I support Bob's definition below. Jerry

...

...

"Robert K. Peet" peet@unc.edu 11/21/05 6:38 AM >>>

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

http://www.unc.edu/depts/ecology/ http://www.bio.unc.edu/faculty/peet/ ======================================================================

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