This report contains recommendations about the adoption of Persistent Identifiers in the Biodiversity Informatics realm. It is authored by the members of the LSID GUID Task Group commissioned by GBIF in 2009.

Abstract

GBIF has identified the provision of identifiers for biodiversity objects as one of the central challenges to developing a global bioinformatics infrastructure. One of the stated goals in the GBIF strategic plans document “GBIF Plans 2007 – 2011 from prototype towards full operation” is to consolidate the underlying enabling infrastructure and standardisation for global connectivity of biodiversity data and information through an activity to “develop a system of globally unique identifiers and encourage their use throughout biodiversity informatics”. The GBIF plans envisage using TDWG standards to “allow all data objects to be identified using standard actionable globally unique identifiers” and provision of a GBIF web service and user interface to allow users “to locate and view any data object with a standard globally unique identifier”.

GBIF convened a task group, the “LSID GUID Task Group” (LGTG) to explore the issues and offer recommendations on the way forward, with particular reference to the GBIF network, that will enable GBIF to provide architecture leadership and best practices for implementation. The principal objective of the group is to provide recommendations and guidelines on deployment of identifiers on the GBIF network with particular reference to the potential role of GBIF as a stable, long term provider of identifier resolution services. This document is the report of the group.

Authors

Cryer, Phil; Roger Hyam, Chuck Miller, Nicola Nicolson, Éamonn Ó Tuama, Rod Page, Jonathan Rees, Greg Riccardi, Kevin Richards, and Richard White

Publisher

GBIF Secretariat

Rights

Permission to copy and/or distribute all or part of the information contained in this resource is granted, provided that such copies carry due attribution to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the original author(s) of the resources.

Rights holder

GBIF