In order to stimulate the process of sharing species-level taxonomic data, the GBIF Secretariat is offering a limited number of small awards of up to €5,000 to GBIF Participants to evaluate the current DarwinCore Archive taxonomic data exchange format.

Introduction

The GBIF network is evaluating the means to support the publication of species-level data in the form of annotated species checklists and taxonomic catalogues.  Facilitating this capacity has been a long-standing request from participants and a target capacity for the GBIF network.  Annotated checklists and taxonomic catalogues are not only highly-valued resources in their own right. They also provide a means to improve the quality of primary biodiversity data mobilised through GBIF and the contexts in which it can be organised and delivered.

GBIF has developed a text-based data format for sharing annotated species checklists based on the Darwin Core terms and guidelines that are used to share primary biodiversity occurrence data.   The DarwinCore Archive (DwC-A) format is a textfile-based approach to data sharing. This format has the advantage of being both relatively simple and extensible and can be produced without installing complex software.   GBIF has drafted a specific profile of DarwinCore terms and extensions for use in sharing species checklist information as part of a larger collaboration in the Global Names Architecture (GNA).  We refer to this specific profile as the “GNA Darwin Core Archive” or “GNA profile”.

In order to stimulate the process of sharing taxonomic data in the form of annotated species checklists through the GBIF network, the GBIF Secretariat is offering a limited number of small awards (6-8) of up to € 5,000 to GBIF Participants to evaluate the data format and supporting tools and documentation by:

1. Publishing one or more species checklists in the DwC-A format (see Scope).
2. Evaluating and reporting on the DarwinCore terms and checklist extensions.
3. Evaluating and reporting on provided documentation and tools that support the publication of these resources.
4. Providing recommendations and requirements for refinements or additions to the format, tools, or documentation or publication process that will facilitate uptake and use.

Please be aware that this is a one-time offer to encourage the evaluation and refinement of the data exchange standard, supporting tools and documentation in order to offer a streamlined and Participant-endorsed process.  This is not a solicitation for data alone. 

Scope

The intention of this call is to stimulate the publication of existing species checklists in the GNA DwC-A format, and not to develop new species lists de-novo.  Proposed resources should already be in some structured format (e.g., a database or spreadsheet).  We seek publication of complete datasets, as opposed to partial samples.

Our objective with this call is to ensure that the GNA DwC-A profile provides sufficient scope and coverage for core components of species checklists and that the supporting tools and documents are sufficient for use.   Of particular interest will be proposals related to resources that cover or treat:

1. National/Regional flora or fauna where a species list is subdivided into sub-regions with each subdivision containing specific species properties.
2. Thematically organised species lists such as lists of threatened species, harmful invasive species lists or other defined lists and properties associated with them.
3. Taxonomic catalogues with detailed synonymy and bibliography.
4. Vernacular Names lists – Species lists with multi-lingual vernacular, or common, names and associated properties.

Requirements

Successful applicants will be provided with:

1. Reference guides and documentation on producing, validating, and publishing the GNA DwC-A format.
2. Supporting tools and utilities for publishing checklists.  Note that some of these tools may be still in review and you will be helping refine the resultant release.
3. Helpdesk support in transforming source data to the GNA profile and documenting the dataset according to the GBIF Metadata profile.

Successful applicants will be required to:

1. Complete the included application form and specify the type and scope of the checklists that will be mobilised through the award.
2. Provide a letter of support from your host institution that the data will be maintained and, where applicable, updated and made available via a URI.
3. Successfully publish (i.e., validate and register) the proposed checklists via GBIF.
• Note: Publication requires placing a DarwinCore Archive zip file on a public URL and registering (via email) the URL with GBIF.  No specific tools are required.
4. Complete an evaluation and report of the data format via a provided report template.

Applications

All GBIF participants or data publishing institutions within the network are eligible to apply for these grants.  Awards will be ranked and prioritised according to the following criteria:

1.  A documented interest in establishing a national or regional species checklist clearinghouse using a standard data format.
2. Demonstrate capacity to catalyse resource mobilisation within a country, region, or thematic area.
3. Identify and propose to mobilize checklist content.
4. Overall value between proposed content to be mobilized versus award requested.

Applications should be submitted by email to David Remsen, Programme Officer for ECAT (dremsen_@If you can read this, please upgrade to a modern browser.gbif.org) and will be accepted up to 20 December 2010. 

Download the application form here.

Successful applicants will be notified by 15 January 2011. The entire process including publishing and completing the evaluation and reporting is expected to be complete by the end of March 2011.

Please note that no overhead can be charged and that a financial report will be required on conclusion of the work.