Paleo Fields

Symbiota Fossil Field Information

Note 2020-05-21: Screenshot below showing what the fields look like on the specimen data entry form for fossil records.


Fossil records can be entered in various ways, including via a DwC-A file, one-at-a-time via the Symbiota database, or via an Excel spreadsheet saved as a CSV file.

Download an Excel template (last updated 2021-02-05) for entering fossil records if you think you want to enter records that way. There are examples and some explanations included in the template.


Field information on Symbiota site:
http://symbiota.org/docs/symbiota-occurrence-data-fields-2/


NOTE 2020-05-21: ContextID (GeologicalContextID): We are using this field right now for locality ID numbers, if you have them. (Ie., PA 323, P3901, PB01006, 3003.) Please do not use the field labeled “Location ID” for your locality ID numbers. At least not now. We hope to simplify the form in regards to Context ID/Location ID because it’s confusing having both fields on the form, labeled the way they are labeled.


Field definitions and data examples for entering fossil specimen records into the Pteridophytes portal: 

Paleontology fields
Eon: The longest geologic time intervals.
Ex: Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic. 

Era: A subdivision of an eon that is a shorter interval of geologic time.
Ex: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic.

Period: A subdivision of an era that is a shorter interval of geologic time. 
Ex:  Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene, Quaternary.

Epoch: A subdivision of a period that is a shorter interval of geologic time. 
Ex: Lower, Middle, Upper Ordovician; Wenlock; Pridoli; Lower, Middle, Upper Devonian; Lower, Middle, Upper Mississippian;  Lower, Middle, Upper Pennsylvanian; Cisuralian; Lower, Middle, Upper Jurassic; Lower, Upper Cretaceous; Paleocene; Eocene; Oligocene; Miocene; Pliocene; Pleistocene; Holocene. Note: The Epoch field is currently being recorded using Series, the chronostratigraphic units.

Stage: The chronostratigraphic term given to the succession of rock strata laid down in a single geochronologic age.
Ex: Lochkovian, Emsian, Eifelian, Givetian, Frasnian, Tournaisian, Serpukhovian, Moscovian, Changhsingian, Norian, Oxfordian, Hauterivian, Albian, Maastrichtian, Thanetian, Messinian, etc.

Local Stage: A local name for a stage that was applied to this specimen.
Ex: “Ulatsian”, “Helvetian.”

Early Interval: Name of the earliest possible geochronologic eon, era, period, epoch or age, or the lowest chronostratigraphic eonothem, erathem, system, series, or stage attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the cataloged specimen was collected.
Ex: Aalenian, Aeronian, Albian, Anisian, Aptian, Aquitanian, Archean, Artinskian, Asselian, Bajocian, Barremian, Bartonian, etc.

Late Interval: Name of the latest possible geochronologic eon, era, period, epoch or age, or the highest chronostratigraphic eonothem, erathem, system, series or stage attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the cataloged specimen was collected.
Ex: Aalenian, Aeronian, Albian, Anisian, Aptian, Aquitanian, Archean, Artinskian, Asselian, Bajocian, Barremian, Bartonian, etc.

Absolute Age: Field to record the age of specimen/rock in years determined using radioactive decay of isotopes (Carbon-14, argon-argon, potassium-argon, uranium-lead, etc.) and other quantitative dating methods.
Ex: 20 Ma, 75 ka, 10.5 – 12.7 +/- 0.5 Ma, etc.

Storage Age: Field for institutions that arrange collections by geologic time or biostratigraphy. The physical location of a specimen within the collection space. 
Ex: Miocene, Wasatchian, Paleocene, Bridgerian, etc. 

Biota (Flora/Fauna): Name given to collections of fossils of the same age from a single locality or multiple localities within a specific geographic area.
Ex: Chalk Bluffs, Stewart Valley, Bridge Creek, Mazon Creek, etc.

Biostratigraphy (Biozone): The name of the lowest possible geological biostratigraphic zone of the stratigraphic horizon from which the cataloged item was collected.
Ex: “Wa0”, “Uvigerinella sparsicostata Zone”, “Ogygiocaris”

Group: The name of the lithostratigraphic group from which the cataloged specimen was collected. The National Geologic Map Database Geolex Search is a great resource for the named lithostratigraphic units accepted by the USGS.
Ex: Bathurst, Lower Wealden, Monte Cristo, Contra Costa, Panoche, etc.
See also http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/group

Formation: The name of the lithostratigraphic formation from which the cataloged specimen was collected. The National Geologic Map Database Geolex Search is a great resource for the named lithostratigraphic units accepted by the USGS.
See also http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/index.htm#formation
Ex: Notch Peak, House Limestone, Fillmore, Chinle, etc.

Member: The name of the lithostratigraphic member from which the cataloged item was collected. The National Geologic Map Database Geolex Search is a great resource for the named lithostratigraphic units accepted by the USGS.
See also http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/index.htm#member
Ex: Lava Dam, Hellnmaria, Brown Mountain Sandstone

Bed: The name of the lithostratigraphic bed from which the cataloged item was collected. The National Geologic Map Database Geolex Search is a great resource for the named lithostratigraphic units accepted by the USGS.
See also http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/index.htm#bed

Taxon Environment: The depositional environment of the rock unit from which cataloged specimen was collected. 
Ex: marine, lacustrine, non-marine, marine-non-marine

Lithology: Field for terms to describe the types of rock/sediment from which the cataloged specimen was collected.
Ex: sandstone, mudstone, siltstone, shale, etc.

Stratigraphy Remarks: [Just says Remarks on form, in paleo section.] Field to record additional details about the geology, stratigraphy, more detailed lithology description, palynological sampling info, core data, etc. 

Element: Field to record type of plant organ cataloged specimen represents.
Ex: stem, strobilus, sterile leaf, fertile leaf, pinnule(s), rooting organ, rootlet, megasporangium, sporangium, spore, sterile axis, fertile axis, root, etc.

Slide Properties: Field to record types of prepared slides of specimens, noting the type of preparation and mounting medium, and to provide England Finder coordinates for palynomorph slides. 
Ex: strewn, petrographic thin-section, mounted peel

Locality fields
Locality: The detailed location in which the specimen was collected.
Ex: 9.5 miles NW of Sedona along Boynton Pass Rd.

Location ID: See 2020-05-21 note at top of page about the ContextID (GeologicalContextID) field.

Misc fields
Associated Taxa: A list of the names of other species occurring with the collected specimen.
Ex: Lepidodendron, Medullosa, Calamites, etc.

Description: Any notes relating to the physical description of the specimen. 
Ex: Fertile leaf with cuticle preserved; specimen in three pieces; specimen has part and counterpart; modes of preservation; silicified wood; teredo-bored wood; termite-bored wood; Compression/Impression; etc. 

Individual Count: Field can be used to record the number of individuals of a single specimen or the same taxa on a rock slab that are lot cataloged. 

Preparations: Field to record fate of specimens.
Ex: SEM stub, cuticle maceration, cuticle transfer, coal ball peel, thin-section, , etc.

occurrenceRemarks: Any other remarks about the specimen.


Data entry screen for fossil records: