Currency of data
Data from each collection is published continuously to the SCD website. Changes made to specimen and culture records in the internal databases are usually available on the website within 5 minutes. However, this may take slightly longer if a very large number of records are changed or added simultaneously.
Taxonomic classification
The taxonomic classification used in SCD usually reflects the taxonomic arrangement of the specimens within each collection. This may not follow the latest scientific understanding of the taxonomic relationships within a given group.
Scientific names
The scientific names used within the SCD are of three types:
- Verbatim names as provided by the person making an identification. In many instances these may lack authorities, be abbreviated or have other variations provided by the identifier.
- Scientific names that provide the full version of the verbatim name, where available. While these names will provide a standard version of the determined name, they may not be the most up-to-date name.
- Preferred scientific names that provide a full version of the valid/current scientific name.
Most scientific names are linked to the Ngā Tipu Aotearoa – New Zealand Plants, Ngā Hekaheka o Aotearoa – New Zealand Fungi (and Bacteria), and Ko te Aitanga Pepeke o Aotearoa - New Zealand Land Invertebrates taxonomic databases. These databases are accessible using the Biota of New Zealand website. The preferred taxonomy of these linked names is updated each night. A small proportion of scientific names in SCD are not linked to these databases (e.g., foreign specimens for which names have not been included in one of the taxonomic databases), and therefore are not automatically updated. These unlinked names are irregularly updated and may not reflect current taxonomy or nomenclature.
