General Questions
What is iDigBio?
iDigBio is an Other Associate Participant Node and Data Publisher within the GBIF Network. Our focus is on specimen-based biodiversity collections from U.S. institutions. We promote and catalyze digitization, mobilization, and use of data about biodiversity specimens through community capacity building, open data, and innovative uses of these data. We envision a world in which digitized biodiversity and extended specimen data underpin research, policy, and economic decision-making. Learn More
Why does this look different now?
In order to ensure the longevity and persistence of iDigBio’s online presence, we have transitioned to a GBIF Hosted Portal. This enables us to stay online and to continue to serve data and information via GBIF infrastructure. Learn More
Why are my data not represented here?
Since we have transitioned to a GBIF Hosted Portal, if your data are not published to GBIF, they will not be visible. Only data published to GBIF will be visible on this latest iteration of iDigBio’s website. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns, including if you would like help publishing data to GBIF.
What is biodiversity digitization?
Biodiversity digitization is the process of converting physical specimen information – such as labels, images, and associated data – into digital formats. This allows researchers and the public to access specimen records online and use them for scientific analysis, environmental monitoring, and education.
Why are natural history collections important?
Natural history collections preserve specimens that document life on Earth across time and geography. These collections support research in fields such as ecology, evolution, genomics, climate science, agriculture, and public health.
Does iDigBio provide training or support?
Yes. iDigBio offers workshops, webinars, documentation, and community resources to help institutions digitize collections and manage biodiversity data effectively.
Are there educational materials available?
Yes. iDigBio provides training materials, guides, and learning resources related to biodiversity data, digitization workflows, and informatics tools.
Have questions?
Reach to us on Slack!
Technical Questions
What types of data are included?
iDigBio aggregates a variety of specimen-related data, including:
- Taxonomic identification
- Collection location and date
- Collector information
- Images of specimens
- Institutional collection metadata
Can developers access the data programmatically?
Yes. GBIF provides APIs and other technical resources that allow developers and researchers to access specimen data programmatically for analysis and application development. Learn More.
Where does the data come from?
Data are provided by partner institutions such as natural history museums, herbaria, universities, and research collections. These institutions digitize their specimens and share the data through GBIF’s infrastructure.
How can I search biodiversity specimen data?
You can explore specimen data through the portal, which allows users to search, filter, and download biodiversity records from participating collections.
How often is the data updated?
Datasets are regularly updated as partner institutions add new digitized specimens or improve existing records.
Can I download large datasets for analysis?
Yes. The GBIF portal supports bulk downloads of specimen data for research and analysis.
What are the standards used for biodiversity data?
iDigBio and GBIF support widely-used biodiversity informatics standards such as Darwin Core, which enables consistent sharing and interoperability of specimen data.