F.A.Q.
Why choose Linnaeus NG?
Linnaeus NG offers a web-based solution for maintaining and publishing species information online. Functionality includes a central taxonomic tree editor, structured descriptions, two options for identification keys (single-access and multi-access), modules for media, a glossary, traits and literature references, and the option to collaborate with multiple users. The software is actively developed by Naturalis Biodiversity Center and there is no application fee involved.
Sustainability of the software: for how long will Naturalis guarantee my website to be online?
Naturalis guarantees long term sustainable hosting of its data services complying with national standards in research and education. Management and publication of species information is part of the institution’s core activities. Published and actively maintained (or finished) projects will be monitored and kept online.
Applying for a website: what are the conditions to be eligible?
Linnaeus NG is designed for researchers (amateurs and professionals) in the fields of taxonomy and systematics who wish to maintain and publish species information online. If this sounds like you, you are welcome to apply for a website.Website applications will be assessed based on topic (is there a clear match with Naturalis’ mission?), quality and uniqueness of the content (in case the content is already available elsewhere), and experts/organisations involved (in case of external users; preferably there is a link with Naturalis). Assessment is carried out by the product owner of Linnaeus NG, with advice of a group of experts from Naturalis.
Do I have to pay a one-time or periodical fee for using Linnaeus NG?
There is no fee involved with starting and maintaining a Linnaeus NG website; hosting and development costs are covered by Naturalis. The functionality of the software is maintained via a software as a service (SaaS) model, with periodical new releases automatically made available for your website. What we ask in return is that you share your data publicly (online). At a later stage, we may include adequately licensed content in our Bioportal, through the Netherlands Biodiversity API.
Can my BSc/MSc students apply for a website?
Student supervisors may apply for a website and hand out user rights to their students, so they can work on the content of a website. Students are welcome to participate in our training courses at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden.
Can I try Linnaeus NG before I apply for a website?
Yes, you can. We have a sample website running as ‘sandbox environment’, which you can edit freely. These websites are reset every 48 hours, so any changes made will be lost after that.
Can I migrate my current website or platform to Linnaeus NG?
There are several options to migrate data to Linnaeus NG. Taxonomic lists can be imported without help of our support staff. More complex datasets might need technical expertise. Please send an us an email with details of your request. Requests for migration support will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Can I import my species list and descriptions from a spreadsheet?
Yes, straightforward taxonomic lists (species names and classification) as well as simple descriptive texts can be imported from a spreadsheet. This can be done by the user without the help of our support staff.
Who decides what functionality will be included in future releases of Linnaeus NG?
All bug reports, improvements and feature requests reported by users are collected by Naturalis and put an a product backlog. A key user group at Naturalis, assisted by an application manager and software developer, prioritizes this backlog for the next release of Linnaeus NG. Releases are scheduled roughly every three months.
What big improvements can I expect from future Linnaeus NG releases?
By the beginning of 2017 we will have an improved Linnaeus NG interface, made completely ‘responsive’. This means Linnaeus NG websites will be useable on any device with an internet connection, most notably smartphones.
How can I register for a Linnaeus NG training course?
Depending on the number of people interested we will regularly organise training courses at Naturalis. If you would like to join a training course please send us an email (linnaeus@naturalis.nl) with the topic/modules you’re interested in. We will put you on the list and you will receive an email about the next training possibility.