Web Services

Web Services

The portal includes a range of web services that can be used by other portals and applications to directly access XML formatted GBIF data. The services currently available include:


  • Occurrence record data service - This service provides a range of filters for selecting occurrence records. The currently supported response formats include TDWG Darwin Core records and KML (for use with Google Earth).

  • Taxon data service - This service provides a range of options for viewing information on the names and classifications used by the different datasets that are accessible through the GBIF portal. Data is returned using the TDWG Taxon Concept Schema.

  • Data provider metadata service - This service returns metadata on the data providers sharing data through the GBIF portal. The currently supported response format is a simple XML structure.

  • Dataset metadata service - This service returns metadata relating to the datasets accessible through the GBIF portal. The currently supported response format is a simple XML structure.

  • Data network metadata service - This service returns metadata on the data networks connected to the GBIF portal. The currently supported response format is a simple XML structure.

  • Occurrence density data service - This service returns summary counts of occurrence records by one-degree cell for a single taxon, country, dataset, data provider or data network. The currently supported response formats include a simple XML format and KML (for use with Google Earth).



Note that responses from these web services include styling instructions to make them easier to read and use in a web browser. The web service documentation includes instructions for disabling this feature if it is not desired.