Introducing guidelines for publishing DNA-derived occurrence data through biodiversity data platforms

By

Nilsson, R. Henrik
Andersson, Anders F.
Bissett, Andrew
Finstad, Anders G.
Fossøy, Frode
Grosjean, Marie
Hope, Michael
Jeppesen, Thomas S.
Kõljalg, Urmas, 1961-
Lundin, Daniel
Prager, Maria
Suominen, Saara
Svenningsen, Cecilie S.
Schigel, Dmitry

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-8-2

Original Publication

Metabarcoding and metagenomics

Volume

6

Pages

1--6

Subjects

biological data management , DNA sequences , metabarcoding , Metagenomics , occurrence record , open data , scientific credit , scientific reproducibility

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2017-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.6.84960

 

Abstract

DNA sequencing efforts of environmental and other biological samples disclose unprecedented and largely untapped opportunities for advances in the taxonomy, ecology, and geographical distributions of our living world. To realise this potential, DNA-derived occurrence data (notably sequences with dates and coordinates) – much like traditional specimens and observations – need to be discoverable and interpretable through biodiversity data platforms. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) recently headed a community effort to assemble a set of guidelines for publishing DNA-derived data. These guidelines target the principles and approaches of exposing DNA-derived occurrence data in the context of broader biodiversity data. They cover a choice of terms using a controlled vocabulary, common pitfalls, and good practices, without going into platform-specific details. Our hope is that they will benefit anyone interested in better exposure of DNA-derived occurrence data through general biodiversity data platforms, including national biodiversity portals. This paper provides a brief rationale and an overview of the guidelines, an up-to-date version of which is maintained at https://doi.org/10.35035/doc-vf1a-nr22. User feedback and interaction are encouraged as new techniques and best practices emerge.