iNaturalist research-grade observations (Rosaceae)

Knowledge graph centered on iNaturalist research-grade observations (Rosaceae) with 21 nodes and 58 connections. Top connected: climate change effects on species interactions, space use, Silene, Fragaria, Fragaria virginiana.

Method synopsis

Large-scale collection and phenotypic scoring of digitized herbarium specimens from multiple online databases to characterize geographic patterns in plant sexual systems. Includes sex determination from flower morphology and measurement of sexual dimorphism traits.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Range-wide study in a sexually polymorphic wild strawberry reveals climatic and soil associations of sex ratio, sexual dimorphism and sex chromosomes (2025), Journal of Ecology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Collect herbarium specimen data
   Collated imaged, digitized herbarium records of F. virginiana from online sources including iDigBio, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Consortium of Intermountain Herbaria, and Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria. All images were identified as F. virginiana and less than 5% had a subspecies designation. Recorded location information (GPS coordinates) and collection date. For records without coordinates, inferred location as geographic centroid of collection county using map function in R.
   Quantities: 6557 herbarium records collected between 1893 and 2021, spanning North AmericaDuration: Historical collections spanning 1893-2021Conditions: Digital specimen images from multiple herbarium databases
   Equipment: iDigBio database, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Consortium of Intermountain Herbaria, Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria, R software version 4.3.1, maps package, geosphere package
2. Score plant sex from images
   Classified specimens as flowering (having at least one open flower) or not (vegetative, budding, or fruiting). From flowering plants, scored hermaphrodite/male or female based on presence or absence of pollen, pollen-filled and/or dehiscing anther sacs. For herbarium sheets with multiple specimens, scored the plant in upper left corner, or if obstructed, scored the plant to its right.
   Quantities: Scored sex for 3461 herbarium specimens (51%) and 3376 iNaturalist observations (49%) that showed flowering structures clearlyDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Clear flowering structures visible in images

Typical Equipment

• iDigBio database
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility
• Digital specimen images
• ImageJ software

Output Measurements

• plant sex
• flower morphology
• leaf morphology
• flowering phenology
• runner production

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol