Harvestmen of the BOS Arthropod Collection of the University of Oviedo (Spain) (Arachnida, Opiliones)

Abstract

There are significant gaps in accessible knowledge about the distribution and phenology of Iberian harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). Harvestmen accessible datasets in Iberian Peninsula are unknown, an only two other datasets available in GBIF are composed exclusively of harvestmen records. Moreover, only a few harvestmen data from Iberian Peninsula are available in GBIF network (or in any network that allows public retrieval or use these data). This paper describes the data associated with the Opiliones kept in the BOS Arthropod Collection of the University of Oviedo, Spain (hosted in the Department of Biología de Organismos y Sistemas), filling some of those gaps. The specimens were mainly collected from the northern third of the Iberian Peninsula. The earliest specimen deposited in the collection, dating back to the early 20th century, belongs to the P. Franganillo Collection. The dataset documents the collection of 16,455 specimens, preserved in 3,772 vials. Approximately 38% of the specimens belong to the family Sclerosomatidae, and 26% to Phalangidae; six other families with fewer specimens are also included. Data quality control was incorporated at several steps of digitisation process to facilitate reuse and improve accuracy. The complete dataset is also provided in Darwin Core Archive format, allowing public retrieval, use and combination with other biological, biodiversity of geographical variables datasets.

The relevance, biases, and importance of digitising opportunistic non-standardised collections: A case study in Iberian harvestmen fauna with BOS Arthropod Collection datasets (Arachnida, Opiliones)

“…Specimens were collected systematically from the Muniellos Biosphere Reserve between 2000 and 2002 (Merino-Sáinz and Anadón 2008), and from several locations in the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria, and Pontevedra between 2009 and 2011 (Merino-Sáinz et al 2013c describe the harvestmen subcollection of BOS). Therefore, we decided to study and compare the data derived from unplanned collections events (untargeted sampling) with these data derived from planned, standardised, and periodic sampling.…”

“…These controls included the validation and cleaning of geographic, taxonomic, and additional data associated with the harvestmen specimens (Merino-Sáinz et al 2013c). …”

“…The BOS Arthropod Collection includes harvestmen from the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula that, since 1977, have been obtained through systematic repeated sampling in several locations, as well as through non-harvestmen-specific sampling and accidental occurrences. Specimens were collected systematically from the Muniellos Biosphere Reserve between 2000 and 2002 ( Merino-Sáinz and Anadón 2008 ), and from several locations in the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria, and Pontevedra between 2009 and 2011 ( Merino-Sáinz et al 2013c describe the harvestmen subcollection of BOS). Therefore, we decided to study and compare the data derived from unplanned collections events (untargeted sampling) with these data derived from planned, standardised, and periodic sampling.…”

“…Design description: The data subset is part of the large dataset of Opiliones housed in the BOS Arthropod Collection ( Universidad de Oviedo 2013- ). Details of the digitisation process are available in the description of the BOS Collection digitisation workflow ( Torralba-Burrial and Ocharan 2013 ) and in the data paper on the harvestmen subcollection ( Merino-Sáinz et al 2013c ). In that data-paper, we argue that the large dataset could be used to assess, among other things, the importance of unplanned collection data in filling in knowledge gaps if planned (standardised sampling) collection data are not available or are incomplete.…”

An occurence records database of French Guiana harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones)

“…We believe this will make a valuable contribution to the global effort of sharing harvestmen database information (e.g. Merino-Sáinz et al 2013). …”