Records of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of Singapore
Citation
Yim M, Ong X R, Slade E (2023). Records of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of Singapore. Asian School of the Environment. Metadata dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/6rq74u accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-05-16.Description
This resource metadata dataset 'Records of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of Singapore' is in place of a taxonomic checklist (.core) dataset and occurrence (.extension) dataset of dung beetles of Singapore. The data here is presently being verified to ensure that the eventual datasets will be of the best quality and accuracy. In these datasets, the taxonomic checklist will be an exhaustive species list of dung beetles for Singapore. It will contain, higher taxonomic classification of each species (represented by each row of data) and also useful columns to indicate it's synonyms, where available. It will also provide links to the authoritative taxonomic reference for each species. This taxonomic checklist will be accompanied by a occurrence dataset extension which will link each species to known occurrences in Singapore via a unique identified (taxonID). Each occurrence data point will also have geographic, locality and simple sampling information.Sampling Description
Study Extent
SingaporeSampling
Biodiversity data found within this taxonomic checklist were obtained from published taxonomic papers, ecological papers and published datasets containing occurrence records for dung beetles in Singapore. All raw extractable data related to taxonomy, occurrence and sampling effort from the sources were extracted into a single dataset (Singapore dung beetle dataset, Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab) and was later refined into the occurrence dataset extension found here. The taxonomic checklist was then derived from the occurrence dataset. The data was entered according to the Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) formats and controlled vocabulary was used. Data was cleaned using OpenRefine and Excel and validated through 'GBIF species-lookup tool' and 'GBIF data validator'.Method steps
- Data extraction: Literature containing occurrence and taxonomic records from Singapore were first identified and data such as taxonomy and occurrence were mobilized, geo-referenced and transcribed into a dataset 'Singapore dung beetle database, Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab'. Verbatim data were extracted initially and no data conversion or transformation occurred at this stage.
- Data Management and Cleaning: Taxonomy data deriving from occurrence was then refined and extracted from the 'Singapore dung beetle database, Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab' to create a taxonomic dataset and it was cleaned and managed strictly according to Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) formats and using its controlled vocabulary. Scientific names were split into higher taxonomic classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Subfamily, Genus, Subgenus) with the aid of 'GBIF species-lookup tool' and verified individually. Missing information such as subgenus were sourced from taxonomic literature and inputted. Authorships were confirmed individually with focus on the application of parentheses. In cases where the species was described under a genus that is different from what was originally described, parenthesis (round brackets) were used around the author and year, thus indicating the existence of synonyms. After taxon rank and taxonomic status was determined, research was done to confirm the accepted names and original names of every species and was inputted accordingly. In cases where the record is a synonym, the accepted name of the species, if not present, was added into the checklist regardless of whether it is derived from the used sources. This is to ensure the taxonomic checklist consists of all the accepted names of all dung beetle species that exist in Sabah. Synonyms of all accepted names were only included if it derived from the used sources. Synonyms and accepted names were linked with unique identifiers (taxonID) using the acceptedNameUsageID and originalNameUsageID columns. Two taxon references were given in the columns, namePublishedin and nameAccordingTo. The former contains the reference in which the species name was first established while the later reference serves as the authoritative taxonomic reference for the record. The dataset was cleaned in Excel and later OpenRefine. The final dataset was then processed through the 'GBIF data validator' prior to publishing. All datasets will be in the format .csv.
- Extensions: A reference extension will be attached to this taxonomic checklist (core). The data in this extension includes all references for the occurrence of each species in Singapore. Each reference has a unique identifier (taxonID) that can be linked back to each species in the taxonomic checklist and occurrence extension.
- Extensions: An occurrence extension will be attached to this taxonomic checklist (core). The data in this extension consists of all occurrence records that were derived from existing literature such as from taxonomic and ecological publications as well as from published datasets. Although the checklist is the core of this dataset publication, its data was derived from this occurrence extension and was only published later as further data cleaning and manipulation was required. In this occurrence dataset, every known Singapore dung beetle occurrence record has been included with information such as eventDate, scientificName, individualCount, geographic coordinates, locality and locationRemarks. Each occurrence has a unique identifier (taxonID) that can be linked back to each species in the taxonomic checklist as well as in the reference extension.
Taxonomic Coverages
Singapore
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Scarabaeinaecommon name: Dung beetles rank: subfamily
Geographic Coverages
Singapore
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Marx Yimoriginator
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Xin Rui Ong
originator
position: PhD Student
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: ongxinru001@e.ntu.edu.sg
Eleanor Slade
originator
position: Project Investigator
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: eleanor.slade@ntu.edu.sg
Marx Yim
metadata author
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Marx Yim
author
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Xin Rui Ong
author
position: PhD Student
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: ongxinru001@e.ntu.edu.sg
Eleanor Slade
author
position: Project Investigator
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: eleanor.slade@ntu.edu.sg
Marx Yim
administrative point of contact
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Xin Rui Ong
administrative point of contact
position: PhD Student
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: ongxinru001@e.ntu.edu.sg
Eleanor Slade
administrative point of contact
position: Project Investigator
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: eleanor.slade@ntu.edu.sg