Measuring the Quality of Species List Contents

Abstract

Taxonomic lists, usually of species, have many functions. However, there is currently no reliable and convenient way to determine whether a list contains the information that a user requires other than by reading the list in detail. We therefore developed 24 indicators to characterise list contents. The indicators aim to describe the extent to which the scored list covers their intended class of organisms, the quality of their taxonomic scholarship, and additional information they provide for each taxon. We tested the indicators on 16 lists drawn from a wide range of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. A list content score was derived from individual indicator scores after they had been weighted to reflect the preferences that taxonomists had expressed in a global survey. The indicators aim to help list creators provide the details taxonomists and list users consider important. We expect indicators to be refined after public debate..