EDIT

    @Override

    public Collection<ICdmBase> getNonCascadedAssociatedElements(SpecimenOrObservationBase<?> specimen) {

        // potential fields that are not persisted cascadingly

        /*

         * SOOB

        -DescriptionBase

        -determinations

        --modifier TERM

        -kindOfUnit TERM

        -lifeStage TERM

        -sex TERM

        FieldUnit

        -GatheringEvent

        --Country TERM

        --CollectingAreas TERM

        DerivedUnit

        -collection

        --institute

        ---types TERM

        -preservationMethod

        --medium TERM

        -storedUnder CDM TaxonName

         */

        Collection<ICdmBase> nonCascadedCdmEntities = new HashSet<>();

        //Choose the correct entry point to traverse the graph (FieldUnit or DerivedUnit)

        // FieldUnit

        if (specimen.isInstanceOf(FieldUnit.class)) {

            nonCascadedCdmEntities.addAll(getFieldUnitNonCascadedAssociatedElements(HibernateProxyHelper.deproxy(specimen, FieldUnit.class)));

        }

        // DerivedUnit

        else if (specimen.isInstanceOf(DerivedUnit.class)) {

            DerivedUnit derivedUnit = HibernateProxyHelper.deproxy(specimen, DerivedUnit.class);

            if (derivedUnit.getDerivedFrom() != null) {

                Collection<FieldUnit> fieldUnits = getFieldUnits(derivedUnit, null);

                for (FieldUnit fieldUnit : fieldUnits) {

                    nonCascadedCdmEntities.addAll(getFieldUnitNonCascadedAssociatedElements(fieldUnit));

                }

            }

        }

        return nonCascadedCdmEntities;

    }