Transcript
Page 1: How to Make a Good Insect Specimen label …

How to Make a Good Insect Specimen label …

… and why

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Digital Specimen Data

• Wave of the future

• Specimen labels = data sink (relatively primitive to get that data, borrow specimens, visit collections, etc.)

• Specimen labels transformed to digital format = data that can be used by the global community for many uses, some we have yet to envision

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• 3 main concepts– Projection– Datum– Coordinate system

Geographical Concepts

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What projections do

Tissot’s Indicatrix of distortion

Rectangular projection

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Geographical Concepts: Datum

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Common DatumsNAD27 (North American Datum): system derived

from land-based surveys, using Clarke 1886 ellipsoid

NAD83: satellite-based system using the Earth’s center as a reference point; eventually adopted as GRS80 (Geodetic Ref. System 1980)

WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984): mathematically refined GRS80 used by the US military and default for GPS

For most uses, NAD83, GRS80, WGS84 are equivalent

Geographical Concepts: Datums

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Coordinate Systems

• Degrees, minutes, seconds39°25’06”N, 92°26’18”W

• Degrees, decimal minutes

• 39°25.1016’N, 92°26.2942’W

• Decimal degrees *** use this!!

• 39.41837°, -92.43824°

N = +, S = -, E = +, W = -

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What is an acceptable georeference?

Point: A numerical description of a place that can be mapped,

and…Extent: that describes the spatial extent of a

locality (or collecting event),and …

Uncertainty: its associated uncertainties.

What is a Georeference? Placing a spot on a map

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Insect Label: low vs. high quality1 mi. E MoberlyRandolph Co., Mo.July 4-5, 1972Coll. E. G. Riley

USA: MO: Randolph Co.1 mi. E Moberly, Hwy. 2439.44929°N, 92.40219°W(WGS84), +/- 200m

VII-4-5-1972, E. G. RileyUV light, secondary growth oak-hickory forest

Old style – w/o georeference

single label

Modern style – includes georeference

Often need a double decker (= two labels/spec.)

Two labels vs. single label:Pro: keeps footprint of label small (4 or 5 lines)Con: twice the work cutting and placing

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Common Georeferencing Practices:or, … what will happen to locality

data from your old-style labels

• Geolocate • Used for locating points and giving uncertainties, editing those points and uncertainties, finding

new points from known points

• Google Earth / Google Maps / GPS / paper maps, etc.• Used for locating points

• Georeference calculator• Used for calculating uncertainties from known points via recommended “best practices” for

particular locality types (named place, offset-heading, etc.)

Demonstrate with examples:

Point –radius method

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Out-Put from Geolocate Search

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Geolocate results for …

Moberly, MO 1 mi. E Moberly, MO

* Note: Uncertainty resized to polygon

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Output from Georef calculator forpoint at “1 mi. E of Moberly on Hwy.

24: Randolph Co., Missouri”

• 39.449941 lat• -92.406406 lon• 7225• (WGS84) World Geodetic System 1984 datum• decimal degrees• 3.98237• 4.489 mi. = maximum uncertainty radius (= ½ of linear extent) **

Note that collecting event assumed to have taken place within a ca. 9-mile wide circle

• 1 mi• 0.00001 degrees

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Geolocate vs. Good Label

1 mi. E Moberly, Hwy. 24, MOUSA: MO: Randolph Co.1 mi. E Moberly, Hwy. 2439.44929°N, 92.40219°W(WGS84), +/- 200m

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Google Earth view

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Suggested Protocol forPreparing Good Labels

• Take GPS reading in field (especially if an obscure locality with poor landmarks)

• Run GPS coordinates in Google Earth / Google Maps to relocate point at middle of extent of the collecting event (CE).

• Calculate maximum uncertainty radius of CE (use ruler in Google Earth, etc.)

• Record coordinate source datum (GWS84)

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Suggested Protocol forPreparing Good Labels, con’t.

• Review how to use a GPS (set datum, record GPS model etc, + GPS error with each waypoint)

• Review how to take distance measurements using GoogleEarth and GoogleMaps

• Create master copy of CE label (MS Word).• Cut coordinates from typed labels and paste into

Google Earth for verification: must double check• Review how to format labels (font size, line

spacing, etc.) for printing in MS Word. • Review need for quality paper & printer

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