A careful review process helps us achieve the database of rigorous, delicious data that we’re all after. Once species observations are auto-checked, quality-assured, peer reviewed, and published to the Vital Signs database, they undergo two additional online reviews – an Expert Review of species identifications & a general Community Review. If Quality Data is your middle name, this is your opportunity to help the community up its game.
Expert Reviewers are members of the Vital Signs community who have a demonstrated ability to identify certain plants or animals with ease. You tend to know a Species Expert when you meet one. They get really excited and impassioned when talking about their species!
Species Experts are assigned one or more species to review, and receive special alerts when new observations are published. Using written & photo evidence, they either confirm the identification you made, or question it. They leave public comments that explain their decision, suggest different identifications as appropriate, offer tips & tricks to help you make similar identifications next time, and let you know you made their day by looking for a species they care deeply about.
You can be an Expert Reviewer. You do not need a PhD. You just need a great and consistent eye for picking your species out of a crowd of similar looking species. Tell us if you’re interested in attaining Expert Review status. We'll talk.
All registered participants are invited to contribute to our Community Review effort. Borderline and budding Species Experts can use the Suggest an ID sidebar box to support an observation or suggest a different one. Others with expertise in field sketches and notes, macro photography, and supporting claims with evidence can use the Comments section of each observation to applaud, critique, and help.
In the right-hand sidebar of each species observation detail page there is a box called Suggest an ID. Based on the evidence, decide whether you support the identification or think it’s something different. Select from the pulldown list the scientific or common name of the same species or a different species. Submit your suggestion, and leave a comment that explains why you agree with the ID or think it’s something else. One species identification may receive a lot of support, while a trickier species may have a list of different species suggested by different reviewers. The comments and discussions that ensue will be both juicy and important. Bring on the cheers. Bring on the debate!
Scroll down the page of each species observation detail page and you’ll see a Comments section specific to that observation. Leave comments and give feedback that is constructive & encouraging, on topic & appropriate, inquisitive & thought-provoking, and supportive of learning & improving quality. If you see a site photo or suite of evidence you really like, let us all know. If you see some iffy data, let us all know what you’d do to make improvements. Community involvement through this review process will move us all towards great, then greater data.
