Adding Species to the iMapInvasives Network Species List
Overview
1. Check to see if species is already in iMap on the Network Species List (under the menu icon in upper left corner). Try variations of the name, synonyms, and check spelling.
If in Network list, species can be added from your Jurisdiction Species List (click the “Add From Network Species List” link). Then fill in jurisdiction-specific names and other info.
2. If it is not in iMap, then download a copy of the “New species request template” spreadsheet available on the J-Admin Sharepoint site and fill out the needed fields for each new species.
Read the comments for each field – important instructions are in there!
3. Once you have filled in all the necessary fields in the template for your requested species, create a new Freshdesk ticket and attach your spreadsheet.
Tips for Filling Out the Template
1. Check the NatureServe Explorer database (watch out for typos and synonyms when searching)
If in NS Explorer/Biotics, then add Unique ID# to the spreadsheet
Please change the decimal point to a dash! (or excel will truncate zeros)
Fill in top part of spreadsheet
See below for tips on selecting proper Photos and URLs
b. If NOT in NS Explorer/Biotics:
Fill in remainder of spreadsheet including the bottom taxonomic section (see below for tips about finding Concept References)
Populating the Photos and Information fields
Photo ID URL: Find a photo that shows good identifying characteristics and photo composition, and confirm that you have permission to reuse the image (e.g. public domain or Creative Commons licensing of attribute-only or share-alike). Wikimedia Commons image search is an easy way to find shareable images.
Make sure photo is not too small. The URL needs to end with “.jpg” (example: https://bugwoodcloud.org/images/384x256/5543744.jpg)
To get the image URL, try right clicking on the photo, and select “Copy Image Address”.
Some sites have a link to “Use this image on the Web” which can provide the URL.
Then test out the URL by pasting into a new browser tab.
The Photo Credit info is usually on the same page as the photo. Again check that reuse of the image is acceptable according to that site, or that photographer’s, terms of use.
Info URL: copy URL of species fact page, make sure there is sufficient information on the page before selecting it (some sites set up a species page before they are able to populate the information about it. If this seems to be the case for the 1st choice, then check out the 2nd choice, etc.)
Terrestrial Plants
Photos:
1st choice: Invasive.org: http://www.invasive.org/species/weeds.cfm
(Use Ctrl + F to search the text on the page for the species, then “View Images”. Right-click on image, and select “Copy Image Address”. Make sure it ends on “.jpg”)
Image usage info: https://www.invasive.org/about/imageusage.cfm
2nd choice: Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
Terms of use info: http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/legal.php
Info:
1st choice: USDA Plants
2nd choice: Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
3rd choice: Invasive.org (use Ctrl + F to search the text on the page for the species)
4th choice: USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
others: Bugwood Wiki (search by species name)
Or iNaturalist Species page (uses Wikipedia)
Aquatic Animals and Plants
Photos and Info:
1st choice - Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
Terms of use info: http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/legal.php
2nd Choice: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS)
Copyrights and Credits info: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits
3rd choice: USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
Copyright info: https://www.nal.usda.gov/main/web-policies-and-important-links
4th choice: Google search for a factsheet from a state government or university
search by the scientific name
look for .gov or .edu in the URL
Terrestrial Animals
Image:
1st choice: Bugwood.org
Image usage info: https://www.forestryimages.org/about/imageusage.cfm
2nd choice: Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
Terms of use info: http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/legal.php
3rd choice: Google search for a factsheet from a state government or university
search by the scientific name
look for .gov or .edu in the URL
Info:
1st choice: Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
2nd choice: USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
3rd choice: Google search for a factsheet from a state government or university
search by the scientific name
look for .gov or .edu in the URL
Insects
Photo:
1st choice: Bugwood.org
Image usage info: https://www.forestryimages.org/about/imageusage.cfm
2nd choice: USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
Copyright info: https://www.nal.usda.gov/main/web-policies-and-important-links
3rd choice: Bug Guide
Terms of use: https://bugguide.net/termsofuse: image re-use is determined by the individual contributor. Click on the contributor’s name to see their copyright setting. Many of the images are copyrighted so cannot be reused on iMapInvasives.
4th Choice: Google search for a factsheet from a state government or university
search by the scientific name
look for .gov or .edu in the URL
Info:
1st choice: Invasive.org (use Ctrl + F to search the text on the page for the species)
2nd choice: USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
3rd choice: Google search for a factsheet from a state government or university
search by the scientific name
look for .gov or .edu in the URL
4th choice: National Agricultural Pest Information System
other choice: Bugwood Wiki (search by species name)
Page Break
Concept references for introduced plants
1. First check to see if the species has been documented in its new range in a published checklist.
If it’s recognized in a published volume of Flora of North America, as reflected in eFlora (http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1), then note the species page URL on the spreadsheet (you are done!). If not in FNA, but in a published checklist (such as in a peer-reviewed journal), make a copy of the title page and the page listing the species, and note the reference on the spreadsheet.
2. If no published materials from #1 are found, then we need to look from sources outside of North America. This may be:
The original describing paper (this may be very old, but many systems such as JSTOR or Biodiversity Heritage Library are archiving such sources). Sometimes a search on Tropicos (http://www.tropicos.org/ ) can lead to a paper.
Flora from the native range - If the original description is too difficult to track down, a flora from the native range is a very good second choice. However, this can prove difficult if in languages other than English.
Publication used by botanists to identify the plant when it first appeared in North America
A published checklist from another country (either native or introduced range)
Searching the scientific name in the Biodiversity Heritage Library may help: www.biodiversitylibrary.org
For the source found, try to get ahold of a PDF of the paper. If you can see the paper is available through subscription services but don’t have access, list the URL and make a note on the spreadsheet so we can request it through Interlibrary Loan. If in the Biodiversity Heritage Library, just need to send the link or the citation.
Need to indicate where first found in US or Canada and the source of that information (does not need to be published). If in FNA, check the text indicating where it is found in US
Note - NatureServe cannot use databases or online checklists; they are not static and don’t have the info needed to adequately define the concept. Systems like BONAP or the USDA PLANTS database have proven to be very temporary sources – plants appear with no clear supporting information or disappear without notice.