The Taxonomic Concept Schema (TCS) Overview and Rationale
Jessie Kennedy, School of Computing, Napier University, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, Scotland.This presentation will give an overview of the proposed TDWG Taxonomic Concept Schema for exchanging information about names and concepts, highlighting the in aims of the design of the schema and how these have been achieved in the model. In particular it will discuss the relationship between names and concepts and how both can be encompassed using the same model. It will also discuss how the different notions of taxonomic concept adopted by different taxonomic database groups can be represented for transfer using this same model. The TCS is not a "new" model of taxonomy but rather an inclusive model which captures the range of various interpretations of concept uncovered during our analysis. The TCS can allow transfer of concepts fit for particular purposes; although not all representations of concepts possible in the TCS will necessarily be suitable for all purposes.