Primary biodiversity data published through GBIF references not only the taxon (usually a species) that is the object of the record, but also a classification of that taxon as curated by the publisher. The result of publishing thousands of different datasets through GBIF is a vast array of different, overlapping and sometimes incongruent or conflicting taxonomic arrangements. To facilitate access to these data, the global data portal seeks to organise these views into a single merged structure.

GBIF utilises more authoritative taxonomic resources such as the Catalogue of Life as a ‘backbone’ for those indexed records that can be tied to it. A significant fraction of names, however, do not easily match the current version of the catalogue. Indexing additional resources via Checklist Bank gives even more taxonomic context.Collectively, these resources are merged via algorithmic and manually assisted processes to create a singular taxonomic structure for managing all names within the global index. It provides the basis for performing global searches for higher taxa (such as for Aves or birds) that will return a more accurate set of results than any single classification can currently provide.

The GBIF Taxonomic Backbone is cross-referenced to Checklist Bank so that more authoritative classifications published to the network can be referenced when they are available.

Through our work with partners in the Global Names Architecture, we seek to utilise the Taxonomic Backbone and Checklist Bank as a framework for informing expert taxonomists of disparities between authoritative taxonomic checklists and names tied to specimens, literature and other biodiversity information resources that fall within their taxonomic domain of expertise.

Specific information on the Taxonomic is available on the ECAT wiki.