iNaturalist observation fields
Information describing observation fields is contained on the same iNat page as annotations. The major difference between observation fields and annotations is that anyone can define project specific fields. Annotations, on the other hand, are maintained by iNaturalist administrators.
Whenever a need for an observation field is identified it is a useful exercise to browse through the lengthy list of existing iNat fields before creating a new field. Plus, it is highly recommended to use a DwC term if one exists.
This iNat tick project is a work in progress and over time we may identify a few extra fields that should be populated. Below are a few recommendations on how to populate existing iNat observation fields.
First review your photos – your observation can be much more than a simple picture if you add a few details.
Where was the tick observed?
•Tick was observed free in the environment: Perhaps it was observed on a blade of grass or on another plant. (consider recording an additional iNat observation of the plant)
•Tick was observed on a human or on a pet or wild animal. If observed on a wild animal record an additional iNat observation of the animal.
••Tick was attached to host (tick firmly embedded in the skin of its host and strongly resisted removal).
••Tick was not attached to host (tick observed on a host but crawling around and/or not firmly embedded).
Add the above information in the iNat observation description/notes box.
If photos were also shared with eTick then add a note. Example ‘photo of this tick was also submitted to eTick (ET-13619).’ After review by eTick, update the comment to include vetted tick name (perhaps it is only to genus level). If the photos were insufficient for eTick to assign a name then include a note to indicate that the provided photo was not suitable for identification and that the submission was invalidated and removed from their public dataset.
Next populate a number of observation fields.
Using the information noted above add and populate a number of ‘tick’ specific observation fields.
‘Tick found on’: The description of this field is ‘Where was the tick found/collected?’ and the allowed values include: person; animal; free in environment; and other.
‘Tick attached?’: The description of this field is ‘was the tick attached to the skin?’ and the allowed values are yes; no; maybe; unsure.
‘AssociatedTaxa: This is a DwC and defined as a list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers or names of taxa and their associations with the Occurrence.
The reference for the AssociatedTaxa entry on a tick observation should point to the host (human or animal). Examples include: ‘Host: dog’; ‘Host: human’; ‘Host: speciesName’; ‘Host: speciesName (insert iNat observation URL pointing to the host)’
If a second iNat observation of the host animal was created, then the AssociatedTaxa entry should point to the tick. Examples include: ‘Parasite: tick’; or ‘Parasite: tick species name (insert iNat observation URL pointing to the tick).
‘AssociatedMedia: This is a DwC and defined as a list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers (publication, global unique identifier, URI) of media associated with the Occurrence. If an observation has also been shared with another database/platform such as eTick then provide the associated URL/identifier. Example: https://www.etick.ca/etickapp/en/ticks/public/view/13616
Here are 3 examples of iNat observations of ticks where observation fields have been added:
1.Click here to view an iNat observation of a tick observed free in the environment
2.Click here to view an iNat observation of a tick found on a person but not attached
3.Click here to view an iNat observation where a snowshoe hare is covered by ticks – note the inclusion of the observation fields on the right panel.
NOTE: Any iNatter can add information to anyone’s observations. For example, when browsing through a series of tick observations I came across one where the description box included the following text ‘removed from a dog’. It took less than 2 minutes to add the observation field associatedTaxa with entry ‘Host: dog’. Perhaps a better procedure going forward is as follows: if/when we observe an observation of a tick that does not include relevant observations fields then iNat message the original poster of the observation and point them to this journal article (and recommend that they join this iNat project).
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