results and/or as a field search using the complex query syntax.
When a field matches the definition in a published data standard the name of the standard and matching concept are listed.
Applies to
The scientific name to which a vernacular name has been applied.
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Associated organism
The scientific name of another organism that has a biological association with the selected organism.
In the association records this is split into the name under which the association was recorded (recorded name) and the preferred name (current name) for that taxon.
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Associated organism current name
The preferred, or current, scientific name of another organism that has a biological association with the selected organism.
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Associated organism name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of another organism that has a biological association with the selected organism.
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Associated organism recorded name
The scientific name of another organism under which a biological association with the selected organism was recorded.
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Associated resource
A link to another digital resource.
Available in: Records
Association source
The source of information for the cited biological association. This may be a publication or data associated with collection object records held at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research.
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Association type
A category of biological association between organisms of different taxa, and therefore with different scientific names, such as "has host" or "is isolated from".
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Authors
Authors provides the full authorship string for the scientific name using the standard abbreviations and conventions associated with the governing Nomenclatural Code.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | scientificNameAuthorship |
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Based on
The scientific name that was replaced by this name. The replaced name may be an illegitimate (ICN) or unavailable (ICZN) name that needed to be replaced under the Nomenclatural Code.
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Basionym
The original correctly published scientific name for a taxon.
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Basionym Name Id
A unique identifier for the original correctly published scientific name for a taxon.
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Biostatus comment
A note clarifying or assisting explanation of the biostatus as indicated.
Available in: Records
Biostatus source
An abbreviated citation of a publication in which a particular biostatus is stated or from which it can be inferred, or the collection with the relevant specimen record.
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Blocking name
The scientific name preventing another name being used, such as an earlier published name that is the same, or an existing combination of genus and species names that prevents a new, valid combination in a genus.
Canonical form
Scientific name without authorities and/or date of publication.
Sometimes referred to as a partial or incomplete name.
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Cited scientific name
A scientific name cited in the reference.
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Cited scientific name id
A unique identifier for a scientific name cited in the reference.
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Cited vernacular name
A vernacular name cited in the reference.
Available in: Download
Cited vernacular name id
A unique identifier for a vernacular name cited in the reference.
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Class
The scientific name of the class in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | class |
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Class name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the class in which the taxon is classified.
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Combination authors
The combination authors lists the authors who published this combination. The author names are abbreviated in accordance with the conventions associated with each Nomenclatural Code.
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Concept id
A uniqueidentifier identifier for the taxonomic concept.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | taxonConceptID |
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Country
The name of the country related to the record. Follows ISO 3166 when values are standardised.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | country |
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Current name
The preferred (or currently accepted) scientific name.
Available in: Download
Date added
The date the record was added to the source database. This may not be available for records created prior to 2001.
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Date last updated
The date the record was last modified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | modified |
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Described taxon
The scientific name associated with a description when it was published.
Available in: Records
Description
A statement of a feature or the features of a taxon.
Available in: Records
Description category
The category of description. On the website this category is shown in the Descriptions section as the field title for the descriptive text.
Available in: Records
Description source
The full citation of the publication in which a description was published.
For a scientific name the description source is displayed as a heading above the description(s).
Available in: Records
Determined name
The scientific name assigned to a collection object by an identifier. When there is more than one identification on a collection object this will normally be the scientific name from the most recent identification.
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Determined name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name assigned to a collection object by an identifier.
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DOI
The Digital Object Identifier provides a unique, persistent code for a digital object, such as the code for a reference that is available digitally.
Available in: Records
Epithet
A word in the scientific name. Epithet is normally used to refer to the last name.
Available in: Filters
Etymology
The origin of, or explanation for, a scientific name.
Available in: Records
Family
The scientific name of the family in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | family |
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Family name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the family in which the taxon is classified.
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Full citation
A bibliographic citation for a publication from which information was sourced. It normally includes information such as author(s), year of publication, title of the publication, and, if relevant, title of the parent publication.
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Genus
The scientific name of the genus in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | genus |
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Genus name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the genus in which the taxon is classified.
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Geographic region (Collections)
The geographic region recorded for the databased collection objects held in one of the biological collections at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.
Available in: Records
Georegion (Biostatus)
The geographic region for which the biostatus information is defined.
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Global name resources
A link to an external scientific names resource, for example Index Fungorum.
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Has collections
A boolean field that indicates the presence of records in the collections curated by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.
In the search results and record pages the presence of collection records is represented by an icon.
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Hybrid name
The name of a hybrid expressed as a cross between its parents.
Available in: Records
Hybrid parent
Scientific name for a parent of a hybrid taxon.
Available in: Filters; Search
Identification key
A key to assist with the identification of organisms based on a series of alternative choices. Frequently referred to as a dichotomous key.
Available in: Records
Identification key reference id
A unique identifier for the reference in which the identification key was published.
Available in: Download
Image
Image(s) associated with a scientific name and reference record. Images may depict various information including the organism, illustrations, prepared specimens - particularly type specimens.
The presence of images is available as a filter and indicated by an icon in the search results.
Available in: Records
Indicative databased records
The indicative number of databased collection objects.
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Key title
The title for the key as given in the source publish.
Available in: Records
Kingdom
The scientific name of the kingdom in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | kingdom |
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Kingdom name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the kingdom in which the taxon is classified.
Available in: Download
Land District
A geographic region defined within the Land Districts that were established under NZ legislation (e.g., the Land Act 1948). More information about these districts is available on the Land Information New Zealand website (e.g., LINZ data service).
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Language of origin
The name of the language (based on the ISO standard) from which a vernacular name originated.
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Language of use
The language, in a region, in which a vernacular name is applied to a taxon, thus all vernacular names applied to taxa in New Zealand English are used in English, although the language of origin may be English, Māori, or another language.
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Linked name
Provides a link to the same scientific name in another record source within Biota of New Zealand.
There is a small degree of overlap of scientific names currently between three record sources within Biota of NZ. This link is the first step towards integrating these records.
Available in: Records
Name id
A unique identifier for the full scientific name of an organism.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | scientificNameID |
Available in: Download
Name scientific
The full scientific name of an organism including the place of publication (when recorded).
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | scientificName |
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New Zealand Area Code
A region defined within New Zealand Area Code system established by Crosby et al. (1978, 1998).
Crosby T K; Dugdale JS; Watt JC 1976: Recording specimen localities in New Zealand: an arbitrary system of areas and codes defined. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 3: 69.
Crosby TK, Dugdale JS, Watt JC 1998 Area codes for recording specimen localities in the New Zealand subregion. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 25(2): 175-183.
Available in: Download
Nomenclatural code
Nomenclature codes are an international agreed set of rules that govern the scientific naming of biological organisms.
| ICN | International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants |
| ICNP | International Code of Nomeclature of Prokaryotes |
| ICVCN | International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature |
| ICZN | International Code of Zoological Nomenclature |
| ICNCP | International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants |
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | nomenclaturalCode |
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Nomenclatural status
A brief statement of any special nomenclatural status associated with a scientific name, such as if it is a formally conserved name, a formally rejected name, a misapplication, or not validly published according to a code of nomenclature.
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Nomenclatural status note
A note to clarify or explain the nomenclatural status of a scientific name.
Available in: Records
Note reference
The citation for a reference from which an explanatory note is linked or derived.
Available in: Records
Note text
A note to further clarify or explain data or status of a scientific name.
Available in: Records
Note type
Category of explanatory note, such as an editorial note that is added to clarify or explain data recorded.
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Occurrence
A statement about the occurrence of the organism within the indicated geographic region.
The occurrence within New Zealand is available as a search field and filter.
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Order
The scientific name of the order in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | order |
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Order name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the order in which the taxon is classified.
Available in: Download
Organism
The scientific name of the organism for which associations with another organism have been recorded.
In the association record pages this is split into the name under which the association was recorded (recorded name) and the preferred name (current name) for that taxon.
Available in: Records
Origin
A statement about the origin of the organism within the indicated region. The origin of the plant with relation to a particular region:
- Indigenous: found naturally within the region. Contains two subcategories when there is information on whether the organism is naturally found only within this region or is also found in other regions.
- Endemic: found naturally only in the region. A refinement of Indigenous.
- Non-endemic: found naturally in the region as well as in other regions. A refinement of Indigenous.
- Exotic: originally from outside the region; introduced.
The origin within New Zealand is available as a search field and filter.
This information is summarised as an icon for indigenous or exotic on the record.
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Original authors
The standard abbreviation for the authors of the original publication of the scientific name.
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Orthography
Original spelling of the scientific name.
Available in: Records
Parent name
The scientific name of the higher level taxon immediately above the current record.
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Parent reference
The immediate parent reference for publications that are reference records and are published in a hierarchy, such the journal in which articles were published, the journal article in which contributions to that article were published, or the book in which chapters were published.
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Parent reference citation
A shortened citation of the immediate parent reference for a publication.
Available in: Download
Parent reference id
A unique identifier for the immediate parent reference for a publication.
Available in: Download
Parent reference title
Phylum
The scientific name of the phylum or division in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | phylum |
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Phylum name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the phylum or division in which the taxon is classified.
Available in: Download
Preferred name
The preferred or current name for the currently accepted scientific name for a taxon.
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Preferred name id
A unique identifier for the preferred (or current) name for the accepted scientific name for a taxon.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | acceptedNameUsageID |
Available in: Download
Primary author
Protologue id
A unique identifier for the reference in which a scientific name was first published.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | namePublishedInID |
Available in: Download
Publication page
The page or pages in a publication on which a scientific name is originally described or where a new combination is made.
Available in: Records; Download
Publication place
The reference in which a scientific name was first published. The protologue in botanical nomenclature.
Available in: Records; Download
Record class
There are three types or classes of records for the Biota of New Zealand:
- Scientific name
- Vernacular name
- Reference
On the record and in the search result the record class is indicated by an icon.
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Record id
A unique identifier for this record.
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Record source
A short name for the database from which the record is sourced.
| Value | Source database |
|---|---|
| Names_Fungi | Ngā Harore o Aotearoa – New Zealand Fungi and Bacteria |
| Names_NZAC | Ko te Aitanga Pepeke o Aotearoa – New Zealand Land Invertebrates |
| Names_Plants | Ngā Tipu Aotearoa – New Zealand Plants Names Database |
The record source is indicated by an icon on the details page.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | datasetName |
| RIS Reference Format | C1 |
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Recorded name
The scientific name as it was recorded in the literature or on a collection object.
Available in: Download
Reference
A literature source containing taxonomic information.
Available in: Records
Reference id
A unique identifier for the reference.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| RIS Reference Format | ID |
Available in: Download
Reference type
A category of reference, such as an article in a journal or book, or a chapter in a book.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| RIS Reference Format | TY |
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Region of origin
The geographic or political region where a vernacular (or common) name was originally used; it does not imply the vernaculuar name was applied to the same taxon in another geographic or political region where the vernacular (or common) name has been applied.
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Region of use
The geographic or political region where a vernacular (or common) name has been associated with a particular taxon, usually with relevance to New Zealand.
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Region of use schema
The name of a geographic schema with which a geographic region has been defined that has been used to record information.
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Related reference
A subordinate reference published within this reference, such as an article within a journal.
Available in: Records
Relevant to NZ
An indication that the record is relevant to New Zealand. This is based on the presence of New Zealand specific data (for example, biostatus and vernacular names) or the flagging of the record as having relevance to New Zealand by the data curators based upon their knowledge.
Indicated by an icon on the record and in the search results.
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Sanctioning author
Scientific names of fungi that were used in the early 1800s publications, by Persoon or Fries in particular, are regarded as "sanctioned". They are treated as if they are conserved against earlier names. The sanctioning author may be included in the authority citation after the original authority eg. (Wulfen : Fr.).
Available in: Records
Sanctioning page(s)
The page number(s) on which the sanctioning author published the scientific name and thereby sanctioned it.
Available in: Records
Sanctioning reference
A reference within which the scientific name was sanctioned.
Available in: Records
Schema (georegion)
The system within which biostatus is considered, such as political countries or biogeographic regions.
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Short citation
The shortened form of the citation for a literature reference.
Available in: Download
Source (Identification key)
The title of a publication that contains an identification key relevant to this taxon. The identification key is presented in the reference.
Available in: Records; Download
Sources
A reference in which the vernacular or common name has been applied to a taxon in the region of use.
Available in: Records; Download
Species
The scientific name at the rank of species in which the taxon is classified.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | specificEpithet |
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Species name id
A unique identifier for the scientific name of the species in which the taxon is classified.
Available in: Download
Start page
The first page for a published reference.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| RIS Reference Format | PY |
Available in: Download
Subordinate name
Scientific name of taxa recorded at a lower level within the taxon being considered, such as species within a genus, or subspecies and varieties within a species.
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Subordinate name id
A unique identifier for the scientific names of taxa recorded at a lower level within the taxon being considered.
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Substrate
The surface or material on which the organism lives. This information is provided from the substrate recorded for this organism on the associated collection objects.
This is only displayed in the association details page for a scientific name record.
Available in: Records
Synonym
Synonyms are different scientific names that have been applied to the same taxon.
A list of such different scientific names is given for an indicated current name.
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Synonym name id
A unique identifier for a scientific name that is considered to be a synonym.
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Taxonomic concepts - Name
The application of a scientific name to a taxon, and its taxonomic and nomenclatural relationships with other names for that taxon, as understood by an author of a particular publication.
Available in: Records
Taxonomic rank
The level of classification of a scientific name, such as order, family or subspecies.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | taxonRank |
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Taxonomy reference
A publication that provides a basis for accepting the scientific name as a preferred name or a synonym.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | nameAccordingTo |
Available in: Records
Threat status
The currently recognised threat status according to the relevant publication of the Department of Conservation's New Zealand Threat Classification Series. Indicated by an icon on the record page.
Available in: Records
Title
The full scientific name for a taxon record, vernacular name for a vernacular name record, or title of a publication for a reference record.
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Title (Reference)
The primary title for a publication.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| RIS Reference Format | TI |
Available in: Download
Type locality
The locality in which a type specimen, the specimen on which a scientific name at species or lower level is based, was originally collected.
Available in: Records
Type of description
A title that indicates the category for a section of descriptive text.
On the details page this is displayed as a label for the descriptive text.
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Type taxon
The type taxon is the scientific name of the taxon on which that scientific name of higher rank of rank is based, thereby typifying the higher ranked taxon. This applies to scientific names above the rank of species and at, or below, the rank of family.
Available in: Records
Typification
Information on the nomenclatural type for a scientific name.
Available in: Records
Vernacular name
A name assigned, by common use within a community, to a taxon, or group of taxa, at any rank.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | vernacularName |
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Vernacular name id
A unique identifier for the vernacular name.
Available in: Download
Volume
The number of the volume in which the reference was published.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| RIS Reference Format | VL |
Available in: Download
Year published
The year the record was published.
| Standard | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Darwin Core | namePublishedInYear |
| RIS Reference Format | PY |
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