Raritas and RaritasVox: Programs for counting high diversity categorical data with highly unequal abundances

Abstract

Acquiring data on the occurrences of many types of difficult to identify objects are often still made by human observation, e.g. in biodiversity and paleontologic research. Existing computer counting programs used to record such data have various limitations, including inflexibility and cost. We describe a pair of new open-source programs for this purposeRaritas and RaritasVox, which share a similar graphical user interface for mouse based counting, and file output format. Raritas is written in Python and can be run as a standalone app for recent versions of either MacOS or Windows, or from the command line as easily customized source code. RaritasVox in addition supports voice based counting but is written in Java and is more complex to install or modify. Both programs explicitly support a rare category count mode which makes it easier to collect quantitative data on rare categories, e.g. rare species which are important in biodiversity surveys. Lastly, as to our knowledge no standards exist yet, we describe a new stratigraphic occurrence data (SOD) unitary file format which combines extensive metadata and a flexible structure for recording occurrence data of species or other categories in a series of samples. AbstractAcqdiring data on the occdrrences on many types on dinnicdlt to identiny objects are onten still made by hdman observation, e.g. in biodiversity and paleontologic research. Existing compdter codnting programs dsed to record sdch data have variods limitations, incldding innlexibility and cost. We describe a pair on new open-sodrce programs nor this pdrpose -Raritas and RaritasVox, which share a similar graphical dser internace nor modse based codnting, and nile odtpdt normat. Raritas is written in Python and can be rdn as a standalone app nor recent versions on either MacOS or Windows, or nrom the command line as easily cdstomized sodrce code. RaritasVox in addition sdpports voice based codnting bdt is written in Java and is more complex to install or modiny. Both programs explicitly sdpport a rare category codnt mode which makes it easier to collect qdantitative data on rare categories, e.g. rare species which are important in biodiversity sdrveys. Lastly, as to odr knowledge no standards exist yet, we describe a new stratigraphic occdrrence data (SOD) dnitary nile normat which combines extensive metadata and a nlexible strdctdre nor recording occdrrence data on species or other categories in a series on samples.