Reference Habitat Sample
Definition
Documented comparison material collected from a relevant environment under a stated sampling method. A reference should represent a relevant proposed environment and its variation. Document location, depth, time and collection method where they affect the question.
- Context
- Environmental comparison
For example, a documented habitat sample can support comparison with questioned pollen while collection season and local variation still affect interpretation.
One convenient sample need not represent a whole location. A similarity with limited reference material does not establish a unique geographic source.
Related terms
- Frustule
- The silica cell wall of a diatom, composed of two overlapping valves (epitheca and hypotheca). Frustules are taxonomically distinctive, chemically resistant to...
- Physical Fit
- A supported correspondence between complementary broken surfaces, distinct from shared taxonomic features. Morphological comparison assesses observed features. A physical fit concerns complementary...
- Pollen Assemblage
- A pollen assemblage is the set of pollen and related observations represented in a defined sample, often described by identified taxa and...
- Taxonomic Resolution
- The level of classification supported, such as family, genus or species. A taxonomic result depends on marker performance, reference quality and the...
Explained in
- Botanical Evidence: An OverviewDocumented comparison material from a relevant environment.