Help

Help for unregistered users

As an unregistered user you can use the system for information purposes and for research. Most functions are accessible via the menu.

• Species records can be found by selecting a species from the home page or by searching for its (binomial) name. The species pages also link the other species of the same genus.
• The families, record sources and locations known to this system can be listed via the menu.
• Furthermore, species lists can be created using a number of selection criteria.
• A number of basic statistics are available.

Records are highlighted as follows:

Restrictions

The following restrictions apply for unregistered users:

• No new data can be entered, and existing data can not be modified.
• Some records in the system may not be visible.
• When exporting records, not all data items are exported.
• Locations on maps are only displayed with a reduced precision.
• The printing functions are not available.
• Advanced statistics are not available.

There are two ways to add new data:

1. You can register for the Members' Area of the main pages, and then log into the Atlas and enter new data. This method is recommended if you want to add a large amount of data or if you add data regularly.
2. You can send a message to the editors, containing all necessary data. The editors will then add the data. This method is recommended if you only want to add single records or only want to add data occasionaly.

Help for registered users

As a registered user you can use the system for information purposes and for research, and you can add new data yourself. Most functions are accessible via the menu.

• New records can be added on the record source page or on a location page. You have to select the corresponding other data item.
• You should use the species name under which the specimen was identified or under which the record was published, even when this is not the current valid name. This allows to assign the record to the correct species even when the synonymity changes later (especially, when a recent synonymity is reversed).
• You should specify as much details as possible for each record.
• You can add records to locations that already exist in the system and were added by other users. However, it is recommended to add your own locations.
• You can modify or (provisionally) delete your own records.
• Single records can be modified using the icon . You can add a new record based on an existing record using the icon . You have to change at least one data field while doing so to not produce a true duplicate record (see below).
• You can modify a larger number of records by selecting the records to be changed and by specifying your change with the form below the lists of records.
• To add a larger number of records or locations there are import functions available.
• For messages sent to the editors their status can be monitored on the dashboard. When the status changes the system also notifies you with an e-mail, as long as you do not disable these notifications in your user settings.
• A printing function is available via the printer symbol on the species pages. This function creates a large bitmap of a species distribution map that can be used in publications, on posters, etc.
• Location details on maps and advanced statistics are available.

Restrictions

The following restrictions apply for registered users:

• You can not add records to record sources that are not associated with your user account. The editors make this association. If you need to change this, please send a message to the editors.
• New records are not immediately visible to the general public. They are first checked by the editors and then released to the public. You can check the status of new records added by yourself via the dashboard.
• You can only modify records added by yourself or records assigned to you.
• Records can only be deleted provisionally. This makes them invisible to the public. The editors check these deletions and can purge deleted records. However, registered users can revoke (provisional) deletions themselves.
• You can not add new record sources yourself.
• Some records in the system may not be visible.
• When exporting records, not all data items are exported.

Record data

Species records can not the duplicates. The combination of the following record fields should be unique:

• species (name)
• source
• location
• date(s)
• maturity
• sex
• biotope type
• collection method
• identification characteristic
• leg., det., vid., coll.
• situation
• comments

The system does allow to add multiple records with the same combination of the above data fields. However, in irregular intervals they will be de-duplicated, i. e. they are combined to one, and the numbers of individuals are summed up.

The maturity state should correspond with the record date. For example, if you collect a specimen in an immature state, raise it to maturity, and then identify the species, the record should contain the collection date as record date and the maturity state “immature”. You should add the date of maturity to the comments to document that the identification was based on the adult individual.

When the precise collection date is known, leave empty the second (end) date field. If the date is not known precisely, use the start date and end date of the range (e.g. date of setting up a trap, and date of emptying the trap). If the date is known even less precisely, use the dates of the possible range (e.g. first and last day of month).

You can upload images for each record with the icon. These images may help the editors verifying the identification.

Bookmarks

Registered users have the possibility to bookmark locations, species, families, record sources and biotope types. This can be done by clicking on the icon. A set bookmark is displayed as . A temporary bookmark is displayed as (these bookmarks are automatically set when a location etc. is used; they are limited in number and lifetime). All bookmarks are listed on the dashboard.

Whenever a location, species, family, record source or biotope type needs to be selected in a form, you can use the button … to make the selection. You can then select from your bookmarked items instead of the very long list of all items of that type.

There's a user setting that controls whether for items created by yourself a bookmark is added automatically.

Help for trusted users

This used group was created for users who deliver larger numbers of records which typically are correct. The differences to normal users are:

• New records are visible immediately to the general public and don't have to be approved by editors.
• New sources can be created and changed.