Diatom Taxonomic Certification Exam Level 2

Under the umbrella of the Society for Freshwater Science, the Diatom Taxonomic Certification Committee has been working to develop a diatom species exam. In this webinar, participants will gain an understanding of the elements of the Level 2 Certification Exam, how to prepare for the exam, and how to schedule an exam. We will work through the skills that are required and example exam questions. The Level 2 Diatom Taxonomic Certification indicates knowledge of 1) variation in diatom morphology within a species, 2) morphological operational taxonomic units (mOTUs), and 3) basic concepts of diatom nomenclature. A Level 2 Certification is intended to indicate a practical base for proficiency in using a voucher flora to identify inland diatoms. The primary goal of the Level 2 exam is to help acknowledge a practitioner’s proficiency in the skills used to distinguish mOTUs, identify specimens that should not be included in an mOTU without further investigation, assign formal scientific names to mOTUs using diatoms.org, and understanding basic rules of botanical nomenclature.

Impact/Purpose

The Society of Freshwater Science Taxonomic Certification Program was implemented to certify that trained and skilled people are providing aquatic identifications in North America. This is important for biological and water quality assessment programs to obtain high quality taxonomic data that can be applied to support management decisions. The program also helps promote undergraduate and graduate training of new taxonomic experts, training of taxonomic technicians through workshops, development of new manuals for identifying aquatic invertebrates and algae, and taxonomic excellence in other disciplines and other parts of the world. The Diatom Taxonomic Certification Committee (Diatom TCC) led by Sylvia Lee, has worked to develop the Level 1 and Level 2 diatom taxonomic certification exams. This webinar will be of interest to analysts, students, freshwater ecologists, and taxonomists who may desire Level 2 diatom taxonomic certification as part of their professional qualifications.

Citation

Lee, S., D. Burge, J. Stevenson, J. Heinlein, M. Edlund, M. Broomall, AND S. Spaulding. Diatom Taxonomic Certification Exam Level 2. Diatom Web Academy, DC, MD, February 28, 2023.