What is the data standard used to share biodiversity data?
GBIF-US primarily uses the Darwin Core, Darwin Core extensions, and Ecological Metadata Language (EML) for sharing biodiversity data.
What is “species occurrence data” and why is it important?
Most research on biological organisms in nature involves recording or collecting evidence of an occurrence of a species by a person (or instrument) at a particular place and time. We refer to these data in general terms as “species occurrence data”. Regardless of the initial reason the species occurrence was recorded, the knowledge that it was actually at a specific place at a specific time is extremely useful in many areas of science and natural resource management. For example, these occurrence records are instrumental in tracking the spread of invasive species, the decline of threatened species, and the movement of ranges in response to climate change or other environmental factors. Species occurrence data are used as baseline data for modeling and analysis, in ecological research, and in the management of natural resources.
Each record in a species occurrence dataset available through GBIF-US will typically consist of a scientific name (genus and specific epithet), a date, and one or more geographic references such as a state or province name, county name, and/or decimal latitude and longitude coordinates. In addition to these typical data fields, species occurrence datasets often include many other data fields that describe each species occurrence event in more detail.
How can I share biodiversity data with GBIF?
GBIF-US shares data with GBIF using the Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT) and operates the U.S. Node to GBIF. As part of those operations, USGS assists data providers with standardizing their data using Darwin Core, loading data to the GBIF-US IPT, conducting analyses using GBIF mobilized data, and other activities to support the network of data providers in the U.S. Please don’t ever be shy about asking us for help with any of these activities!
How can I get endorsed as a data publisher by GBIF-US?
Publishers that wish to be endorsed by the U.S. Node to GBIF (GBIF-US) need to meet four criteria. They need to:
- Provide evidence of a mechanism for publishing their data
- Identify a specific point of contact responsible for the organization’s GBIF contributions
- Demonstrate a commitment to responding in a timely manner to feedback
- Commit to ongoing improvements in data quality.
What are the sources of the data that are available?
The datasets available through GBIF-US can be found here.
What is the geographic, temporal, and taxonomic scope of the data available?
The occurrences available in GBIF-US are located in the United States, U.S. Territories and Exclusive Economic Zones. They are from any time period and are not limited to any specific taxon or organism.
Who determines the scientific names used in GBIF-US? What is the taxonomic authority?
The GBIF-US hosted portal backbone taxonomy is currently the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. More information about the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy can be found here.
How do I search for data by state or county?
From the Data tab click Administrative area. In the search box, begin typing the state or county of interest, select the one you are interested in from the options provided and then click Apply.
Can I download the results of my search?
Yes! To download results click the Download tab next to the Map tab. Follow the instructions to login to your GBIF user account and select the type of download you would prefer: simple, Darwin Core Archive, or species list.
Is GBIF-US the same as BISON?
The Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) project provided the foundation for the current implementation of GBIF-US. BISON included a website and database that have been decommissioned. When BISON was created, the GBIF portal did not include as many features as it does now and BISON was able to serve the needs of users during that time. It is no longer needed now that GBIF has evolved.