A cataloging query

[Geoff Read]

> We are trying to upgrade our ACCESS database for the invertebrates
> collection. The query is, for those of you involved in cataloging of this
> sort, do you have a separate category for genus and a separate (non-linked)
> category for species? Or do you put in genus and species together as one
> (linked) category? 
> 
> Presently our program, if you put in a family, will give the list of genera
> within that family, and species within that genus, but somehow it got
> complicated and the computer programmer has asked the above question.  

Hi Nechama,

If I understand correctly you are talking about the process whereby one 
selects the species one is going to give a new record to, and the prompting or 
restrictions that the form offers on the choices?  

With total rigour one should not be able to create a new combination at this
point, and certainly not a new genus. Separately there should be a table or
tables defining the species, including a link to the basionym (the original
combination when the species was erected).

But in practice I would probably want freedom to create impromtu species 
epithets (but not genera).  Which may or may not be a good idea if data entry 
for the group (e.g. polychaetes) is being done by a non-group-specialist 
person.   

Cheers,

Geoff

--
  Geoff Read <g.read at niwa.co.nz>
  http://www.annelida.net/

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