Here’s a question about observations that can only be identified to Genus from photographs. When I’m confident that the person who identified (or confirmed) a Genus or sub-Genus level ID is an expert and thus the observation cannot be identified further, I should be checking the box that elevates it…

I only do this if I’m certain that it is the case that it can’t be identified further. It’s just that sometimes things that I know are correct to Genus and can’t be identified further remain non-RG so I’m tempted to check the box with the thought that “if so-and-so can’t ID it then it can’t be ident…

If you know that an individual can’t be identified further then I don’t see any problem in ticking the box by you. If you are wrong (anybody can make mistakes or not know something, and this is why one ID can’t make observation RG I think) then someone can ID your observation to the lower level. You…

i tend to mark the box a lot for the complexes that I know cannot go to species - mostly at this point i know the users in my area too and they know as well, from the comments either current or past, but just haven’t bothered yet themselves to check the box. Also I think it can be voted against - so…

Personally, I would avoid doing this. Even among experts there is substantial differences in levels of familiarity and identification skills regarding specific species, and a different expert may have additional knowledge or a unique technique for identification that others don’t. In addition, the…

As was said, some groups simply are not going to get below certain levels (unless it’s a series of really good photos, maybe). I use that a lot for groups that I ID, especially for poor quality photos. [image] earthknight: Pushing an ID to research grade is satisfying, but, to my mind at least…

Yeah, and expert then come and id Nomada to species, making needs id a RG is elevation of status, if there’s a possibility that observer can get a further id it can be crucial to not have observations out of id pool.

I wouldn’t do it unless you personally have a positive reason for why that particular image can’t be identified. Leave the identifiers to do it tehmselves if that’s what they think. I do a lot of hoverflies, so someone might assume that if I’ve put something at genus it can’t go further. But ther…

[image] neylon: A research grade flag on a correctly ID’d Genus doesn’t artificially increase anything, the ID is correct. It does however get it out of the way of identifiers working that taxon. I disagree with this assumption. It doesn’t get in the way of anything, and it potentially inhib…

I think that there are some taxa in which it is commonly assumed they can’t be IDed on the basis of photos (or photos on which there are no of commonly known diagnostic traits). For example, species of insects distinguishable on the basis of genitals only. In these cases I think that ticking a box i…

That’s why I don’t change it to RG. I am always hoping that new research or evidence will come to light that will allow for the species to be identified. You never know when an expert will come along and correctly identify the species. So I just leave it alone.

Elevating Genus-level IDs to research grade

General

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Elevating Genus-level IDs to research grade

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