NISP Specimen Count By Taxa Tool
Tabulate one taxon assignment per observed specimen while retaining explicitly unassigned records; fragmentation and element counts do not convert NISP to individuals.
Description
NISP counts identified specimens rather than individuals.
NISP counts identified specimens rather than individuals. Keeping explicitly unassigned specimens separate preserves classification coverage without silently dropping records.1
Tabulate one taxon assignment per observed specimen while retaining explicitly unassigned records; fragmentation and element counts do not convert NISP to individuals.
When to use NISP Specimen Count By Taxa Tool
Use this tool to tabulate one taxon assignment per observed specimen while retaining explicitly unassigned records; fragmentation and element counts do not convert NISP to individuals.
Prepare the artifact, site or survey measurements and any independently established calibration or model choices. Keep paired observations aligned and confirm units and coordinate conventions.
How to use NISP Specimen Count By Taxa Tool and understand its results
- Prepare the artifact, site or survey measurements and any independently established calibration or model choices. Keep paired observations aligned and confirm units and coordinate conventions.
- Enter taxonIds, specimenTaxonIds, excludedTaxonId using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read nispCounts, unassignedSpecimenCount, totalSpecimenCount. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| taxonIds | Taxon ids | list of number | Required |
| specimenTaxonIds | Specimen taxon ids | list of number | Required |
| excludedTaxonId | Excluded taxon id | integer | Required |
Enter 1–128 distinct nonnegative integer taxon IDs, a separate excluded/unassigned ID and nonnegative integer specimen assignments. Every assignment must be listed or explicitly excluded. Count in listed taxon order and return NISP counts, unassigned count and total specimens. An empty specimen inventory is valid.
NISP_taxon = number of specimen assignments to that taxon Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| nispCounts | Nisp counts | list of number |
| unassignedSpecimenCount | Unassigned specimen count | number |
| totalSpecimenCount | Total specimen count | number |
{
"input": {
"taxonIds": [
1,
2
],
"specimenTaxonIds": [
1,
2,
1,
0
],
"excludedTaxonId": 0
},
"output": {
"nispCounts": [
2,
1
],
"unassignedSpecimenCount": 1,
"totalSpecimenCount": 4
}
}Limitations and assumptions
One assignment is assumed per observed specimen. Fragmentation and multiple elements from one animal affect NISP, so the counts do not directly determine the number of individuals.
Numeric inputs must be finite. Follow the calculation-specific rules for overflow, underflow and exceptional cases. Numeric lists are limited to 100,000 entries; the rules above may require smaller limits. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use MNI From Elements: Take maximum element-specific individual lower bounds from caller nonduplicated age/side/diagnostic strata; MNI depends on pooling and identified copies, not raw fragmented NISP. For a complementary task, use Sherd Refit Conjoin Pair Count Tool: Deduplicate undirected observed sherd conjoins and summarize connected refit groups including isolates; linked groups do not establish complete vessel count, and no unseen joins are invented.
References
-
NISP Specimen Count By Taxa Tool — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- MNI From Elements
Take maximum element-specific individual lower bounds from caller nonduplicated age/side/diagnostic strata; MNI depends on pooling and identified copies, not raw fragmented NISP.
- Sherd Refit Conjoin Pair Count Tool
Deduplicate undirected observed sherd conjoins and summarize connected refit groups including isolates; linked groups do not establish complete vessel count, and no unseen joins are invented.