This tutorial provides best-practice principles when standardising traits with terms of the Ecological Trait-data Standard (ETS, https://terminologies.gfbio.org/terms/ets/pages/).

We focus this document on the first of the three use-cases for the ETS vocabulary: The publication of project-specific primary data. To comply with the FAIR principles of scientific data management and aim at findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability (Wilkinson et al. 2016), trait data should apply the following principles when preparing data for publication:

Example 1 - Apply standard terms for matrices

If trait data have been collated at the species level from different literature sources or from expert knowledge, or as aggregated measurements collated from raw data, they usually are reported in a observation-level wide-table format, with a column of values for each trait recorded and a row for each species (or taxon) for which data were available. The wide-table format is widely used for the production of lookup-tables at the species level, which may either report qualitative facts (from literature or expert knowledge) or aggregated quantitative traits (averages or ranges of trait values for this taxon).

This wide-table format is straightforward for maintaining and managing new data for the data author. In terms of analysis, it allows to easily correlate traits with each other and analyse trade-offs between traits. However, wide-tables need to clearly differentiate missing data and traits not applicable to a given taxon (often filled in as ‘NA’ or dummy numbers, e.g. ‘999’). Additional information (e.g. on variation of means or literature source) may be stored in secondary columns or accompanying datasheets. When applying the data standard to wide-table data, the columns for taxa or individuals may be labelled using the terms of the ETS. Taxon concepts should be referenced to globally available concepts using URIs, e.g. by referring to GBIF Taxonomy. Taxa authors and fine-grained higher taxonomy must then be consistent with the linked concept, or may be omitted as redundant and to avoid confusion.

Remarks should be provided in a human-readable form within the table and provided with further detail in the metadata, if necessary.

For wide tables, it is essential that the multiple trait columns are labelled in unambiguous ways and be linked to trait concepts provided in the metadata or a secondary spreadsheet.

Example 1 before standardisation; excerpt of original data from Gossner et al. (2015) Scientific Data 2:150013; data DOI: 10.5061/dryad.53ds2 containing eight traits of arthropods from an European grassland; details provided in data publication Table 2.
Order Suborder Family SpeciesID Author Body_Size Dispersal_ability Feeding_guild Remark
Araneae Labidognatha Anyphaenidae Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802) 6.25 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Aculepeira ceropegia Walckenaer, 1802 11.00 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Agalenatea redii (Scopoli, 1763) 6.93 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 11.88 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araneus marmoreus Clerck, 1757 10.03 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757 12.25 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araneus sturmi (Hahn, 1831) 4.63 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araneus triguttatus Fabricius, 1775 5.25 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araniella alpica (L. Koch, 1869) 6.00 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araniella cucurbitina (Clerck, 1757) 5.50 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Araniella opisthographa (Kulczynski, 1905) 4.38 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) 11.78 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Cercidia prominens (Westring, 1851) 5.38 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Cyclosa conica (Pallas, 1772) 5.75 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Cyclosa oculata (Walckenaer, 1802) 5.08 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Gibbaranea gibbosa (Walckenaer, 1802) 6.75 0.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Gibbaranea omoeda (Thorell, 1870) 9.13 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Hypsosinga albovittata (Westring, 1851) 4.15 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Hypsosinga sanguinea (C.L. Koch, 1844) 3.75 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Larinioides cornutus (Clerck, 1757) 10.35 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Mangora acalypha (Walckenaer, 1802) 4.50 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Nuctenea umbratica (Clerck, 1757) 11.25 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Araneidae Singa hamata (Clerck, 1757) 5.90 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Clubionidae Clubiona brevipes Blackwall, 1841 5.50 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Clubionidae Clubiona diversa O. P.-Cambridge, 1862 4.00 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Clubionidae Clubiona leucaspis Simon, 1932 4.05 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Clubionidae Clubiona neglecta O. P.-Cambridge, 1862 6.25 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Clubionidae Clubiona reclusa O. P.-Cambridge, 1863 5.75 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Clubionidae Clubiona stagnatilis Kulczynski, 1897 6.25 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Dictynidae Argenna subnigra (O. P.-Cambridge, 1861) 2.25 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Dictynidae Dictyna pusilla Thorell, 1856 2.45 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Dictynidae Lathys humilis (Blackwall, 1855) 2.20 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Dictynidae Nigma flavescens (Walckenaer, 1830) 3.08 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Gnaphosidae Micaria pulicaria (Sundevall, 1831) 3.55 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Araeoncus humilis (Blackwall, 1841) 1.60 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Baryphyma pratense (Blackwall, 1861) 2.20 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Bathyphantes approximatus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1871) 2.63 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Bathyphantes gracilis (Blackwall, 1841) 1.98 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Bathyphantes parvulus (Westring, 1851) 2.15 0.75 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Centromerita bicolor (Blackwall, 1833) 3.25 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Centromerus sylvaticus (Blackwall, 1841) 3.43 1.00 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Ceratinella brevipes (Westring, 1851) 1.45 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Ceratinella scabrosa (O. P.-Cambridge, 1871) 1.88 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Cinetata gradata (Simon, 1881) 1.45 0.50 c
Araneae Labidognatha Linyphiidae Cnephalocotes obscurus (Blackwall, 1834) 1.73 0.75 c
Example 1 after standardisation. Column names mapped to ETS terms; taxa are mapped to taxon concepts in published terminologies via URIs. Trait columns are not standardised and respective definitions and units must be provided in the accompanying metadata.
scientificName order family taxonID Body_Size Dispersal_ability Feeding_guild measurementRemarks
Anyphaena accentuata Araneae Anyphaenidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159474 6.25 1.00 c
Aculepeira ceropegia Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2160943 11.00 1.00 c
Agalenatea redii Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2154595 6.93 0.50 c
Araneus diadematus Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2134131 11.88 1.00 c
Araneus marmoreus Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2160133 10.03 0.75 c
Araneus quadratus Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159970 12.25 1.00 c
Araneus sturmi Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159735 4.63 0.75 c non-grassland species
Araneus triguttatus Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2160067 5.25 0.50 c non-grassland species
Araniella alpica Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159883 6.00 0.75 c non-grassland species
Araniella cucurbitina Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158387 5.50 1.00 c
Araniella opisthographa Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158384 4.38 0.75 c
Argiope bruennichi Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158385 11.78 1.00 c
Cercidia prominens Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2144644 5.38 0.50 c
Cyclosa conica Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/5170994 5.75 0.75 c
Cyclosa oculata Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2134203 5.08 0.75 c
Gibbaranea gibbosa Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2134053 6.75 0.00 c
Gibbaranea omoeda Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2134068 9.13 0.50 c non-grassland species
Hypsosinga albovittata Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2134110 4.15 0.50 c
Hypsosinga sanguinea Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2138915 3.75 0.75 c
Larinioides cornutus Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2138546 10.35 0.75 c
Mangora acalypha Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2138356 4.50 1.00 c
Nuctenea umbratica Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2138349 11.25 1.00 c non-grassland species
Singa hamata Araneae Araneidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158735 5.90 0.75 c
Clubiona brevipes Araneae Clubionidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2137224 5.50 0.50 c non-grassland species
Clubiona diversa Araneae Clubionidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2143869 4.00 0.50 c
Clubiona leucaspis Araneae Clubionidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2144214 4.05 0.50 c non-grassland species
Clubiona neglecta Araneae Clubionidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2143966 6.25 0.75 c
Clubiona reclusa Araneae Clubionidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2144189 5.75 0.75 c
Clubiona stagnatilis Araneae Clubionidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2144246 6.25 0.50 c
Argenna subnigra Araneae Dictynidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2143910 2.25 0.75 c
Dictyna pusilla Araneae Dictynidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2137146 2.45 0.50 c
Lathys humilis Araneae Dictynidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158202 2.20 0.50 c non-grassland species
Nigma flavescens Araneae Dictynidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158180 3.08 0.75 c non-grassland species
Micaria pulicaria Araneae Gnaphosidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2144854 3.55 1.00 c
Araeoncus humilis Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158811 1.60 1.00 c
Baryphyma pratense Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158809 2.20 0.50 c
Bathyphantes approximatus Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2160397 2.63 0.50 c
Bathyphantes gracilis Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2160408 1.98 1.00 c
Bathyphantes parvulus Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159204 2.15 0.75 c
Centromerita bicolor Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2144779 3.25 1.00 c
Centromerus sylvaticus Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159061 3.43 1.00 c
Ceratinella brevipes Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/5168243 1.45 0.50 c
Ceratinella scabrosa Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2145001 1.88 0.50 c non-grassland species
Cinetata gradata Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2158999 1.45 0.50 c non-grassland species
Cnephalocotes obscurus Araneae Linyphiidae http://www.gbif.org/species/2159393 1.73 0.75 c

Example 2 - provide structure in long-table

In observation wide-tables, each row is centered around a single physical occurrence of a species, e.g. phenotypic variation of traits within species would usually be recorded per observation where each replicate taken on a distinct individual specimen would be recorded in a row, with the respective trait values stored in columns (see Table B1). Those data are common in investigations of evolutionary trade-offs and trait correlation, or of intra-specific variation along environmental gradients. Occurrence data would also capture phenotypic variation arising from morphotypes and sexual dimorphism. This format is the most intuitive for recording own empirical measurements and therefore is common for measured quantitative data but rarely found for reported qualitative facts obtained from the literature.

A more effective method that allows for high flexibility and easier data merging is the storage of traitdata in long-table formats (Wickham 2014; Parr et al. 2016). This data format corresponds to the Entity-Quality Model: each row contains a single measurement or fact of a specific trait, referenced to a single specimen (i.e., one occurrence) which is assigned to a specific taxon (see Table B2). Identifiers can provide structure and link measurements that are correlated by assigning a unique ID for each single individual. Also, multivariate trait measurements can be recorded in this format by linking multiple rows via a unique measurement identifier. Long-table datasets purport multiple advantages for data handling (e.g. filtering, sub-setting and aggregating data), visualization (e.g. plot measured values by factor variable or taxon) and statistical modelling (e.g. ANOVA for testing difference of trait value by sex) (Wickham 2014). As long-table data share a larger set of columns, merging of datasets is in most cases easier for the end-user.

However, a disadvantage of the long-table data structure is the mixing of units or even factor levels in the ‘traitValue’ column. The mixed content of this column prohibits filtering data based on their values. Data-splitting techniques or a database system are tools to disentangle the data.

## Please enter password in TK window (Alt+Tab)
Example 2 before standardisation. Data are stored in observation wide-table format, i.e. one row contains a single specimen with multiple trait measurements (in columns). Units and specific information on measurements must be reported in the metadata of the dataset. Data originate from Mangels et al. (unpublished).
label species plot weight wing_length wing_width wing_area wing_loading
F1 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 5.174 12.59 8.34 141.99738 0.0364373
F2 Xanthorhoe_spadicearia HEG9 8.058 11.38 7.63 99.42776 0.0810438
F3 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG4 5.586 15.01 11.40 231.40572 0.0241394
F4 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG6 4.797 14.90 12.39 249.65837 0.0192143
F6 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 14.263 11.47 13.60 210.95551 0.0676114
F7 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 4.731 12.82 11.61 201.28379 0.0235041
F8 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 9.200 12.85 13.85 240.68080 0.0382249
F11 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 4.611 9.83 13.85 184.11613 0.0250440
F12 Xanthorhoe_spadicearia HEG9 5.173 10.59 6.63 80.39895 0.0643416
F14 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 5.181 12.50 11.63 196.59763 0.0263533
F15 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 14.159 13.50 8.33 152.07832 0.0931033
F16 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 8.745 12.44 12.06 202.88794 0.0431026
F17 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 5.336 15.02 12.66 257.15335 0.0207503
F18 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 7.321 12.14 13.21 216.87528 0.0337567
F19 Chiasmia_clathrata HEG9 7.248 10.45 13.13 185.55368 0.0390615
F23 Xanthorhoe_ferrugata HEG9 4.834 10.95 7.64 97.77862 0.0494382
F24 Xanthorhoe_spadicearia HEG9 4.499 10.97 7.04 88.43418 0.0508740
F25 Xanthorhoe_ferrugata HEG9 4.257 11.48 6.69 89.76446 0.0474241
F26 Diaphora_mendica HEG5 38.106 13.01 8.92 155.26143 0.2454312
F27 Diaphora_mendica HEG9 26.000 13.75 8.21 151.03142 0.1721496
F28 Xanthorhoe_ferrugata HEG9 4.866 11.69 7.10 97.00839 0.0501606
F29 Diaphora_mendica HEG8 18.363 14.16 7.13 135.07477 0.1359469
F30 Diaphora_mendica HEG8 31.109 13.30 7.97 141.81801 0.2193586
F32 Xanthorhoe_ferrugata HEG9 5.474 11.49 8.11 108.91239 0.0502606
F33 Xanthorhoe_spadicearia HEG9 5.205 11.98 7.97 109.33419 0.0476063
F34 Xanthorhoe_ferrugata HEG9 5.416 11.76 6.53 89.75464 0.0603423
F35 Xanthorhoe_spadicearia HEG9 6.260 12.32 7.56 106.65307 0.0586950
F37 Diaphora_mendica HEG6 42.806 14.36 8.18 157.15535 0.2723802
F38 Diaphora_mendica HEG5 27.836 12.78 7.69 131.48573 0.2117036
F41 Diaphora_mendica HEG4 27.077 13.71 7.21 132.24954 0.2047417
F43 Diaphora_mendica HEG5 33.193 13.86 7.53 139.63029 0.2377206
F44 Diaphora_mendica HEG9 41.737 15.24 7.85 160.05751 0.2607625
F45 Diaphora_mendica HEG4 31.526 13.17 7.02 123.69277 0.2548734
F46 Diaphora_mendica HEG8 37.507 13.49 7.40 133.55652 0.2808324
F47 Diaphora_mendica HEG5 24.972 12.82 6.78 116.28914 0.2147406
F49 Diaphora_mendica HEG8 36.843 13.35 8.24 147.17360 0.2503370
F50 Diaphora_mendica HEG8 30.651 13.97 8.51 159.05503 0.1927069
F51 Diaphora_mendica HEG8 28.902 13.21 7.83 138.38404 0.2088536
F55 Agrotis_cinerea HEG4 27.860 14.53 6.58 141.80384 0.1964686
F60 Diaphora_mendica HEG2 23.886 12.60 8.07 136.03965 0.1755812
F61 Diaphora_mendica HEG2 37.667 13.79 7.65 141.13903 0.2668787
F62 Diaphora_mendica HEG2 41.072 13.15 7.21 126.84766 0.3237900
F63 Diaphora_mendica HEG2 45.677 13.88 7.61 141.31737 0.3232228
F64 Diaphora_mendica HEG2 30.076 12.69 7.43 126.14553 0.2384230
F65 Diaphora_mendica HEG2 35.836 13.62 8.39 152.88346 0.2344008
Example 2 after standardisation into measurement long-table format. Each row contains a single measurement linked to an observation of an individual specimen, i.e. an occurrence, via identifiers.
scientificName traitName traitValue traitUnit traitID scientificNameStd taxonID occurrenceID measurementID locationID
Aethes_smeathmanniana wing_area 28.4123374 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Aethes smeathmanniana http://www.gbif.org/species/1738422 300 7968 SEG9
Phragmatobia_fuliginosa wing_area 153.5047254 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Plutella xylostella http://www.gbif.org/species/1831136 900 8568 SEG5
Charanyca_trigrammica wing_area 162.8447263 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Chiasmia clathrata http://www.gbif.org/species/4525078 100 7768 AEG7
Noctua_pronuba wing_area 388.4864652 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Oligia latruncula http://www.gbif.org/species/1766410 50 7718 AEG3
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_area 144.6516482 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 600 8268 AEG5
Xanthorhoe_ferrugata wing_area 88.2405917 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Xestia xanthographa http://www.gbif.org/species/5112283 2000 9668 AEG6
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_area 180.1734551 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 60 7728 AEG3
Chiasmia_clathrata wing_area 196.5976292 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Chrysoteuchia culmella http://www.gbif.org/species/1887290 10 7678 HEG9
Chiasmia_clathrata wing_area 177.9901284 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Chrysoteuchia culmella http://www.gbif.org/species/1887290 1000 8668 HEG6
Spilosoma_lubricipeda wing_area 240.4265979 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Stenoptilia pterodactyla http://www.gbif.org/species/1858775 70 7738 AEG3
Agrotis_cinerea wing_area 164.4559959 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Agrotis exclamationis http://www.gbif.org/species/1771214 80 7748 AEG9
Ochropleura_plecta wing_area 103.7014608 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Oligia strigilis http://www.gbif.org/species/7895336 90 7758 AEG4
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_area 171.6821347 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 400 8068 AEG9
Diaphora_mendica wing_area 136.0396538 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Emmelina monodactyla http://www.gbif.org/species/1859046 40 7708 HEG2
Crambus_perlellus wing_area 87.8307107 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Cucullia umbratica http://www.gbif.org/species/5109523 800 8468 SEG3
Deltote_bankiana wing_area 67.0752461 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Depressaria chaerophylli http://www.gbif.org/species/1837410 700 8368 SEG1
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_area 125.8721030 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 500 8168 AEG7
Diaphora_mendica wing_area 151.0314158 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Emmelina monodactyla http://www.gbif.org/species/1859046 20 7688 HEG9
Diaphora_mendica wing_area 132.2495362 mm2 http://t-sita.cesab.org/BETSI_vizInfo.jsp?trait=Wing_surface Emmelina monodactyla http://www.gbif.org/species/1859046 30 7698 HEG4
Charanyca_trigrammica wing_loading 0.3108483 mg mm-2 Chiasmia clathrata http://www.gbif.org/species/4525078 100 10324 AEG7
Diaphora_mendica wing_loading 0.1755812 mg mm-2 Emmelina monodactyla http://www.gbif.org/species/1859046 40 10264 HEG2
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_loading 0.2977945 mg mm-2 Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 400 10624 AEG9
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_loading 0.5297395 mg mm-2 Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 60 10284 AEG3
Chiasmia_clathrata wing_loading 0.0263533 mg mm-2 Chrysoteuchia culmella http://www.gbif.org/species/1887290 10 10234 HEG9
Agrotis_exclamationis wing_loading 0.3993657 mg mm-2 Agrotis ipsilon http://www.gbif.org/species/1771245 500 10724 AEG7
Deltote_bankiana wing_loading 0.0884976 mg mm-2 Depressaria chaerophylli http://www.gbif.org/species/1837410 700 10924 SEG1
Agrotis_cinerea wing_loading 0.3057596 mg mm-2 Agrotis exclamationis http://www.gbif.org/species/1771214 80 10304 AEG9
Phragmatobia_fuliginosa wing_loading 0.2140130 mg mm-2 Plutella xylostella http://www.gbif.org/species/1831136 900 11124 SEG5

Example 3 - apply ETS extensions in trait-data table

If data contain covariate information, the two-dimensional data table can cover these by adding columns defined by the extensions of the ETS. The three extensions complement the core terms according to different layers of metadata information: 1) the “taxon” extension includes terms to describe more details on the taxon concept applied, 2) the “occurrence” extension provides terms to describe the indivdual specimen and its observation context, and 3) the “Measurement or Fact” extension adds information on the methodology or context of the measurement of the trait value.

Two-dimensional spreadsheets are however limited in the number and complexity of co-variates they can contain. As such, for datasets containing multi-layered information on observations, traits, taxa and environmental context, the use of relational datatabase structures may be indicated, like the generic trait database structure proposed by Kattge et al. (2011) or the TraitBank structure proposed by Parr et al. (2016). The trade-off is user-side readability and handling in a single table vs. avoidance of content duplication and redundancy in a relational database. Although we cannot cover the structure of relational databases in this tutorial, the standard vocabulary proposed here may still be applied to describe columns within the individual data tables of relational databases.

Example 3 before standardisation; Excerpt of data from Gossner et al. (2015b) Ecology, 96, 1154–1154. doi: 10.1890/14-2159.1 on measurements of traits in Heteroptera.
ID Order Suborder Family SpeciesID Author Sex Source Center_Sampling_region Body_length Body_width Body_height Thorax_length
1 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta nigrina (Fallen, 1807) f Zoological State Collection Munich 48 57’ N 10 55’ E 2.35 1.15 0.77 0.49
2 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta nigrina (Fallen, 1807) f Zoological State Collection Munich 49 27’ N 11 05’ E 2.10 1.22 0.67 0.24
3 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta nigrina (Fallen, 1807) m Zoological State Collection Munich 49 07’ N 10 45’ E 2.17 1.07 0.68 0.20
4 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta nigrina (Fallen, 1807) m Zoological State Collection Munich 49 27’ N 11 05’ E 2.15 1.04 0.67 0.22
5 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta parvula (Fallen, 1807) f Zoological State Collection Munich 49 27’ N 11 05’ E 1.84 0.82 0.56 0.17
6 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta parvula (Fallen, 1807) f Zoological State Collection Munich 49 36’ N 11 00’ E 1.81 0.96 0.56 0.17
7 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta parvula (Fallen, 1807) m Zoological State Collection Munich 48 54’ N 11 11’ E 1.62 0.81 0.44 0.18
8 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta parvula (Fallen, 1807) m Biodiversity Exploratories 48 43’ N 09 37’ E 1.65 0.49 0.51 0.68
9 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta platycheila (Fieber, 1844) f Zoological State Collection Munich 48 11’ N 10 45’ E 2.39 1.13 0.73 0.59
10 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta platycheila (Fieber, 1844) f Zoological State Collection Munich 48 48’ N 11 06’ E 2.42 1.30 0.77 0.60
11 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta platycheila (Fieber, 1844) m Zoological State Collection Munich 49 29’ N 10 59’ E 2.44 1.19 0.71 0.63
12 Hemiptera Heteroptera Tingidae Acalypta platycheila (Fieber, 1844) m Biodiversity Exploratories 51 20’ N 10 41’ E 1.63 0.81 0.56 0.50
13 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Acetropis carinata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1841) f Biodiversity Exploratories 51 20’ N 10 41’ E 6.45 1.79 1.05 0.74
14 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Acetropis carinata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1841) f Zoological State Collection Munich NA 6.28 1.82 1.23 0.72
15 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Acetropis carinata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1841) m Biodiversity Exploratories 53 02’ N 13 83’ E 4.46 0.98 1.49 0.57
16 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris ticinensis (Meyer-Dür, 1843) f Zoological State Collection Munich 52 44’ N 07 24’ E 6.03 2.00 1.81 1.31
17 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris ticinensis (Meyer-Dür, 1843) m Zoological State Collection Munich 52 44’ N 07 24’ E 5.69 1.88 1.82 1.06
18 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze, 1778) f Zoological State Collection Munich 38 48’ N 68 47’ E 6.96 2.37 2.06 1.10
19 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze, 1778) m Zoological State Collection Munich 38 48’ N 68 47’ E 6.71 1.24 2.04 1.38
20 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris quadripunctatus (Fabricius, 1794) f Zoological State Collection Munich 48 54’ N 11 11’ E 7.29 2.31 1.77 2.05
21 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris quadripunctatus (Fabricius, 1794) m Zoological State Collection Munich 48 54’ N 11 11’ E 8.61 2.01 1.82 1.63
22 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris seticornis (Fabricius, 1775) f Biodiversity Exploratories 48 43’ N 09 37’ E 5.74 1.92 1.48 2.14
23 Hemiptera Heteroptera Miridae Adelphocoris seticornis (Fabricius, 1775) m Biodiversity Exploratories 48 43’ N 09 37’ E 5.95 1.95 1.87 2.33
24 Hemiptera Heteroptera Pentatomidae Aelia acuminata (Linnaeus, 1758) f Biodiversity Exploratories 51 20’ N 10 41’ E 9.16 4.23 2.96 1.12
25 Hemiptera Heteroptera Pentatomidae Aelia acuminata (Linnaeus, 1758) m Biodiversity Exploratories 53 02’ N 13 83’ E 7.72 3.70 2.58 1.24
26 Hemiptera Heteroptera Pentatomidae Aelia klugii Hahn, 1833 f Zoological State Collection Munich 49 07’ N 10 45’ E 7.55 3.54 2.08 1.16
27 Hemiptera Heteroptera Pentatomidae Aelia klugii Hahn, 1833 m Zoological State Collection Munich 49 27’ N 11 05’ E 6.32 3.02 1.90 0.85
28 Hemiptera Heteroptera Alydidae Alydus calcaratus (Linnaeus, 1758) f Biodiversity Exploratories 51 20’ N 10 41’ E 11.50 2.99 2.99 3.76
Example 3 after standardisation; application of terms of the ETS extensions structure the two-dimensional data table. Excerpt of data from Gossner et al. (2015b) Ecology, 96, 1154–1154. doi: 10.1890/14-2159.1.
scientificName traitName traitValue traitUnit occurrenceID taxonID family sex basisOfRecord basisOfRecordDescription decimalLatitude decimalLongitute
Acalypta parvula Body_height 0.51 mm 8 http://www.gbif.org/species/2020740 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 48.71667 9.61667
Acalypta parvula Body_length 1.65 mm 8 http://www.gbif.org/species/2020740 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 48.71667 9.61667
Acalypta parvula Body_width 0.49 mm 8 http://www.gbif.org/species/2020740 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 48.71667 9.61667
Acalypta platycheila Body_width 1.13 mm 9 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.18333 10.75000
Acalypta platycheila Body_height 0.73 mm 9 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.18333 10.75000
Acalypta platycheila Thorax_width 1.13 mm 9 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.18333 10.75000
Acalypta platycheila Body_length 2.39 mm 9 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.18333 10.75000
Acalypta platycheila Body_length 2.42 mm 10 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.80000 11.10000
Acalypta platycheila Body_width 1.30 mm 10 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.80000 11.10000
Acalypta platycheila Thorax_width 1.17 mm 10 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.80000 11.10000
Acalypta platycheila Body_height 0.77 mm 10 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 48.80000 11.10000
Acalypta platycheila Body_length 2.44 mm 11 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 49.48333 10.98333
Acalypta platycheila Body_width 1.19 mm 11 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 49.48333 10.98333
Acalypta platycheila Thorax_width 1.09 mm 11 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 49.48333 10.98333
Acalypta platycheila Body_height 0.71 mm 11 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich 49.48333 10.98333
Acalypta platycheila Body_width 0.81 mm 12 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acalypta platycheila Body_length 1.63 mm 12 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acalypta platycheila Body_height 0.56 mm 12 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acalypta platycheila Thorax_width 0.60 mm 12 http://www.gbif.org/species/4489001 Tingidae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acetropis carinata Body_height 1.05 mm 13 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acetropis carinata Body_length 6.45 mm 13 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acetropis carinata Thorax_width 1.45 mm 13 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acetropis carinata Body_width 1.79 mm 13 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 51.33333 10.68333
Acetropis carinata Body_height 1.23 mm 14 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich NA NA
Acetropis carinata Body_width 1.82 mm 14 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich NA NA
Acetropis carinata Body_length 6.28 mm 14 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich NA NA
Acetropis carinata Thorax_width 1.52 mm 14 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae f PreservedSpecimen Zoological State Collection Munich NA NA
Acetropis carinata Body_height 1.49 mm 15 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 53.03333 14.38333
Acetropis carinata Thorax_width 1.45 mm 15 http://www.gbif.org/species/8426653 Miridae m PreservedSpecimen Biodiversity Exploratories 53.03333 14.38333

References

Gossner, M. M., N. K. Simons, R. Achtziger, T. Blick, W. H. Dorow, F. Dziock, F. Köhler, et al. 2015a. A summary of eight traits of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Araneae, occurring in grasslands in Germany. Scientific Data 2:150013.

Gossner, M. M., N. K. Simons, L. Höck, and W. W. Weisser. 2015b. Morphometric measures of Heteroptera sampled in grasslands across three regions of Germany. Ecology 96:1154–1154.

Kattge, J., K. Ogle, G. Bönisch, S. Díaz, S. Lavorel, J. Madin, K. Nadrowski, et al. 2011. A generic structure for plant trait databases. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 2:202–213.

Kissling, W. D., R. Walls, A. Bowser, M. O. Jones, J. Kattge, D. Agosti, J. Amengual, et al. 2018. Towards global data products of Essential Biodiversity Variables on species traits. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2:1531–1540.

Parr, C. S., K. S. Schulz, J. Hammock, N. Wilson, P. Leary, J. Rice, C. Jr, et al. 2016. TraitBank: Practical semantics for organism attribute data. Semantic Web 7:577–588.

Wickham, H. 2014. Tidy data. Journal of Statistical Software 59:1–23.

Wilkinson, M. D., M. Dumontier, I. J. Aalbersberg, G. Appleton, M. Axton, A. Baak, N. Blomberg, et al. 2016. The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. Scientific Data 3:160018.