Help with column naming for zooplankton and tick datasets

[Simone-Moras]

Hello,

I am working on two different datasets:

Zooplankton biodiversity and abundance in lake water.

Tick abundance on several species of rodents.

The aim is to publish these datasets in a data repository, and I would like to use Darwin Core column names where possible. I have no prior experience with these standards, so I’m asking for guidance from the community for best common practices.

My questions regards the column naming of my datasets:

1. Zooplankton dataset
   For a column containing values such as Chydorus, Keratella cochlearis, Asplanchna, Copepoda (i.e., taxa at different levels), would scientificName be the most appropriate term for this column? I believe so but I got different and contradicting opinions from colleagues.

2. Tick dataset
   I have several columns representing the number of ticks found in a specific host species. Each column should indicate the tick species name and its life stage.

Example format I’m considering: CT_I.trianguliceps_N and CT_I.trianguliceps_AM

CT = count of ticks found

I.trianguliceps = tick species

N = nymph

AM = adult male

Is this kind of concatenated column name acceptable, or is there a recommended Darwin Core approach for representing species + life stage + counts?

Thanks!