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Logging in
Users who have been issued a contributor username and password may submit new species to the database or make changes to existing species entries that are then approved by the administrators. From the front page, select "Database", then click on "Log In" or "Add to the Tree" to log in.
Most contributors have an ID requiring "internal authentication"; the X.500 login is for people associated with the University of Minnesota.
After logging in, click on "Add to the Tree" to start the data entry process. Be sure to read the Character descriptions and Organization pages so that you will know what data will be needed.
Classification hierarchy
First you will be prompted for classification information that can be entered using a series of pull-down menus and/or text entry.
Make your classification selections from the existing ones on the menu(s). Use the text field if a class/order/family/etc. is not available as a menu choice.
If the taxonomic placement of an organism at some level is uncertain, you may choose to leave that level empty by selecting "No [blank]" (e.g. "No Order") from the menu.
Species should be entered under their most recent teleomorph name, even if that name was not used in the reference publication. If a name change has occurred, the original published name can be entered in the corresponding "Synonym"-related fields under "Voucher information".
Organisms with no known or agreed-upon teleomorph name should be entered using their anamorph name, but both the genus and species names are entered in parentheses, e.g. Oidium grinchii has "(Oidium)" entered for the genus, and "(grinchii)" for the species. The anamorph name is also entered in the "Anamorph"-related fields in "Voucher information", but without parentheses.
After the taxon's species name is entered, a new taxon page appears that displays the classification hierarchy of the organism just entered.
Voucher information
The "Voucher info" link brings up a table with background voucher information for the species. Here is a detailed description of voucher entries.
Click on "Edit Voucher Info" to add text to any/all of the fields, and click "Update Voucher Info" when finished.
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Uploading pictures
Contributors may upload pictures to the page and enter captions for them. The pictures may be from the source reference, or can be supplemental unpublished pictures. Securing permission to display previously published images at this site and notifying the database's administrators (via post mail, fax, or e-mail) about the publishers' conditions for displaying them (e.g. crediting pictures to their source publication, stating copyright information, etc.) is the responsibility of the contributor.
Put any copyright, reference information, or publisher permission directly in the digital image by using a graphics program (Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc.). Do not use the caption field (see below) for such information.
Add a text caption for the picture using the labelled text field, such as "Septum from vegetative hyphae" or "Septum from immature ascus". Click "Choose file" to select the image to upload. After the image is chosen, click "Upload".
Character states
To add character state data, first find the appropriate location heading (e.g. "dikaryotic mycelium"), then the subgroup subheading (e.g. "Hyphae excluding ascogenous hyphae/ascus") and the characters associated with that subgroup.
Click the "Edit" link for the character under which you want to enter data.
Select the desired character state from the pull-down menu.
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For adding or editing a character state, justification must be given for the addition/change that administrators will read before approving the state change. A simple reference to particular figures or text should be sufficient.
Once the justification is completed, click on "Submit Changes".
The character state now appears on the taxon page with the words "Awaiting approval". Once the state is approved, the label disappears.
While you are logged in, you will be able to see the data you have submitted for approval on taxon pages and in NEXUS files that you call up, though other contributors, administrators, and casual users will not. Approved data become visible to all users.
Reference information
The "Info" link after a subgroup title leads to a table with information about the organism presented in the source reference. A more detailed description is here. Click on "Edit Info" to add text to any/all of the fields, and click "Save Info" when finished.
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