IHerbSpec Protocol v1.0
Abstract
Reflectance spectroscopy is a powerful, broadly integrative tool for capturing plant phenotypes, but variation in instrumentation and measurement procedures introduces a high risk of data incompatibility and signal contamination. These challenges are amplified in herbarium specimens because they are subject to complex variation from age, preservation techniques, and mounting practices. To support global data harmonization and scientific reproducibility, this document presents a standardized, interoperable protocol for the spectral measurement of herbarium tissues. It provides data-driven justification and community-informed guidance for measurement procedures and metadata fields, with the goal of improving data quality and enabling confident data aggregation across institutions.
Caroline C. Vasconcelos
Research Fellow
My research interests include taxonomy and systematics (especially neotropical Sapotaceae), spectroscopy as a integrative tools, Amazonian flora, species distribution modeling, floristic studies, and tropical forest ecology.