EN 16493:2014

• Abstract:

  This European Standard describes the most relevant rules of the Botanical and Zoological Codes necessary for unequivocal recording of biodiversity in the aquatic environment. Furthermore, guidance is given on how to deal with taxonomic changes in relation to recorded taxonomic names.; NOTE A Code only affects taxonomic changes carried out in the period covered by that particular edition of the Code.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-Aug-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 27-Feb-2015
• ICS: 07.100.20 - Microbiology of water
• ICS: 13.060.70 - Examination of biological properties of water
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 230/WG 2 - Biological methods
• Current Stage: 9060 - Closure of 2 Year Review Enquiry - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 02-Sep-2025
• Completion Date: 02-Sep-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16493:2014 - Water quality - Nomenclatural requirements for the recording of biodiversity data, taxonomic checklists and keys

• Referred By: EN ISO 12215-5:2008 - Small craft - Hull construction and scantlings - Part 5: Design pressures for monohulls, design stresses, scantlings determination (ISO 12215-5:2008)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

EN 16493:2014 (CEN) - Water quality - Nomenclatural requirements for the recording of biodiversity data, taxonomic checklists and keys - provides clear, practical guidance on the correct use and recording of taxonomic names in aquatic biodiversity and water quality work. The standard distills the most relevant rules from the Botanical and Zoological Codes to ensure unambiguous scientific names, and gives instructions on how to handle taxonomic changes in databases and reports.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Taxonomic names and ranks: requirements for correct Latin/Latinized spelling and use of ranks (species, genus, family, order, class, phylum/division, kingdom) and infra‑specific names (subspecies, variety, forma).
• Author citation: mandate to record author(s) and year with taxon names (at least at first record) to avoid ambiguity; differences between botanical and zoological citation conventions are noted.
• Nominate variety and infra‑specific handling: explains automatic creation of nominate varieties/subspecies/forma and when to use species vs. infra‑specific names.
• Preferred names and synonyms: guidance on using currently accepted (preferred) names, linking older nomenclatural or taxonomic synonyms, and applying the principle of priority where appropriate.
• Hybrids: notation and naming of interspecific and intergeneric hybrids (use of “x” and notho‑ prefixes).
• Data storage rules: best practice to store full scientific names including author(s) and year; explicit recommendation to avoid opaque numeric/alphanumeric codes for data exchange.
• Scope on taxonomic changes: clarifies that Codes affect only the period covered by their edition - users must track which Code edition underlies a name change.

Applications and who should use EN 16493:2014

• Hydrobiologists, aquatic ecologists and taxonomists documenting species composition (phytoplankton, phytobenthos, macroinvertebrates).
• Water quality laboratories and environmental monitoring agencies preparing taxonomic checklists, identification keys and biodiversity datasets.
• Database managers and GIS specialists who maintain aquatic biodiversity records and need robust, interoperable taxonomic metadata.
• Consultants and regulators performing ecological assessments under water quality directives who require reproducible and unambiguous species records.

EN 16493:2014 improves data quality, enables consistent biodiversity reporting, and facilitates data exchange across biological databases and water quality programs.

Related standards and references

• International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) - formerly ICBN
• International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
• Brummitt & Powell author abbreviations and the International Plant Names Index (IPNI) - referenced for author citation practices

Keywords: EN 16493:2014, water quality, nomenclatural requirements, biodiversity data, taxonomic checklists, taxonomic names, author citation, data storage.

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anforderungen an die Nomenklatur für Aufzeichnungen über Biodiversitätsdaten, taxonomische Checklisten und BestimmungsschlüsselQualité de l'eau - Exigences nomenclaturales pour les données de relevé de biodiversité, les référentiels taxonomiques et les clés de déterminationWater quality - Nomenclatural requirements for the recording of biodiversity data, taxonomic checklists and keys13.060.70Preiskava bioloških lastnosti vodeExamination of biological properties of water07.100.20Mikrobiologija vodeMicrobiology of waterICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16493:2014SIST EN 16493:2014en,fr,de01-november-2014SIST EN 16493:2014SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16493
August 2014 ICS 07.100.20; 13.060.70 English Version
Water quality - Nomenclatural requirements for the recording of biodiversity data, taxonomic checklists and keys
Qualité de l'eau - Exigences nomenclaturales pour l'enregistrement des données de biodiversité, les référentiels et les clés taxonomiques
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anforderungen an die Nomenklatur für Aufzeichnungen über Biodiversitätsdaten, taxonomische Checklisten und Bestimmungsschlüssel This European Standard was approved by CEN on 18 July 2014.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
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B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 16493:2014 ESIST EN 16493:2014

Most important terms and their abbreviations used in nomenclature . 10 Bibliography . 12
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