What a specimen map can—and cannot—tell you
A guide to reading the archive’s historical collection records without mistaking them for a complete range or a foraging forecast.
Prepared with source references. Independent specialist review has not been completed. This guide does not establish identity, edibility, medicinal safety, or permission to collect.
A recorded collection is a piece of evidence
Our maps display selected preserved-specimen records supplied through GBIF. Each included record has an identifier, a contributing dataset, and a reuse license. The map’s attribution panel links back to that evidence.
A collection record concerns a recorded event. It does not prove that an organism is still present, that the identification is correct, or that a collecting site is open to visitors.
Read the selection before interpreting the pattern
The current California snapshot considers the first 300 results per species returned by a stored query. Records then pass stated coordinate and reuse-license filters. This subset is neither random nor exhaustive.
A darker cell means more included records in that cell. It does not measure population size, ecological importance, current fruiting, or the probability of finding an organism on a walk.
An empty area is not a claim of absence
A region may be unrepresented because of the selected subset, collecting history, missing coordinates, or excluded records. Do not interpret a blank cell as a safe area without a hazardous species.
Locations are grouped into quarter-degree cells. A cell is approximately 28 km north to south, and its center may fall offshore or beyond a boundary even when the contributing record was labeled California.
Follow the citation when the question matters
Open the species’ Distribution tab to inspect the query, record counts, uncertainty notes, dataset DOIs, and individual specimen links. The downloadable snapshot preserves those identifiers and credits.
Use a regional flora or specialist source for a distribution account. Use the land manager for access and collection rules. The archive’s map is not a substitute for either.
Keep these questions with you.
- Check the retrieval date
- Read which records were selected or excluded
- Treat grid cells as generalized locations
- Follow dataset citations and record links
- Do not infer absence, abundance, or safe collection
Read the sources.
- GBIF occurrence records & citation guidance ↗
GBIF Secretariat and contributing data publishers
Specimen occurrence snapshot. Each contributing dataset, DOI where available, record identifier, and license is retained in the downloadable map data.
- TIGERweb — States and Counties ↗
US Census Bureau
Generalized California state outline only; does not imply a species distribution.
