PlinianCore_Classes

To understand how the Plinian Core standard is built, we need to know how the elements of the standard are structured.

Most elements are grouped in complex in complex terms, which are defined as "types". These types are called "classes" in some contexts. For most of the content bearing terms, Plinian Core allows for containing information in two fashions: unstructured or structured. Thus, these types fork in two branches: one as a single element --in which content is contained as a text block (unstructured)-- and the other organizing the content in a series of elements, in an structured way, which is refereed in Plinian Core as "atomized". This arrangement allows for implementing Plinian Core with different levels of granularity depending of the specific project requirements while maintaining a a high degree of interoperability between projects.

Whether users choose to implement the unstructured or the atomized terms, they can add context to each content item by using the the AncillaryData element, borrowed from the Encyclopedia of Life Schema, where images, references, rights, etc. can be recorded.

Types in Plinian Core can be "Simple" --those containing only atomic terms, i.e., elements that do not contain other elements; or complex, types that contain elements containing other elements.

List of the types that make up the standard of Plinian Core:

Complex classes:

• AnnualCycles Class
• Behavior Class
• CommonNames Class
• DemographyAndThreat Class
• Dispersal Class
• Distribution Class
• DirectThreats Class
• Endemic Class
• EcologicalSignificance Class
• EnvironmentalEnvelope Class
• Feeding Class
• FullDescription Class
• Habitats Class
• Interactions Class
• Legislation Class
• LifeCycle Class
• LifeForm Class
• ManagementAndConservation Class
• MeasurementOrFact Class
• Migratory Class
• MiscDetail Class
• MolecularData Class
• PopulationBiology Class
• ResourceRelationship Class
• Synonyms Class
• Territory Class
• Uses Class

Simple classes:

• AnnualCyclesAtomized Class
• CommonNamesAtomized Class
• Detail Class
• DispersalAtomized Class
• DistributionAtomized Class
• EndemicAtomized Class
• FeedingAtomized Class
• Hierarchy Class
• InteractionAtomized Class
• InvasivenessAtomized Class
• LegislationAtomized Class
• ManagementAndConservationAtomized Class
• MigratoryAtomized Class
• MolecularDataAtomized Class
• NormalString
• NormalDate
• PopulationBiologyAtomized Class
• Revision Class
• SynonymsAtomized Class
• TerritoryAtomized Class
• UsesAtomized Class
• Version Class