Relationship of taxonomic error to frequency of observation

Biological nomenclature is the entry point to a wealth of information related to or associated with living entities. When applied accurately and consistently, communication between and among researchers and investigators is enhanced, leading to advancements in understanding and progress in research programs. Based on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic identifications, inter-laboratory comparisons of >900 samples taken from rivers, streams, and lakes across the U.S., including the Great Lakes, provided data on taxon-specific error rates. Using the error rates in combination with frequency of observation (FREQ; as a surrogate for rarity), six uncertainty/frequency classes (UFC) are proposed for approximately 1,000 taxa. The UFC, error rates, FREQ each are potentially useful for additional analyses related to interpreting biological assessment results and/or stressor response relationships, as weighting factors for various aspects of ecological condition or biodiversity analyses and helping set direction for taxonomic research and refining identification tools.