Which synonyms to include in merge syncs?

[mdoering]

Sectors can be configured with a set of ranks to include during a sync. If not given, a defaut of family, genus, species, subspecies, variety and form is used for merge sectors. For other sectors no rank filtering is done at all.

This mainly applies to accepted names though. synonyms, especially on species and infraspecific level, often contain all kind of ranks.
Currently we apply the rank filters also to synonyms, but always allow any infraspecific rank.

Should we change this behavior? Maybe only look at the accepted rank?

[DianRHR]

Considering that merge sectors have different levels of quality, it is important to include some criteria in the configuration before merging.
The agreement of including names from family and below in the merge sectors should be the same for the synonyms. However, we could include synonyms at "intermediate" ranks: subfamily, tribe, subtribe, subgenus, section if their accepted name is already in the COL release or if its being included in the merge.
Another important point is to include a validation rule, that only allows the merging of synonyms whose accepted name is of the same group rank ( families, subfamilies, tribes, subtribes) (genus, subgenus, section) (species, subspecies, varieties, forms, species groups, aberration, morph, subvariety, etc) but not between different ranks (i.e. a subgenus synonym of a species or a family synonym of a genus), is that possible @mdoering ?

The ICZN defines: synonym, n.: Each of two or more names of the same rank used to denote the same taxonomic taxon.
The Shenzhen Code Glossary considers a synonym more general: [Not defined] – one of two or more names that apply to the same taxon (see heterotypic synonym, homotypic synonym). . However, the article 14.4 does mention homotypic synonyms to be of the same rank).