Hi Steve,
Try the folllowing revision, which is in part an exercise to see whether I understand your definition.
"An observation characterizes the occurrence of an organism or set of organisms through a data collection event using a defined protocol at a defined spatiotemporal location. Individual observations are not necessarily independent entities and potentially can be linked through common characteristics such as time, place, protocol, and individual organisms."
Bob
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 11:01:11 -0500 From: Steve Kelling stk2@cornell.edu
...
I suggest that we go with the definition of an observation as:
An observation characterizes the occurrence of an organism (or a community of organisms) through a collection event using a defined protocol and spatiotemporal location. Individual observations are non-independent entities that can be linked to each other through their common characteristics.
====================================================================== Robert K. Peet, Professor & Chair Phone: 919-962-6942 Curriculum in Ecology, CB#3275 Fax: 919-962-6930 University of North Carolina Cell: 919-368-4971 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3275 USA Email: peet@unc.edu
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