Plant-Pollinator Interactions vocabulary quick reference guide

This document is intended to be an easy-to-read reference of the currently (as of 2022-01-06) recommended terms maintained as part of the Darwin Core standard and is maintained by the Brazilian Network on Plant-Pollinator Interactions.

This page is not part of the standard, but combines the normative term names and definitions with the non-normative comments and examples that are meant to help people to use the terms consistently. Capitalized terms, such as Occurrence, are Darwin Core classes, which are special category terms used to group sets of terms for convenience. Comprehensive metadata for current and obsolete terms in human readable form are found in the document List of PPI terms.

Additional files with just the current term names and a file with the full term history can be found in the PPI repository.

For inquiries about how to use Plant-Pollinator Interactions vocabulary, either enter an issue in the PPI Questions & Answers site or enter an issue in the alternative form, which will have the same effect. See the bottom of this document for how to cite PPI.

Animal

caste

Animal Class
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/Animal
Definition	Any attribute of a particular animal or a definied group of animals individuals
Comments
Examples	The caste of a bee

caste Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/caste
Definition	The society division that is specialized in the function it performs and is distinguished by anatomical or morphological features from other individuals of in the society
Comments	Recommended best pratices is to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`soldier`, `queen` , `worker`

Plant

antherDehiscenceType flowerAbundance floralSymmetry floralSystem plantHabit humanUse matingSystem selfIncompatibilityType apomiticSystemEmbryoOrigin apomiticSystemFertilization apomiticSystemReproduction sexualSystem

Plant Class
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/Plant
Definition	Any attribute of a particular plant or a defined group of plants inviduals
Comments
Examples

antherDehiscenceType Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/antherDehiscenceType
Definition	The physical mechanism of anther dehiscence (release of the pollen grains)
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`poricidal`, `longitudinal`

flowerAbundance Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerAbundance
Definition	The number of open flowers or inflorescences on the plant
Comments	If it is an estimate then you should describe the accuracy of the measurement using http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/measurementAccuracy
Examples	`0`, `30`, `40`

floralSymmetry Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/floralSymmetry
Definition	The symmetry describing whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts.
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as the Phenotype and Trait Ontology
Examples	`zygomorphic`, `bilateral`

floralSystem Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/floralSystem
Definition	The system by which bisexual flowers optimize their reproductive success, through mechanisms that promote self- or cross-pollination
Comments	It can be a morphological, temporal or movement-based mechanism. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`herkogamy`, `heterostyly`, `stylar dimorphism`

plantHabit Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/plantHabit
Definition	The general appearance, characteristic form, or mode of growth of the plant
Comments
Examples	`tree`, `bush`, `herb`

humanUse Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/humanUse
Definition	Ways in which species are utilized by people, including cultural use
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`human food` , `animal food`, `medicine`, `ritual`

matingSystem Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/matingSystem
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of the modes of gene transfer from one generation to the next through sexual reproduction
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( \| ) and to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`autogamous`, `xenogamous`

selfIncompatibilityType Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/selfIncompatibilityType
Definition	The type or class of self-incompatibility system of the plant species
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. If the plant has no self-incompatibility system use the value `absent`.
Examples	`gametophytic`, `sporophytic`, `absent`, `homomorphic sporophytic`

apomiticSystemEmbryoOrigin Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/apomiticSystemEmbryoOrigin
Definition	The general mode of apomixis embryo origin of a plant
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	gametophytic,sporpophytic

apomiticSystemFertilization Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/apomiticSystemFertilization
Definition	The general mode of apomixis endosperm development of a plant
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	autonomous,pseudogamy

apomiticSystemReproduction Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/apomiticSystemReproduction
Definition	The general mode of apomixis reproduction of a plant
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	facultative, obligate

sexualSystem Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/sexualSystem
Definition	The distribution of floral types within and among the individuals of the same population
Comments	The gender expression is based in the presence and distribution of fertile whorls within the flower. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`monoceius`, `dioceius`

Flower

antherPollenGrainsQuantity stigmaticAreaInSquareMilimiters styleLengthInMilimiters coloredFlowerStructure flowerColor flowerShape flowerOrientation flowerOpeningType floralAttractants ovuleQuantity flowerLongevity flowerOpeningPeriod functionalFlowerLifespanInHours

Flower Class
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/Flower
Definition	Any attribute of a particular flower or a definied group of flowers
Comments
Examples	The shape and the number of anther of a flower

antherPollenGrainsQuantity Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/antherPollenGrainsQuantity
Definition	The total number of pollen grains in the anther(s) of a flower
Comments	For flowers with multiple anthers the number provided should be the sum of pollen grains in all anthers
Examples	`1523`,`2641`, `1146`

stigmaticAreaInSquareMilimiters Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/stigmaticAreaInSquareMilimiters
Definition	The total surface area in square millimeters of the stigma of a flower
Comments
Examples	`10`, `25`

styleLengthInMilimiters Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/styleLengthInMilimiters
Definition	The length in milimiters from the base to the tip of the style of a flower
Comments
Examples	`12.5`, `6.5`, `20.0`

coloredFlowerStructure Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/coloredFlowerStructure
Definition	The predominant colored structure(s) of the flower(s)
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( \| ). Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`bract`, `bract \| petal`

flowerColor Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerColor
Definition	The predominant color(s) of the flower(s)
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values with space vertical bar space ( \| ). Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`blue`, `red \| yellow`

flowerShape Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerShape
Definition	The overall shape of the flowers
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`bush`, `campanulate`, `tube`

flowerOrientation Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerOrientation
Definition	The orientation (presentation) of the flower with respect to the flower or inflorescence main axis
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`vertical`,`horizontal`, `pendant`

flowerOpeningType Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerOpeningType
Definition	The type of flower describing whether the flower's corolla opens or not, exposing its reproductive parts
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples	`cleistogamous`, `chasmogamous`

floralAttractants Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/floralAttractants
Definition	Types of attractants (visual, chemical or tactile) present in the flowers that floral visitors may use to locate them and their resources
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( \| ) and to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`visual`, `chemical`, `visual \| tactile`

ovuleQuantity Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/ovuleQuantity
Definition	The total amount of ovules in a flower
Comments
Examples	`3`, `4`, `10`

flowerLongevity Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerLongevity
Definition	The total amount of hours comprising the time between flower opening and flower senescence
Comments	A flower is considered opened when its petals are fully open regardless of anther maturation and stigma receptivity, and flower senescence is when floral parts begin to wilt and fall off or the ovary starts to develop into fruit
Examples	`1`, `8`, `72`, `120`

flowerOpeningPeriod Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerOpeningPeriod
Definition	The time or interval during which a chasmogamous flower opens exposing its reproductive parts
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a time interval that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples	`06:00:00Z/12:30:00Z` (the interval between 6am UTC and 12:30pm UTC)

functionalFlowerLifespanInHours Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/functionalFlowerLifespanInHours
Definition	The total amount of hours during which a flower is sexually functional
Comments	The period of time when stigma is receptive to the germination of pollen grains, ovules are receptive to the pollen tubes or anthers present viable pollen grains
Examples	`1`, `8`, `72`, `120`

Interaction

visitedFlowerSex animalPlaceOfContact nectarCollectingBodyPart nectarCollectingBodyPartLengthInMilimiters flowerPlaceOfContact resourceCollected visitedFlowersQuantity

Interaction Class
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/Interaction
Definition	An interaction event that occurs at some location during some time.
Comments
Examples	A bee visits a flower of a plant

visitedFlowerSex Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/visitedFlowerSex
Definition	The sex of the visited flower
Comments	Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`bisexual`, `male`, `female`

animalPlaceOfContact Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/animalPlaceOfContact
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of the animal body parts that contact the plant during the interaction
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( `\|` ) and to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`leg`, `beak',` abdomen`

nectarCollectingBodyPart Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/nectarCollectingBodyPart
Definition	The animal body part used to collect nectar from the plant nectaries
Comments	The plant nectaries can be floral or extrafloral nectaries. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as Uberon or the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology
Examples	`glossa`, `bill`, `tongue`

nectarCollectingBodyPartLengthInMilimiters Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/nectarCollectingBodyPartLengthInMilimiters
Definition	The length in millimeters of the body part used to collect nectar from the plant nectaries
Comments	If reporting this value, the `nectarCollectingBodyPart` should also be provided.
Examples	`12`, `100`

flowerPlaceOfContact Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/flowerPlaceOfContact
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of flower parts touched by the animal during the interaction
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( `\|` ) and to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`anther`, `stigma`, `pistil`

resourceCollected Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/resourceCollected
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of floral resources used or removed from the visited flower(s) during the interaction
Comments	Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( `\|` ) and to use a controlled vocabulary
Examples	`pollen`, `pollen \| nectar \| oil`, `ovules`

visitedFlowersQuantity Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/visitedFlowersQuantity
Definition	The total number of flowers visited during the interaction
Comments
Examples	`12`, `20`

ReproductiveSuccess

numberOfRemovedPollenGrains numberOfConspecificPollenGrains numberOfHeterospecificPollenGrains numberOfFertilizedOvules numberOfPollenTubes seedMassInMiligrams seedSet fruitMassInGrams fruitSet numberOfExposedFlowers

ReproductiveSuccess Class
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/ReproductiveSuccess
Definition	A reproductive success measurement as a result or a effect of the interaction(s) on the subject or object of the interaction
Comments	An outcome is related to one or more interactions, but limited to the same subject or object of the related interactions (e.g. a dwc:Occurrence or a dwc:Taxon)
Examples	The mass of a fruit exposed to multiple visitors was 100 grams

numberOfRemovedPollenGrains Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/numberOfRemovedPollenGrains
Definition	The total number of pollen grains removed from the anther(s) of the visited flower(s)
Comments	The pollen grains may have been removed by multiple floral visitors. The number should include pollen grains from all anthers of the flower(s)
Examples	`156`, `350`

numberOfConspecificPollenGrains Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/numberOfConspecificPollenGrains
Definition	The total number of conspecific pollen grains deposited on the stigma(s) of the visited flower(s)
Comments	The pollen grains may have been deposited at the end of the flower(s) anthesis by multiple floral visitors
Examples	`356`, `500`

numberOfHeterospecificPollenGrains Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/numberOfHeterospecificPollenGrains
Definition	The total number of heterospecific pollen grains deposited on a the stigma(s) of the visited flower(s)
Comments	The pollen grains may have been deposited at the end of the flower(s) anthesis by multiple floral visitors
Examples	`356`, `500`

numberOfFertilizedOvules Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/numberOfFertilizedOvules
Definition	The total number of fertilized ovules in the visited flower(s)
Comments	The ovules may have been fertilized as a result of multiple floral visits
Examples	`3`, `5`

numberOfPollenTubes Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/numberOfPollenTubes
Definition	The total number of pollen tubes growing in the style(s) of the visited flower(s)
Comments	The flower(s) may have been exposed by multiple floral visitors. The number should include pollen tubes growing from all styles of the flower(s)
Examples	`1`, `5`

seedMassInMiligrams Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/seedMassInMiligrams
Definition	The total mass in miligrams of the seeds of mature fruit(s)
Comments	If reporting this value, the `seedSet` should also be provided.
Examples	`50`, `231.6`

seedSet Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/seedSet
Definition	The total number of seeds of mature fruit(s)
Comments	If reporting this value, the `fruitSet` should also be provided.
Examples	`20`, `55`

fruitMassInGrams Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/fruitMassInGrams
Definition	The total mass in grams of the fruit(s)
Comments	If reporting this value, the `fruitSet` should also be provided.
Examples	`500`, `1256.55`

fruitSet Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/fruitSet
Definition	The total number of mature fruits of the exposed flower(s)
Comments	If reporting this value, the `numberOfExposedFlowers` should also be provided
Examples	`5`, `12`

numberOfExposedFlowers Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/numberOfExposedFlowers
Definition	The total number of flowers exposed to floral visitors
Comments	The exposed flowers are the flowers monitored to measure the reproductive success of the plant(s). For the total number of flowers available to floral visitors (including flowers unmonitored) use `flowerAbundance`.
Examples	`4`, `11`

NectarDynamics

accumlatedNectarVolumeInMicroliters accumulatedNectarConcentration accumulatedNectarHours accumulatedNectarFlowers

NectarDynamics Class
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/NectarDynamics
Definition	The measurements of nectar dynamics
Comments	A nectar dynamics measurement is related to the plant occurrence(s)
Examples	The accumulated nectar in the monitored flowers

accumlatedNectarVolumeInMicroliters Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/accumlatedNectarVolumeInMicroliters
Definition	The total volume in microliters of nectar accumulated by the flower(s)
Comments	The total volume of nectar should be provided for flowers which were not exposed to floral visitors during all their longevity. If reporting this value, the `accumulatedNectarHours` should also be provided.
Examples	`5`, `10`, `5.5`

accumulatedNectarConcentration Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/accumulatedNectarConcentration
Definition	The concentration of the nectar, in percentage of sugar, accumulated by the flower(s)
Comments	The accumulated nectar concentration should be provided for flowers which were not exposed to floral visitors during all their longevity. If reporting this value, the `accumulatedNectarHours` should also be provided
Examples	`10.2`, `25`

accumulatedNectarHours Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/accumulatedNectarHours
Definition	The time in hours in which the nectar was let to accumulated in the flower(s)
Comments
Examples	`0.5`, `2`, `48`

accumulatedNectarFlowers Property
Identifier	http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/terms/accumulatedNectarFlowers
Definition	The total number of flowers which the accumulated nectar measurements were made
Comments	The flowers should be prevented from visitation (not exposed to floral visitors) during all their logenvity
Examples	`4`, `23`

Cite PPI

To cite the document upon which this page is built, use the following:

REBIPP. 2022. List of Plant-Pollinator Interactions vocabulary terms. Brazilian Network on Plant-Pollinator Interactions (REBIPP). http://rs.rebipp.org.br/ppi/doc/list/

To cite this document specifically, use the following:

REBIPP. 2022. Plant-Pollinator Interactions vocabulary quick reference guide. Brazilian Network on Plant-Pollinator Interactions (REBIPP). https://ppi.rebipp.org.br/terms/