Macrolepiota question

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Michael Jordan

This is a tired, but rather too often promulgated chestnut! CATE has a small core of detractors for reasons best known to themselves and they are entitled to their views, but uninformed statements do not help anybody, and as we know, misinformation is one of the downsides of the Internet.

To correct Chris' example, if recorder using CATE2 enters Coprinus miser in the Synonym box of the online recording system, it delivers Parasola misera as the currently preferred name. CATE2 stores some 60,000+ taxon versions and these are now regularly updated to mirror the British Checklist.
. . . . . .

I would urge contributors to this excellent open forum to check their facts before making off-the-wall statements, no more so than when they carry important positions as county recorders.

MJ

To be fair I did say "I could be wrong" twice and am quite happy to be proved wrong . . . .

as regards checking my facts, I am probably being very obtuse here and may be looking at the wrong part of CATE, but using the
Association of British Fungus Groups - CATE Database » Species Search window (which seems to be the one available to the general external searcher) I can't see/find a "Synonym box" - if someone can show me where it is I shall happily withdraw the comments I made above - which were actually only a part of a more general point I was endeavouring to make.

Chris

[Michael Jordan]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

To be fair I did say "I could be wrong" twice and am quite happy to be proved wrong . . . .

as regards checking my facts, I am probably being very obtuse here and may be looking at the wrong part of CATE, but using the
Association of British Fungus Groups - CATE Database » Species Search window (which seems to be the one available to the general external searcher) I can't see/find a "Synonym box" - if someone can show me where it is I shall happily withdraw the comments I made above - which were actually only a part of a more general point I was endeavouring to make.

Chris

To the best of my knowledge the rules of the WAB forum include that one is not encouraged to post links to other websites, hence both I and other contributors to this and related threads have been reluctant to convey the address of CATE2. However, this appears to have been relaxed, so here you have it. ABFG CATE2

The 'front end' of the site is still being designed. However, if the metatags about to be installed do their work the new URL should also shortly find its way onto the major browsers.

You will not be able to run a query for synonyms via the main Species Record filters, however, only the current preferred name. The search facility for Synonyms is available to recorders using the online recording, and this has also been available since early 2008 to recorders who are working offline, in the form of an Excel software programme

MJ

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Michael Jordan

This is a tired, but rather too often promulgated chestnut! CATE has a small core of detractors for reasons best known to themselves and they are entitled to their views, but uninformed statements do not help anybody, and as we know, misinformation is one of the downsides of the Internet.

In CATE2 the synonym is presented in a clearly defined field, and a quick glance even at the open public access screen reveals the third column complete with 'recorded as' names.

I would urge contributors to this excellent open forum to check their facts before making off-the-wall statements, no more so than when they carry important positions as county recorders.

MJ

I apologise for raising an often promulgated chestnut (though it is almost Christmas), but would like to state I am not part of any anti-Cate lobby group, 'core' or indeed intend to be a detractor of anything that people have clearly spent a lot of time and effort on.

Nor am I party to much of the previous to-ings and fro-ings on this issue so I again apologise for asking a simple question that I apparently should have known the answer to (not sure how though). It is also possible that other WAB members and others are not fully aware of any previous discussions re the 'original name' issue.

I am now aware that there is now a CATE2 - the front end of which "is still being designed"

You will not be able to run a query for synonyms via the main Species Record filters, however, only the current preferred name. The search facility for Synonyms is available to recorders using the online recording

But isn't this what I already said? I am not taking sides, other than saying that one database shows anyone searching it (not only those with particular rights of access) certain fields which we all agree are important.

In view of this, and the fact that at no stage have I got personal about this, I think a small apology for the suggestion that I am an uninformed individual 'making off-the-wall statements', who given my role should know better might be in order . . . . .

Chris

[Michael Jordan]

I'm afraid you have partly lost me here! In the FRDBI, if you look up a record you will find the synonym (if it has been included) in brackets after the species name. If you go onto the public access of CATE you will find the synonym in a column immediately following the species name.

You are right, however, that CATE only currently provides the full synonym list to recorders. It was felt that they were the main people who would be reliant on such a facility and there are various other sources, such as the Index Fungorum, which serve the purpose for the wider public.

This is not quite a

centrally controlled 'correct' name only recording system

Should we find that there are outraged howls of protest coming from Joe Public, the Synonym Search module, that is already fully functional in the system will, no doubt, be opened up to them!

MJ

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Michael Jordan

I'm afraid you have partly lost me here! In the FRDBI, if you look up a record you will find the synonym (if it has been included) in brackets after the species name. If you go onto the public access of CATE you will find the synonym in a column immediately following the species name.

You are right, however, that CATE only currently provides the full synonym list to recorders. It was felt that they were the main people who would be reliant on such a facility and there are various other sources, such as the Index Fungorum, which serve the purpose for the wider public.

MJ

Thanks for that Michael

that does make sense and for my purposes a hectad and host info would normally be quite sufficient - I wouldn't have worried about linking to the CATE2 webpage - people on here are often linking to relevant NBN maps and other useful websites in a useful-to-know non-commercial kind of way

I still think you were out of order in your previous comments, but if you don't see it like that . . . . .

Chris