Introduction to GBIF

A Digital Object Identifier, or DOI, is a standard, permanent identifier that provides an actionable, interoperable, persistent link to any entity. The concept is that DOI differs from commonly used references like URL web links because it identifies an object itself as a first-class entity, not simply the place where the object is currently located.

In the context of GBIF.org, DOIs serve as stable identifiers for four different types of things:

GBIF assigns DOIs to all datasets and occurrence downloads. When data is used, following DOI citation practice ensures an easy and consistent way of crediting dataset holders while also allowing for reproducibility. The DOIs will always resolve to dataset or download pages, even if the underlying data is no longer available.

GBIF started issuing DOIs on 3 February 2015. Downloads requested before this date do not have DOIs, however, if you wish to cite older downloads, you can contact helpdesk@gbif.org and we will assign DOIs as appropriate.

The data available through GBIF.org and its associated services is the result of the GBIF network of Participants and publishers applying shared rules and conventions to describe, record and structure thousands of different datasets drawn from hundreds of institutions around the world. Common standards are the main enabler for bringing together the hundreds of millions of primary biodiversity records in the GBIF index.

Within the biodiversity domain, the group most often responsible for developing and maintaining data standards is Biodiversity Information Standards. This nonprofit scientific and educational association focuses on the development of standards for the exchange of biological and biodiversity data. Members of the biodiversity community generally refer to this group as TDWG (pronounced tad-wig)—a vestigial reminder of its earlier manifestation as the Taxonomic Databases Working Group.

Commonly use standards include:

In keeping with a 2014 decision by the GBIF governing board, data publishers must assign one of the three Creative Commons options to any occurrence dataset. The Governing Board recognized the need for much greater clarity both for data publishers and users on how data may be used when shared via GBIF.org. Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that helps overcome legal obstacles to the sharing of knowledge and creativity to address the world’s pressing challenges.

Many articles from 2011-2016 documented a crisis in scientific reproducibility (see below). In 2016, the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship were published in Scientific Data. The principles were designed to improve the Findability, Accessibility, the Interoperability and the Reusability of datasets and address "an urgent need to improve the infrastructure supporting the reuse of scholarly data." Implementation of these principles began in 2018. You can read more about How to GO FAIR on GO-FAIR.org.

Data found on GBIF.org are FAIR.