AGRICOLA -- Guide to Subject Indexing

originating from one country/area are studied in acountry to which they have migrated or been imported, donot apply a geographic descriptor for the country oforigin. Apply the geographic descriptor for the countryin which the subjects were studied; indicate theirgeographic or ethnic origin in some other way. E.g., anarticle about food habits of Cubans living in LongIsland would take NEW YORK and ETHNIC GROUPS asdescriptors. If CUBAN-AMERICANS is not in the title, itcould be used as an identifier. (See section 4.)However, this practice obviously should be applied onlyin the case of living subjects studied in a naturalenvironment. E.g., an article about insect specimenscollected in Ghana and studied in a laboratory atHarvard University would take GHANA, not MASSACHUSETTS,as its geographic descriptor.3.2.16. For plants and animals, the CAB Thesaurus may containdescriptors for the scientific (Latin) name, the commonname, or both, for the same organism. In applying thesedescriptors to agriculturally related plants andanimals, follow these general guidelines:3.2.16.1. Use the scientific name for plants throughharvesting.3.2.16.2. Use the common name for plants as commodities.3.2.16.3. Use the common name for domestic animals.3.2.16.4. Use the scientific name for pests and pathogens.3.2.16.5. Use the scientific name for wildlife.3.2.16.6. Certain articles may require both scientific andcommon names. Such articles may include, but are not limitedto, those which emphasize the genetics/breeding of plants andanimals, especially with respect to genetic effects on theproducts of these plants and animals. E.g., an articlediscussing the fiber characteristics of cotton produced by thesetwo different species of Gossypium and their hybrids wouldrequire COTTON; GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM; and GOSSYPIUM BARBADENSE.3.2.16.7. For scientific names, use the greatest level ofspecificity available in the thesaurus in field 650. This mightbe order, family, genus, or genus and species. If necessary,reflect a greater level of specificity in field 653. (See 4.5.)3.2.16.8. In cases where the use of a scientific name ismandated by these guidelines but is not available in the document athand, it is the responsibility of the indexer to seek it out. Often aquick way to do so is to search the AGRICOLA database on CD-ROM.However, common names are highly variable and often very localized.Therefore, if an indexer cannot trace the scientific name at any levelof the taxonomic hierarchy with some degree of certainty within areasonable period of time, it may be necessary to use a term such asMEDICINAL PLANTS, RUBBER PLANTS, WEEDS, INSECT PESTS, etc., in field650.3.2.17. Be alert to the possible need to propose descriptors foraddition to the thesaurus. Guidelines and forms forproposing terms are available as an Appendix to this Guide (AppendixB).10