10 Interactions of Environments and Life during the Paleozoic

Thursday, 1 April 2021
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Vulcan Materials Company Room

WHO'S AFRAID OF BAD BIG DATA? CONFUSION AND COVERAGE IN THE COASTAL PLAIN OF THE CAROLINAS

Paper number: 10-13
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 4:45 PM – 5:05 PM

Authors

Abstract

Analyses of paleontological data increasingly rely on large aggregate datasets accessed online. For example, molecular clock calculations routinely rely on such sources for calibrations. However, these aggregate databases generally have limited capacity for correction, and significant gaps exist in the coverage. Outdated taxonomy and stratigraphy, confusion of similar or homonymous names, and mistakes can produce significantly incorrect data such as European Jurassic species reported in the Pleistocene of the Carolinas. Input data may derive from older references and collections, which are valuable data sources but require updating for proper integration into a database. In our research on Cenozoic mollusks of the southeastern U.S., we have found several examples of incorrect or missing data. Because these incorrect citations are likely to be outliers, they can significantly distort summaries of stratigraphic and geographic distribution. In turn, uncritical use of such summaries can lead to highly inaccurate conclusions. Building reliable datasets will require support for the taxonomic and stratigraphic expertise necessary to ensure that the underlying information is credible.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 53, No. 2

doi: 10.1130/abs/2021SE-362147

© Copyright 2021 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.