Project: AADC
Email: kim.finney@aad.gov.au
Institution: AADC
InfoURL: https://data.aad.gov.au/
Source URL: https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
OBIS - ARGOS Satellite Tracking of Animals
Unknown
tabular digital data
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
ERDDAP, version 2.29.0, at NOAA PolarWatch
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
AADC
Various species have been tracked using ARGOS PTT trackers since the early 1990's. These include Emperor, King and Adelie pengiuns, Light-mantled Sooty, Grey-headed and Black-browed albatrosses, Antarctic and Australian fur seals, Southern Elephant Seal and Blue and Humpback whales. Note that not all data for any species or locations is or will be exposed to OBIS. Geographic coverage is from Heard Island to the west and Macquarie Island to the east and several islands near the southern end of Chile. The data has been filtered to remove most but not all erroneous positions.
DiGIR is an engine which takes XML requests for data and returns a data
subset stored as XML data (as defined in a schema). For more DiGIR
information, see http://digir.sourceforge.net/ ,
http://diveintodigir.ecoforge.net/draft/digirdive.html ,
and http://digir.net/prov/prov_manual.html .
A list of Digir providers is at
http://bigdig.ecoforge.net/wiki/SchemaStatus .
Darwin is the original schema for use with the DiGIR engine.
The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) schema extends
Darwin. For more OBIS info, see http://www.iobis.org .
See the OBIS schema at http://www.iobis.org/tech/provider/questions .
Queries: Although OBIS datasets have many variables, most variables
have few values. The only queries that are likely to succeed MUST
include a constraint for Genus= and MAY include constraints for
Species=, longitude, latitude, and time.
Most OBIS datasets return a maximum of 1000 rows of data per request.
The limitation is imposed by the OBIS administrators.
Available Genera (and number of records): (error)
Unknown
https://data.aad.gov.au/
Unknown
Unknown
ground condition
As needed
-180.0
180.0
90.0
-90.0
GCMD Science Keywords
albatrosses
ARGOS
Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Birds
Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Mammals > Cetacean
Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Benthic Habitat
Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Coastal Habitat
Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Demersal Habitat
Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Marine Habitat
Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Pelagic Habitat
penguins
satellite tracking
seals
whales
CF Standard Name Table v55
longitude
latitude
altitude
time
None.
The data may be used and redistributed for free but is not intended
for legal use, since it may contain inaccuracies. Neither the data
Contributor, ERD, NOAA, nor the United States Government, nor any
of their employees or contractors, makes any warranty, express or
implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness, of this information.
By using OBIS data, I agree that, in any publication or presentation
of any sort based wholly or in part on such data, I will:
1. Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases
in the form appearing in the GLOBAL 'citation' attribute thereof (if any);
and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility in one of the following
prescribed forms:
For OBIS website:
Ocean Biogeographic Information System. [date accessed]
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
For data used:
Author, initials. Database title. Retrieved [date accessed] from
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
Example:
Stocks, K. SeamountsOnline: an online information system for seamount
biology. Version 3.1. Retrieved [date accessed] from
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php.
2. For information purposes, provide to kim.finney@aad.gov.au
the full citation of any publication I make (printed or electronic)
that cites OBIS or any constituent part.
3. Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS:
OBIS is comparable to a scientific journal that makes data freely
available on the internet. Thus the geographic and taxonomic scope,
and quantity of data provided, depend on the scientists and
organizations that provide data. However, in contrast to data in a
journal, the 'reader' can select and combine data in OBIS from a
variety of sources. OBIS and its users give feedback on data quality
and possible errors to data providers. Because data providers are
willing to correct errors, the quality of the data will increase in
time. How OBIS provides quality assurance, who is primarily
responsible for data published in OBIS (its owners), issues to be
considered in using the data, and known gaps in the data, are
described below.
Quality assurance
Only data from authoritative scientists and science organizations
approved by OBIS are served. All data are subject to quality control
procedures before publication, and at regular intervals, with data
providers informed of any discrepancies and potential errors (e.g.
species names spelt incorrectly, mapping errors). OBIS also benefits
from user peer-review and feedback to identify technical, geographic,
and taxonomic errors in data served. However, although errors will
exist as they do in any publication, OBIS is confident that the data
are the best available in electronic form. That said, the user needs
sufficient knowledge to judge the appropriate use of the data, i.e.
for what purpose it is fit.
Many of the data published through OBIS have voucher specimens in
institutional collections and museums, images of observations, and
the original identifier of the specimens is often credited or will
be contactable from the data custodian.
Data ownership
Data providers retain ownership of the data provided. OBIS does not
own or control or limit the use of any data or products accessible
through its website. Accordingly, it does not take responsibility
for the quality of such data or products, or the use that people may
make of them.
Data use
Appropriate caution is necessary in the interpretation of results
derived from OBIS. Users must recognize that the analysis and
interpretation of data require background knowledge and expertise
about marine biodiversity (including ecosystems and taxonomy).
Users should be aware of possible errors, including in the use of
species names, geo-referencing, data handling, and mapping. They
should cross-check their results for possible errors, and qualify
their interpretation of any results accordingly.
Users should be aware that OBIS is a gateway to a system of databases
distributed around the world. More information on OBIS data is
available from the data sources websites and contact persons. Users
should email any questions concerning OBIS data or tools (e.g. maps)
to the appropriate contact person and copy this request to
kim.finney@aad.gov.au .
Data gaps
Major gaps in data and knowledge about the oceans are reflected in
OBIS' data coverage. Note the following:
Most of the planet is more than 1 km under water: this deep sea is
the least surveyed part of our world.
Coastal areas have been adequately sampled only for the distribution
of most vertebrates (birds, mammals, reptiles, larger fish).
The oceans have been better sampled in the northern than the
southern hemisphere, as reflected in the distribution of data in
OBIS.
Most marine species have not yet been recognized or named. A major
effort is required to describe marine species, especially
invertebrates and deep-sea organisms.
Of the marine species that have been described, some have been
discovered to be several species, and others combined into single
species. Thus, there are changes in the application of species names
over time. A checklist of all current marine species names is not
available but it is estimated that 230,000 have been described.
Only about half of these names have been organized into global
species checklists. OBIS includes distribution data on (a) many of
these validated names and (b) additional names that remain to be
organized into global species checklists. Thus, OBIS has some
distribution data for about one third of the known marine species.
Some species distribution data are not available in any form, as
they have not have been published nor made available for databases.
Only some of the recently collected, and less of the older published,
data have been entered into databases. Thus databases are incomplete.
Of existing databases, many are not connected to OBIS.
You can help address these data gaps by (a) recognizing and
encouraging scientists and organizations to make their data available
online so they are accessible to OBIS, and (b) advocating for and
carrying out field surveys and taxonomic studies designed to fill
geographic and taxonomic gaps in knowledge.
AADC
Unknown
Unknown
Mailing and Physical Address
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
kim.finney@aad.gov.au
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
Web page to make a customized map or graph of the data
HTML
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Point
Point
NOAA PolarWatch
Roy Mendelssohn
ERDDAP administrator
Mailing and Physical Address
110 McAllister Way
Santa Cruz
CA
95062
USA
+1 831-420-3666
roy.mendelssohn@noaa.gov
ERDDAP, version 2.29.0: get metadata; download data; make graphs and maps.
The data may be used and redistributed for free but is not intended
for legal use, since it may contain inaccuracies. Neither the data
Contributor, ERD, NOAA, nor the United States Government, nor any
of their employees or contractors, makes any warranty, express or
implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness, of this information.
By using OBIS data, I agree that, in any publication or presentation
of any sort based wholly or in part on such data, I will:
1. Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases
in the form appearing in the GLOBAL 'citation' attribute thereof (if any);
and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility in one of the following
prescribed forms:
For OBIS website:
Ocean Biogeographic Information System. [date accessed]
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
For data used:
Author, initials. Database title. Retrieved [date accessed] from
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
Example:
Stocks, K. SeamountsOnline: an online information system for seamount
biology. Version 3.1. Retrieved [date accessed] from
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php.
2. For information purposes, provide to kim.finney@aad.gov.au
the full citation of any publication I make (printed or electronic)
that cites OBIS or any constituent part.
3. Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS:
OBIS is comparable to a scientific journal that makes data freely
available on the internet. Thus the geographic and taxonomic scope,
and quantity of data provided, depend on the scientists and
organizations that provide data. However, in contrast to data in a
journal, the 'reader' can select and combine data in OBIS from a
variety of sources. OBIS and its users give feedback on data quality
and possible errors to data providers. Because data providers are
willing to correct errors, the quality of the data will increase in
time. How OBIS provides quality assurance, who is primarily
responsible for data published in OBIS (its owners), issues to be
considered in using the data, and known gaps in the data, are
described below.
Quality assurance
Only data from authoritative scientists and science organizations
approved by OBIS are served. All data are subject to quality control
procedures before publication, and at regular intervals, with data
providers informed of any discrepancies and potential errors (e.g.
species names spelt incorrectly, mapping errors). OBIS also benefits
from user peer-review and feedback to identify technical, geographic,
and taxonomic errors in data served. However, although errors will
exist as they do in any publication, OBIS is confident that the data
are the best available in electronic form. That said, the user needs
sufficient knowledge to judge the appropriate use of the data, i.e.
for what purpose it is fit.
Many of the data published through OBIS have voucher specimens in
institutional collections and museums, images of observations, and
the original identifier of the specimens is often credited or will
be contactable from the data custodian.
Data ownership
Data providers retain ownership of the data provided. OBIS does not
own or control or limit the use of any data or products accessible
through its website. Accordingly, it does not take responsibility
for the quality of such data or products, or the use that people may
make of them.
Data use
Appropriate caution is necessary in the interpretation of results
derived from OBIS. Users must recognize that the analysis and
interpretation of data require background knowledge and expertise
about marine biodiversity (including ecosystems and taxonomy).
Users should be aware of possible errors, including in the use of
species names, geo-referencing, data handling, and mapping. They
should cross-check their results for possible errors, and qualify
their interpretation of any results accordingly.
Users should be aware that OBIS is a gateway to a system of databases
distributed around the world. More information on OBIS data is
available from the data sources websites and contact persons. Users
should email any questions concerning OBIS data or tools (e.g. maps)
to the appropriate contact person and copy this request to
kim.finney@aad.gov.au .
Data gaps
Major gaps in data and knowledge about the oceans are reflected in
OBIS' data coverage. Note the following:
Most of the planet is more than 1 km under water: this deep sea is
the least surveyed part of our world.
Coastal areas have been adequately sampled only for the distribution
of most vertebrates (birds, mammals, reptiles, larger fish).
The oceans have been better sampled in the northern than the
southern hemisphere, as reflected in the distribution of data in
OBIS.
Most marine species have not yet been recognized or named. A major
effort is required to describe marine species, especially
invertebrates and deep-sea organisms.
Of the marine species that have been described, some have been
discovered to be several species, and others combined into single
species. Thus, there are changes in the application of species names
over time. A checklist of all current marine species names is not
available but it is estimated that 230,000 have been described.
Only about half of these names have been organized into global
species checklists. OBIS includes distribution data on (a) many of
these validated names and (b) additional names that remain to be
organized into global species checklists. Thus, OBIS has some
distribution data for about one third of the known marine species.
Some species distribution data are not available in any form, as
they have not have been published nor made available for databases.
Only some of the recently collected, and less of the older published,
data have been entered into databases. Thus databases are incomplete.
Of existing databases, many are not connected to OBIS.
You can help address these data gaps by (a) recognizing and
encouraging scientists and organizations to make their data available
online so they are accessible to OBIS, and (b) advocating for and
carrying out field surveys and taxonomic studies designed to fill
geographic and taxonomic gaps in knowledge.
.asc
1
View OPeNDAP-style ISO-8859-1 comma-separated text. https://docs.opendap.org/index.php/UserGuideOPeNDAPMessages#ASCII_Service
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.croissant
1
Download the dataset croissant schema. https://docs.mlcommons.org/croissant/docs/croissant-spec.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.csv
1
Download a ISO-8859-1 comma-separated text table (line 1: names; line 2: units; ISO 8601 times). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma-separated_values
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.csv0
1
Download a ISO-8859-1 .csv file without column names or units. Times are ISO 8601 strings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma-separated_values
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.csvp
1
Download a ISO-8859-1 .csv file with line 1: name (units). Times are ISO 8601 strings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma-separated_values
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.das
1
View the dataset's metadata via an ISO-8859-1 OPeNDAP Dataset Attribute Structure (DAS). https://docs.opendap.org/index.php/UserGuideOPeNDAPMessages#Dataset_Attribute_Structure
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.dataTable
1
A JSON file formatted for use with the Google Visualization client library (Google Charts). https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/reference#dataparam
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.dds
1
View the dataset's structure via an ISO-8859-1 OPeNDAP Dataset Descriptor Structure (DDS). https://docs.opendap.org/index.php/UserGuideOPeNDAPMessages#Dataset_Descriptor_Structure
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.dods
1
OPeNDAP clients use this to download the data in the DODS binary format. https://docs.opendap.org/index.php/UserGuideOPeNDAPMessages#Data_Transmission
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.esriCsv
1
Download a ISO_8859_1 .csv file for ESRI's ArcGIS 9.x and below (separate date and time columns). https://support.esri.com/technical-article/000012745
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.fgdc
1
View the dataset's UTF-8 FGDC .xml metadata. https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/metadata/base-metadata/index_html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.geoJson
1
Download longitude,latitude,otherColumns data as a UTF-8 GeoJSON .json file. http://wiki.geojson.org/Main_Page
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.htmlTable
1
View a UTF-8 .html web page with the data in a table. Times are ISO 8601 strings. https://www.w3schools.com/html/html_tables.asp
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.iso19115
1
View the dataset's ISO 19115/19139 UTF-8 .xml metadata using the version default for this server. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geospatial_metadata
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.iso19115_2
1
View the dataset's ISO 19115-2/19139 UTF-8 .xml metadata. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geospatial_metadata
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.iso19115_3_2016
1
View the dataset's ISO 19115-3:2016 UTF-8 .xml metadata. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geospatial_metadata
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.iso19139_2007
1
View the dataset's ISO 19139:2007 UTF-8 .xml metadata. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geospatial_metadata
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.itx
1
Download an ISO-8859-1 Igor Text File. Each response column becomes a wave. https://www.wavemetrics.net/doc/igorman/II-09%20Data%20Import%20Export.pdf
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.json
1
View a table-like UTF-8 JSON file (missing value = 'null'; times are ISO 8601 strings). https://www.json.org/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.jsonlCSV
1
View a UTF-8 JSON Lines CSV file without column names (mv = 'null'; times are ISO 8601 strings). https://jsonlines.org/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.jsonlCSV1
1
View a UTF-8 JSON Lines CSV file with column names on line 1 (mv = 'null'; times are ISO 8601 strings). https://jsonlines.org/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.jsonlKVP
1
View a UTF-8 JSON Lines file with Key:Value pairs (missing value = 'null'; times are ISO 8601 strings). https://jsonlines.org/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.mat
1
Download a MATLAB binary file. https://www.mathworks.com/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.nc
1
Download a flat, table-like, NetCDF-3 binary file with COARDS/CF/ACDD metadata. https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.ncCF
1
Download a NetCDF-3 CF Discrete Sampling Geometries file (Contiguous Ragged Array). https://cfconventions.org/Data/cf-conventions/cf-conventions-1.8/cf-conventions.html#discrete-sampling-geometries
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.ncCFHeader
1
View the UTF-8 header (the metadata) for the .ncCF file. https://linux.die.net/man/1/ncdump
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.ncCFMA
1
Download a NetCDF-3 CF Discrete Sampling Geometries file (Multidimensional Array). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/netcdf-templates
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.ncCFMAHeader
1
View the UTF-8 header (the metadata) for the .ncCFMA file. https://linux.die.net/man/1/ncdump
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.ncHeader
1
View the UTF-8 header (the metadata) for the NetCDF-3 .nc file. https://linux.die.net/man/1/ncdump
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.nccsv
1
Download a NetCDF-3-like 7-bit ASCII NCCSV .csv file with COARDS/CF/ACDD metadata. https://erddap.github.io/docs/user/nccsv-1.20
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.nccsvMetadata
1
View the dataset's metadata as the top half of a 7-bit ASCII NCCSV .csv file. https://erddap.github.io/docs/user/nccsv-1.20
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.ncoJson
1
Download a UTF-8 NCO lvl=2 JSON file with COARDS/CF/ACDD metadata. https://nco.sourceforge.net/nco.html#json
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.odvTxt
1
Download longitude,latitude,time,otherColumns as an ISO-8859-1 ODV Generic Spreadsheet File (.txt). https://odv.awi.de/en/documentation/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.parquet
1
Download as a parquet file. Metadata contains column names ("column_names") and units ("column_units"). https://parquet.apache.org/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.parquetWMeta
1
Download as a parquet file with detailed metadata. https://parquet.apache.org/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.tsv
1
Download a ISO-8859-1 tab-separated text table (line 1: names; line 2: units; ISO 8601 times). https://jkorpela.fi/TSV.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.tsv0
1
Download a ISO-8859-1 .tsv file without column names or units. Times are ISO 8601 strings. https://jkorpela.fi/TSV.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.tsvp
1
Download a ISO-8859-1 .tsv file with line 1: name (units). Times are ISO 8601 strings. https://jkorpela.fi/TSV.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.wav
1
Download a .wav audio file. All columns must be numeric and of the same type. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.xhtml
1
View a UTF-8 XHTML (XML) file with the data in a table. Times are ISO 8601 strings. https://www.w3schools.com/html/html_tables.asp
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.html
.kml
1
View a .kml file, suitable for Google Earth. https://developers.google.com/kml/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.largePdf
1
View a large .pdf image file with a graph or map. https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/about-adobe-pdf.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.largePng
1
View a large .png image file with a graph or map. http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.pdf
1
View a standard, medium-sized .pdf image file with a graph or map. https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/about-adobe-pdf.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.png
1
View a standard, medium-sized .png image file with a graph or map. http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.smallPdf
1
View a small .pdf image file with a graph or map. https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/about-adobe-pdf.html
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.smallPng
1
View a small .png image file with a graph or map. http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
.transparentPng
1
View a .png image file (just the data, without axes, landmask, or legend). http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/
https://polarwatch.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/aadcArgos.graph
None
20260410
NOAA PolarWatch
Roy Mendelssohn
ERDDAP administrator
Mailing and Physical Address
110 McAllister Way
Santa Cruz
CA
95062
USA
+1 831-420-3666
roy.mendelssohn@noaa.gov
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-012-2002
universal time
None.
The data may be used and redistributed for free but is not intended
for legal use, since it may contain inaccuracies. Neither the data
Contributor, ERD, NOAA, nor the United States Government, nor any
of their employees or contractors, makes any warranty, express or
implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness, of this information.
By using OBIS data, I agree that, in any publication or presentation
of any sort based wholly or in part on such data, I will:
1. Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases
in the form appearing in the GLOBAL 'citation' attribute thereof (if any);
and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility in one of the following
prescribed forms:
For OBIS website:
Ocean Biogeographic Information System. [date accessed]
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
For data used:
Author, initials. Database title. Retrieved [date accessed] from
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php
Example:
Stocks, K. SeamountsOnline: an online information system for seamount
biology. Version 3.1. Retrieved [date accessed] from
https://aadc-maps.aad.gov.au/digir/digir.php.
2. For information purposes, provide to kim.finney@aad.gov.au
the full citation of any publication I make (printed or electronic)
that cites OBIS or any constituent part.
3. Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS:
OBIS is comparable to a scientific journal that makes data freely
available on the internet. Thus the geographic and taxonomic scope,
and quantity of data provided, depend on the scientists and
organizations that provide data. However, in contrast to data in a
journal, the 'reader' can select and combine data in OBIS from a
variety of sources. OBIS and its users give feedback on data quality
and possible errors to data providers. Because data providers are
willing to correct errors, the quality of the data will increase in
time. How OBIS provides quality assurance, who is primarily
responsible for data published in OBIS (its owners), issues to be
considered in using the data, and known gaps in the data, are
described below.
Quality assurance
Only data from authoritative scientists and science organizations
approved by OBIS are served. All data are subject to quality control
procedures before publication, and at regular intervals, with data
providers informed of any discrepancies and potential errors (e.g.
species names spelt incorrectly, mapping errors). OBIS also benefits
from user peer-review and feedback to identify technical, geographic,
and taxonomic errors in data served. However, although errors will
exist as they do in any publication, OBIS is confident that the data
are the best available in electronic form. That said, the user needs
sufficient knowledge to judge the appropriate use of the data, i.e.
for what purpose it is fit.
Many of the data published through OBIS have voucher specimens in
institutional collections and museums, images of observations, and
the original identifier of the specimens is often credited or will
be contactable from the data custodian.
Data ownership
Data providers retain ownership of the data provided. OBIS does not
own or control or limit the use of any data or products accessible
through its website. Accordingly, it does not take responsibility
for the quality of such data or products, or the use that people may
make of them.
Data use
Appropriate caution is necessary in the interpretation of results
derived from OBIS. Users must recognize that the analysis and
interpretation of data require background knowledge and expertise
about marine biodiversity (including ecosystems and taxonomy).
Users should be aware of possible errors, including in the use of
species names, geo-referencing, data handling, and mapping. They
should cross-check their results for possible errors, and qualify
their interpretation of any results accordingly.
Users should be aware that OBIS is a gateway to a system of databases
distributed around the world. More information on OBIS data is
available from the data sources websites and contact persons. Users
should email any questions concerning OBIS data or tools (e.g. maps)
to the appropriate contact person and copy this request to
kim.finney@aad.gov.au .
Data gaps
Major gaps in data and knowledge about the oceans are reflected in
OBIS' data coverage. Note the following:
Most of the planet is more than 1 km under water: this deep sea is
the least surveyed part of our world.
Coastal areas have been adequately sampled only for the distribution
of most vertebrates (birds, mammals, reptiles, larger fish).
The oceans have been better sampled in the northern than the
southern hemisphere, as reflected in the distribution of data in
OBIS.
Most marine species have not yet been recognized or named. A major
effort is required to describe marine species, especially
invertebrates and deep-sea organisms.
Of the marine species that have been described, some have been
discovered to be several species, and others combined into single
species. Thus, there are changes in the application of species names
over time. A checklist of all current marine species names is not
available but it is estimated that 230,000 have been described.
Only about half of these names have been organized into global
species checklists. OBIS includes distribution data on (a) many of
these validated names and (b) additional names that remain to be
organized into global species checklists. Thus, OBIS has some
distribution data for about one third of the known marine species.
Some species distribution data are not available in any form, as
they have not have been published nor made available for databases.
Only some of the recently collected, and less of the older published,
data have been entered into databases. Thus databases are incomplete.
Of existing databases, many are not connected to OBIS.
You can help address these data gaps by (a) recognizing and
encouraging scientists and organizations to make their data available
online so they are accessible to OBIS, and (b) advocating for and
carrying out field surveys and taxonomic studies designed to fill
geographic and taxonomic gaps in knowledge.