Principles of GBIF-mediated data

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 datasets 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 used standards include:

De acuerdo con una decision by the GBIF governing board^ de 2014, los publicadores de datos deben asignar una de las tres opciones Creative Commons a cada conjunto de datos de registros. La junta de gobierno reconoció la necesidad de una mayor claridad tanto para los publicadores de datos como los usuarios sobre cómo se pueden utilizar los datos cuando se comparten vía GBIF.org. https://creativecommons.org/[Creative Commons es una organización sin fines de lucro que ayuda a superar los obstáculos legales para compartir el conocimiento y la creatividad a fin de abordar los desafíos apremiantes del mundo.

Numerosos artículos de 2011 a 2016 documentaron una crisis de la reproducibilidad científica (véase más abajo). En 2016, se publicaron los FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship en Scientific Data. Los principios fueron diseñados para mejorar la encontrabilidad, accesibilidad, interoperabilidad y reutilización de los conjuntos de datos y abordar «una necesidad urgente de mejorar la infraestructura de apoyo a la reutilización de los datos académicos.» La aplicación de estos principios comenzó en 2018. Puede obtener más información sobre How to GO FAIR en GO-FAIR.org.

Data found on GBIF.org are FAIR.