So this is part question, part I’m-not-sure what.
As I understand it, the geo model is based off of observations, I think? While the species atlas is set by the curators to correspond generally to the species range.
Does the geo model include the species atlas set by the curators? Or how does it work? Do all species have an atlas?
No, the geomodel does not include the atlas data:
The Geomodel is trained only on iNaturalist observations and an elevation map.
From https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/84677
No. You can see the existing atlases and read more about them here: https://www.inaturalist.org/atlases/
Thank you!
Sorry, one more question - when i pull up a species page, is the map there what’s from the atlas or from the geo model? And what does it mean if there is a yellow area instead of green on the map?
Sorry, I’m not sure where to find these answers….
A third option - those maps pull from place checklists / listed taxa entries. When a taxon/species is added to a place checklist, it has a page like this: https://www.inaturalist.org/listed_taxa/57988410
On taxon maps throughout the site, establishment means (native/non-native) is indicated by a dotted line and color indicates whether there are research-grade observations associated with a listed taxon (green) or not (orange). (from https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/atlases)
Atlases then are essentially curators making sure a species is entered onto all the appropriate place checklists.
Oh wow, ok. Thank you because I never would have figured this out myself!
There is a string of forum posts about - orange on the map ?
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/map-legend-colors/68138/2
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/map-legend-what-does-the-orange-color-represent/3573
We still need this explained each time - legend on the map would help.
Yes a legend would be great - I honestly was surprised it wasn’t in the legend when I clicked the legend on the map.