Frequently Asked Questions
Species
Q: What species does the MAP Database include?
A: The species list for the MAP Database includes all freshwater plant species. This includes emergent, submerged, floating-rooted, and free-floating species. Currently, the MAP Database species list does not include charophytes and bryophytes. The species list can be found on the Database page. Please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) if you would like an offline copy of the species list.
Q: What should I do if I think there is a species missing from the species list for the MAP Database?
A: If you think there is a species missing from the species list, please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) to discuss!
Q: Can I submit trait data for a species not included in the species list for the MAP Database?
A: We are currently only seeking trait data for species included in the species list for the MAP Database. If you are unable to format your data to meet this request, please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) for assistance.
Data
Q: Can I submit data for aquatic plants that were grown in a laboratory?
A: Yes! Even in laboratory conditions, trait expression is still constrained by the developmental limitations of a given species. Therefore, laboratory measurements are still representative of the possible trait expression by a given species. We do ask that MAP Collaborators contributing laboratory measurements indicate this when they submit their data using the MAP Data Contribution Template.
Q: Can I submit mean trait values or are individual trait values required?
A: Both mean trait values and individual trait values are acceptable. However, we ask that MAP Collaborators contributing mean trait values indicate this when they submit their data using the MAP Data Contribution Template.
Q: Can I submit trait data for only a single (or few) species (or traits)?
A: There is no requirement for data contributions to cover multiple species or traits, but please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) if this scenario applies to you.
Q: Can I submit trait data for a species that already has data in the MAP Database?
A: Additional trait measurements help us get closer to approximating the “true” value of the trait for a species, but please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) if this scenario applies to you.
Q: Is there a minimum data contribution required?
A: No! The MAP Database relies on Collaborators to help fill in gaps in the database. All data contributions are welcome.
Q: What should I do if my trait data is in different units than those specified on the Traits page?
A: Please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) for assistance.
Q: Do I hold authority over the data submitted to the MAP Project?
A: Any data submitted to the MAP Project that is needed to recreate the findings in the paper will be made publicly available (e.g., DOIs for published datasets, Collaborator names, trait data used in statistical analysis or visualizations) during publication. Once the main MAP research paper is finalized, all data in the MAP Database will be contributed, if it hasn’t been already, to the TRY Initiative. As such, this data will be made “publicly available without restriction and the user is free to share and adapt the data, under the only conditions to give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.” following guidelines set out by the TRY Initiative. If you have any questions or concerns about your data being contributed to the TRY Initiative (including any data-sharing restrictions), please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca).
Miscellaneous
Q: How can I benefit from being a MAP Collaborator?
A: By joining the MAP Project as a Collaborator, you will be part of a team of amazing people who are all interested in shaping the future of aquatic functional biogeography! All MAP Collaborators will gain authorship on the MAP research paper. You will also be invited to participate in manuscript preparation and to contribute to the conceptualization of a global framework for aquatic plant functional traits, if this work interests you!
Q: Can students be MAP Collaborators?
A: Yes! Any student that plays a role in collecting, compiling, or measuring trait data that is contributed to the MAP Project is welcome to be a MAP Collaborator.
Q: I want to contribute data to the MAP Project but will not have the time to properly format my data contribution. What can I do?
A: Please contact Lindsay Trottier (lindsay.trottier@mail.mcgill.ca) for assistance.
Q: Will the MAP Project examine within-species (intraspecific) variation?
A: While the question of within-species variation is extremely important and interesting, this research direction is outside the current scope of the MAP Project. However, as the MAP Project develops over time, questions relating to intraspecific variation could be examined using the MAP Database in the future.