Darwin Core List of Terms - Darwin Core

Darwin Core List of Terms
Title
Darwin Core List of Terms
Date version issued
2025-07-10
Date created
2020-08-12
Part of TDWG Standard
This version
Latest version
Previous version
Abstract
Darwin Core is a vocabulary standard for transmitting information about biodiversity. This document lists all terms in namespaces currently used in the vocabulary.
Contributors
John Wieczorek
VertNet
),
Peter Desmet
Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO)
),
Steve Baskauf
Vanderbilt University Libraries
),
Tim Robertson
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
),
Markus Döring
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
),
Quentin Groom
Botanic Garden Meise
),
Stijn Van Hoey
Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO)
),
David Bloom
VertNet
),
Paula Zermoglio
VertNet
),
Robert Guralnick
University of Florida
),
John Deck
Genomic Biodiversity Working Group
),
Gail Kampmeier
Illinois Natural History Survey
),
Dave Vieglais
KU Natural History Museum
),
Renato De Giovanni
Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
),
Campbell Webb
TDWG RDF/OWL Task Group
),
Paul J. Morris
Harvard University Herbaria/Museum of Comparative Zoölogy
),
Mark Schildhauer
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
),
Sophia Ratcliffe
National Biodiversity Network Trust
),
Teresa J. Mayfield-Meyer
The University of New Mexico, Arctos
),
Christian Bölling
Museum für Naturkunde Berlin - Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung
Creator
Darwin Core Maintenance Group
Bibliographic citation
Darwin Core Maintenance Group. 2025. Darwin Core List of Terms. Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG).
1 Introduction (Informative)
This document contains terms that are part of the most recent version of the Darwin Core vocabulary (
).
This document includes terms in four namespaces that contain recommended terms:
dwc:
dwciri:
dc:
, and
dcterms:
. However, some terms in these namespaces are deprecated or superseded and should no longer be used. Deprecation or supersession is noted in the term metadata. Namespaces that contain only deprecated terms are not included in this document, but metadata about those terms can be retrieved by dereferencing their IRIs.
For a simplified list that contains only the currently recommended terms, see the
Darwin Core Quick Reference Guide
1.1 Status of the content of this document
Sections 1 and 3 are non-normative.
Section 2 is normative.
In Section 4, the values of the
Term IRI
and
Definition
are normative. The values of
Term Name
are non-normative, although one can expect that the namespace abbreviation prefix is one commonly used for the term namespace.
Label
and the values of all other properties (such as
Examples
and
Notes
) are non-normative.
1.2 RFC 2119 key words
The key words “MUST”, “MUST NOT”, “REQUIRED”, “SHALL”, “SHALL NOT”, “SHOULD”, “SHOULD NOT”, “RECOMMENDED”, “MAY”, and “OPTIONAL” in this document are to be interpreted as described in
BCP 14
[RFC 2119]
and
[RFC 8174]
when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here.
1.3 Namespace abbreviations
The following namespace abbreviations are used in this document:
abbreviation
IRI
dwc:
dwciri:
dc:
dcterms:
2 Use of Terms
Due to the requirements of
Section 1.4.3 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide
, terms in the
dwciri:
namespace MUST be used with IRI values. Terms in the
dwc:
and
dc:
namespaces are generally expected to have string literal values. Values for terms in the
dcterms:
namespace will depend on the details of the term. See
Section 3 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide
for details.
3 Term indices
3.1 Index By Term Name
(See also
3.2 Index By Label
Classes
dwc:Dataset
dwc:Event
dwc:EventAttribute
dwc:EventMeasurement
dwc:FossilSpecimen
dwc:GeologicalContext
dwc:HumanObservation
dwc:Identification
dwc:LivingSpecimen
dcterms:Location
dwc:MachineObservation
dwc:MaterialCitation
dwc:MaterialEntity
dwc:MaterialSample
dwc:MeasurementOrFact
dwc:Occurrence
dwc:OccurrenceMeasurement
dwc:Organism
dwc:PreservedSpecimen
dwc:ResourceRelationship
dwc:Sample
dwc:SampleAttribute
dwc:SamplingEvent
dwc:SamplingLocation
dwc:Taxon
Record level
dwc:accordingTo
dwc:accuracy
dwc:basisOfRecord
dwc:collectionCode
dwc:collectionID
dwc:dataGeneralizations
dwc:datasetID
dwc:datasetName
dwc:discipline
dwc:DwCType
dwc:dynamicProperties
dwc:feedbackURL
dwc:Generalizations
dwc:informationWithheld
dwc:institutionCode
dwc:institutionID
dwc:ownerInstitutionCode
Dublin Core legacy namespace
dc:language
dc:type
Dublin Core terms namespace
dcterms:accessRights
dcterms:bibliographicCitation
dcterms:language
dcterms:license
dcterms:modified
dcterms:references
dcterms:rights
dcterms:rightsHolder
dcterms:type
Occurrence
dwc:associatedMedia
dwc:associatedOccurrences
dwc:associatedReferences
dwc:associatedTaxa
dwc:behavior
dwc:caste
dwc:catalogNumber
dwc:CatalogNumberNumeric
dwc:degreeOfEstablishment
dwc:establishmentMeans
dwc:georeferenceVerificationStatus
dwc:individualCount
dwc:individualID
dwc:lifeStage
dwc:occurrenceAttributes
dwc:occurrenceDetails
dwc:occurrenceID
dwc:occurrenceRemarks
dwc:occurrenceStatus
dwc:organismQuantity
dwc:organismQuantityType
dwc:otherCatalogNumbers
dwc:pathway
dwc:recordedBy
dwc:recordedByID
dwc:recordNumber
dwc:reproductiveCondition
dwc:sex
dwc:vitality
Organism
dwc:associatedOrganisms
dwc:causeOfDeath
dwc:organismID
dwc:organismName
dwc:organismRemarks
dwc:organismScope
dwc:previousIdentifications
Material Entity
dwc:associatedSequences
dwc:digitalSpecimenID
dwc:disposition
dwc:materialEntityID
dwc:materialEntityRemarks
dwc:materialEntityType
dwc:preparations
dwc:verbatimLabel
Material Sample
dwc:materialSampleID
Event
dwc:day
dwc:EarliestDateCollected
dwc:endDayOfYear
dwc:EndTimeOfDay
dwc:eventAttributes
dwc:eventDate
dwc:eventID
dwc:eventRemarks
dwc:eventTime
dwc:eventType
dwc:fieldNotes
dwc:fieldNumber
ac:fundingAttribution
dwc:fundingAttributionID
dwc:habitat
dwc:LatestDateCollected
dwc:month
dwc:parentEventID
dwc:projectID
dwc:projectTitle
dwc:sampleSizeUnit
dwc:sampleSizeValue
dwc:samplingEffort
dwc:samplingProtocol
dwc:startDayOfYear
dwc:StartTimeOfDay
dwc:verbatimEventDate
dwc:year
Location
dwc:continent
dwc:coordinatePrecision
dwc:coordinateUncertaintyInMeters
dwc:country
dwc:countryCode
dwc:county
dwc:decimalLatitude
dwc:decimalLongitude
dwc:footprintSpatialFit
dwc:footprintSRS
dwc:footprintWKT
dwc:geodeticDatum
dwc:georeferencedBy
dwc:georeferencedDate
dwc:georeferenceProtocol
dwc:georeferenceRemarks
dwc:georeferenceSources
dwc:higherGeography
dwc:higherGeographyID
dwc:island
dwc:islandGroup
dwc:locality
dwc:locationAccordingTo
dwc:locationAttributes
dwc:locationID
dwc:locationRemarks
dwc:maximumDepthInMeters
dwc:maximumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters
dwc:maximumElevationInMeters
dwc:minimumDepthInMeters
dwc:minimumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters
dwc:minimumElevationInMeters
dwc:municipality
dwc:pointRadiusSpatialFit
dwc:SamplingLocationID
dwc:SamplingLocationRemarks
dwc:stateProvince
dwc:verbatimCoordinates
dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem
dwc:verbatimDepth
dwc:verbatimElevation
dwc:verbatimLatitude
dwc:verbatimLocality
dwc:verbatimLongitude
dwc:verbatimSRS
dwc:verticalDatum
dwc:waterBody
Geological Context
dwc:bed
dwc:earliestAgeOrLowestStage
dwc:earliestEonOrLowestEonothem
dwc:earliestEpochOrLowestSeries
dwc:earliestEraOrLowestErathem
dwc:earliestPeriodOrLowestSystem
dwc:formation
dwc:geologicalContextID
dwc:group
dwc:highestBiostratigraphicZone
dwc:latestAgeOrHighestStage
dwc:latestEonOrHighestEonothem
dwc:latestEpochOrHighestSeries
dwc:latestEraOrHighestErathem
dwc:latestPeriodOrHighestSystem
dwc:lithostratigraphicTerms
dwc:lowestBiostratigraphicZone
dwc:member
Identification
dwc:dateIdentified
dwc:identificationAttributes
dwc:identificationID
dwc:identificationQualifier
dwc:identificationReferences
dwc:identificationRemarks
dwc:identificationVerificationStatus
dwc:identifiedBy
dwc:identifiedByID
dwc:PreviousIdentifications
dwc:typeStatus
dwc:typifiedName
dwc:verbatimIdentification
Taxon
dwc:acceptedNameUsage
dwc:acceptedNameUsageID
dwc:acceptedScientificName
dwc:acceptedScientificNameID
dwc:AcceptedTaxon
dwc:AcceptedTaxonID
dwc:acceptedTaxonID
dwc:acceptedTaxonName
dwc:acceptedTaxonNameID
dwc:basionym
dwc:basionymID
dwc:binomial
dwc:class
dwc:cultivarEpithet
dwc:family
dwc:genericName
dwc:genus
dwc:higherClassification
dwc:HigherTaxon
dwc:higherTaxonconceptID
dwc:HigherTaxonID
dwc:higherTaxonName
dwc:higherTaxonNameID
dwc:infragenericEpithet
dwc:infraspecificEpithet
dwc:kingdom
dwc:nameAccordingTo
dwc:nameAccordingToID
dwc:namePublicationID
dwc:namePublishedIn
dwc:namePublishedInID
dwc:namePublishedInYear
dwc:nomenclaturalCode
dwc:nomenclaturalStatus
dwc:order
dwc:originalNameUsage
dwc:originalNameUsageID
dwc:parentNameUsage
dwc:parentNameUsageID
dwc:phylum
dwc:scientificName
dwc:scientificNameAuthorship
dwc:scientificNameID
dwc:scientificNameRank
dwc:specificEpithet
dwc:subfamily
dwc:subgenus
dwc:subtribe
dwc:superfamily
dwc:taxonAccordingTo
dwc:taxonAttributes
dwc:taxonConceptID
dwc:TaxonID
dwc:taxonID
dwc:taxonNameID
dwc:taxonomicStatus
dwc:taxonRank
dwc:taxonRemarks
dwc:tribe
dwc:verbatimScientificNameRank
dwc:verbatimTaxonRank
dwc:vernacularName
Measurement or Fact
dwc:measurementAccuracy
dwc:measurementDeterminedBy
dwc:measurementDeterminedDate
dwc:measurementID
dwc:measurementMethod
dwc:measurementRemarks
dwc:measurementType
dwc:measurementUnit
dwc:measurementValue
dwc:parentMeasurementID
dwc:verbatimMeasurementType
Resource Relationship
dwc:RelatedBasisOfRecord
dwc:relatedResourceID
dwc:relatedResourceType
dwc:relationshipAccordingTo
dwc:relationshipEstablishedDate
dwc:relationshipOfResource
dwc:relationshipOfResourceID
dwc:relationshipRemarks
dwc:resourceID
dwc:resourceRelationshipID
IRI-value terms
dwciri:behavior
dwciri:caste
dwciri:dataGeneralizations
dwciri:degreeOfEstablishment
dwciri:discipline
dwciri:disposition
dwciri:earliestGeochronologicalEra
dwciri:establishmentMeans
dwciri:eventType
dwciri:fieldNotes
dwciri:fieldNumber
dwciri:footprintSRS
dwciri:footprintWKT
dwciri:fromLithostratigraphicUnit
dwciri:fundingAttribution
dwciri:geodeticDatum
dwciri:georeferencedBy
dwciri:georeferenceProtocol
dwciri:georeferenceSources
dwciri:georeferenceVerificationStatus
dwciri:habitat
dwciri:identificationQualifier
dwciri:identificationVerificationStatus
dwciri:identifiedBy
dwciri:inCollection
dwciri:inDataset
dwciri:inDescribedPlace
dwciri:informationWithheld
dwciri:latestGeochronologicalEra
dwciri:lifeStage
dwciri:locationAccordingTo
dwciri:measurementDeterminedBy
dwciri:measurementMethod
dwciri:measurementType
dwciri:measurementUnit
dwciri:measurementValue
dwciri:occurrenceStatus
dwciri:organismQuantityType
dwciri:pathway
dwciri:preparations
dwciri:recordedBy
dwciri:recordNumber
dwciri:reproductiveCondition
dwciri:sampleSizeUnit
dwciri:samplingProtocol
dwciri:sex
dwciri:toDigitalSpecimen
dwciri:toTaxon
dwciri:typeStatus
dwciri:verbatimCoordinateSystem
dwciri:verbatimSRS
dwciri:verticalDatum
dwciri:vitality
3.2 Index By Label
(See also
3.1 Index By Term Name
Classes
Dataset
Event
Event Attribute
Event Measurement
Fossil Specimen
Geological Context
Human Observation
Identification
Living Specimen
Location
Machine Observation
Material Citation
Material Entity
Material Sample
Measurement Or Fact
Occurrence
Occurrence Measurement
Organism
Preserved Specimen
Resource Relationship
Sample
Sample Attribute
Sampling Event
Sampling Location
Taxon
Record level
According To
Accuracy
Basis Of Record
Collection Code
Collection ID
Darwin Core Type
Data Generalizations
Dataset ID
Dataset Name
Discipline
Dynamic Properties
Feedback URL
Generalizations
Information Withheld
Institution Code
Institution ID
Owner Institution Code
Dublin Core legacy namespace
Language
Type
Dublin Core terms namespace
Access Rights
Bibliographic Citation
Date Modified
Language
License
References
Rights
Rights Holder
Type
Occurrence
Associated Media
Associated Occurrences
Associated References
Associated Taxa
Behavior
Caste
Catalog Number
Catalog Number Numeric
Degree of Establishment
Establishment Means
Georeference Verification Status
Individual Count
Individual ID
Life Stage
Occurrence Attributes
Occurrence Details
Occurrence ID
Occurrence Remarks
Occurrence Status
Organism Quantity
Organism Quantity Type
Other Catalog Numbers
Pathway
Record Number
Recorded By
Recorded By ID
Reproductive Condition
Sex
Vitality
Organism
Associated Organisms
Cause Of Death
Organism ID
Organism Name
Organism Remarks
Organism Scope
Previous Identifications
Material Entity
Associated Sequences
Digital Specimen Identifier
Disposition
Material Entity ID
Material Entity Remarks
Material Entity Type
Preparations
Verbatim Label
Material Sample
Material Sample ID
Event
Day
Earliest Date Collected
End Day Of Year
End Time of Day
Event Attributes
Event Date
Event ID
Event Remarks
Event Time
Event Type
Field Notes
Field Number
Funding Attribution
Funding Attribution ID
Habitat
Latest Date Collected
Month
Parent Event ID
Project ID
Project Title
Sample Size Unit
Sample Size Value
Sampling Effort
Sampling Protocol
Start Day Of Year
Start Time of Day
Verbatim EventDate
Year
Location
Continent
Coordinate Precision
Coordinate Uncertainty In Meters
Country
Country Code
Decimal Latitude
Decimal Longitude
First Order Division
Footprint SRS
Footprint Spatial Fit
Footprint WKT
Geodetic Datum
Georeference Protocol
Georeference Remarks
Georeference Sources
Georeferenced By
Georeferenced Date
Higher Geography
Higher Geography ID
Island
Island Group
Locality
Location According To
Location Attributes
Location ID
Location Remarks
Maximum Depth In Meters
Maximum Distance Above Surface In Meters
Maximum Elevation In Meters
Minimum Depth In Meters
Minimum Distance Above Surface In Meters
Minimum Elevation In Meters
Point Radius Spatial Fit
Sampling Location ID
Sampling Location Remarks
Second Order Division
Third Order Division
Verbatim Coordinate System
Verbatim Coordinates
Verbatim Depth
Verbatim Elevation
Verbatim Latitude
Verbatim Locality
Verbatim Longitude
Verbatim SRS
Vertical Datum
Water Body
Geological Context
Bed
Earliest Age Or Lowest Stage
Earliest Eon Or Lowest Eonothem
Earliest Epoch Or Lowest Series
Earliest Era Or Lowest Erathem
Earliest Period Or Lowest System
Formation
Geological Context ID
Group
Highest Biostratigraphic Zone
Latest Age Or Highest Stage
Latest Eon Or Highest Eonothem
Latest Epoch Or Highest Series
Latest Era Or Highest Erathem
Latest Period Or Highest System
Lithostratigraphic Terms
Lowest Biostratigraphic Zone
Member
Identification
Date Identified
Identification Attributes
Identification ID
Identification Qualifier
Identification References
Identification Remarks
Identification Verification Status
Identified By
Identified By ID
Previous Identifications
Type Status
Typified Name
Verbatim Identification
Taxon
Accepted Name Usage
Accepted Name Usage ID
Accepted Scientific Name
Accepted Scientific Name ID
Accepted Taxon
Accepted Taxon ID
Accepted Taxon ID
Accepted Taxon Name
Accepted Taxon Name ID
Basionym
Basionym ID
Binomial
Class
Cultivar Epithet
Family
Generic Name
Genus
Higher Classification
Higher Taxon
Higher Taxon Concept ID
Higher Taxon ID
Higher Taxon Name
Higher Taxon Name ID
Infrageneric Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Kingdom
Name According To
Name According To ID
Name Publication ID
Name Published In
Name Published In ID
Name Published In Year
Nomenclatural Code
Nomenclatural Status
Order
Original Name Usage
Original Name Usage ID
Parent Name Usage
Parent Name Usage ID
Phylum
Scientific Name
Scientific Name Authorship
Scientific Name ID
Scientific Name Rank
Specific Epithet
Subfamily
Subgenus
Subtribe
Superfamily
Taxon According To
Taxon Attributes
Taxon Concept ID
Taxon ID
Taxon ID
Taxon Name ID
Taxon Rank
Taxon Remarks
Taxonomic Status
Tribe
Verbatim Scientific Name Rank
Verbatim Taxon Rank
Vernacular Name
Measurement or Fact
Measurement Accuracy
Measurement Determined By
Measurement Determined Date
Measurement ID
Measurement Method
Measurement Remarks
Measurement Type
Measurement Unit
Measurement Value
Parent Measurement ID
Verbatim Measurement Type
Resource Relationship
Related Basis of Record
Related Resource ID
Related Resource Type
Relationship According To
Relationship Established Date
Relationship Of Resource
Relationship Of Resource ID
Relationship Remarks
Resource ID
Resource Relationship ID
IRI-value terms
Behavior (IRI)
Caste (IRI)
Data Generalizations (IRI)
Degree of Establishment (IRI)
Discipline (IRI)
Disposition (IRI)
Earliest Geochronological Era
Establishment Means (IRI)
Event Type (IRI)
Field Notes (IRI)
Field Number (IRI)
Footprint SRS (IRI)
Footprint WKT (IRI)
From Lithostratigraphic Unit
Funding Attribution (IRI)
Geodetic Datum (IRI)
Georeference Protocol (IRI)
Georeference Sources (IRI)
Georeference Verification Status (IRI)
Georeferenced By (IRI)
Habitat (IRI)
Identification Qualifier (IRI)
Identification Verification Status (IRI)
Identified By (IRI)
In Collection
In Dataset
In Described Place
Information Withheld (IRI)
Latest Geochronological Era
Life Stage (IRI)
Location According To (IRI)
Measurement Determined By (IRI)
Measurement Method (IRI)
Measurement Type (IRI)
Measurement Unit (IRI)
Measurement Value (IRI)
Occurrence Status (IRI)
Organism Quantity Type (IRI)
Pathway (IRI)
Preparations (IRI)
Record Number (IRI)
Recorded By (IRI)
Reproductive Condition (IRI)
Sampling Protocol (IRI)
Sampling Size Unit (IRI)
Sex (IRI)
To Digital Specimen
To Taxon
Type Status (IRI)
Verbatim Coordinate System (IRI)
Verbatim SRS (IRI)
Vertical Datum (IRI)
Vitality (IRI)
4 Vocabulary
Term Name dwc:acceptedNameUsage
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Accepted Name Usage
Definition
The full name, with authorship and date information if known, of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) dwc:Taxon.
Notes
The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known, of the accepted (botanical) or valid (zoological) name in cases where the provided dwc:scientificName is considered by the reference indicated in the dwc:nameAccordingTo property, or of the content provider, to be a synonym or misapplied name. When applied to a dwc:Organism or dwc:Occurrence, this term should be used in cases where a content provider regards the provided dwc:scientificName to be inconsistent with the taxonomic perspective of the content provider. For example, there are many discrepancies within specimen collections and observation datasets between the recorded name (e.g., the most recent identification from an expert who examined a specimen, or a field identification for an observed dwc:Organism), and the name asserted by the content provider to be taxonomically accepted.
Examples
Tamias minimus
(valid name for
Eutamias minimus
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:acceptedNameUsageID
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Accepted Name Usage ID
Definition
An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) taxon.
Notes
This term should be used for synonyms or misapplied names to refer to the dwc:taxonID of a dwc:Taxon record that represents the accepted (botanical) or valid (zoological) name. For Darwin Core Archives the related record should be present locally in the same archive.
Examples
tsn:41107
(ITIS)
urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:320035-2
(IPNI)
2704179
(GBIF)
6W3C4
(COL)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:acceptedTaxonID
Term IRI
Modified
2009-09-21
Label
Accepted Taxon ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
An identifier for the name of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) taxon. See acceptedTaxon.
Notes
Example: "8fa58e08-08de-4ac1-b69c-1235340b7001"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:AccessConstraints
Term IRI
Modified
2009-09-21
Label
Access Constraints
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
A description of constraints on the use of the data as shared or access to further data that is not shared.
Notes
Example: "not-for-profit use only".
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/IPRStatements
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:accordingTo
Term IRI
Modified
2020-08-06
Label
According To
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Abstract term to attribute information to a source.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:accuracy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Accuracy
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Abstract term to capture error information about a measurement or fact.
ABCD equivalence
DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Aspect/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:associatedReferences
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Associated References
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers (publication, bibliographic reference, global unique identifier, URI) of literature associated with the dwc:Occurrence.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
). Note that the dwc:ResourceRelationship class is an alternative means of representing associations, and with more detail. Note also that the intended usage of the term dcterms:references in Darwin Core when applied to a dwc:Occurrence is to point to the definitive source representation of that dwc:Occurrence if one is available. Note also that the intended usage of dcterms:bibliographicCitation in Darwin Core when applied to a dwc:Occurrence is to provide the preferred way to cite the dwc:Occurrence itself.
Examples
Christopher J. Conroy, Jennifer L. Neuwald. 2008. Phylogeographic study of the California vole, Microtus californicus Journal of Mammalogy, 89(3):755-767.
Steven R. Hoofer and Ronald A. Van Den Bussche. 2001. Phylogenetic Relationships of Plecotine Bats and Allies Based on Mitochondrial Ribosomal Sequences. Journal of Mammalogy 82(1):131-137. | Walker, Faith M., Jeffrey T. Foster, Kevin P. Drees, Carol L. Chambers. 2014. Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) microsatellite discovery using illumina sequencing. Conservation Genetics Resources.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/UnitReferences
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:associatedTaxa
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Associated Taxa
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers or names of dwc:Taxon records and the associations of this dwc:Occurrence to each of them.
Notes
This term can be used to provide a list of associations to dwc:Taxon records other than the one defined in the dwc:Occurrence. Note that the dwc:ResourceRelationship class is an alternative means of representing associations, and with more detail. This term is not apt for establishing relationships between dwc:Taxon records, only between specific dwc:Occurrences of a dwc:Organism with other dwc:Taxon records. Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
).
Examples
"host":"Quercus alba"
"host":"gbif.org/species/2879737"
"parasitoid of":"Cyclocephala signaticollis" | "predator of":"Apis mellifera"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Synecology/AssociatedTaxa
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:behavior
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Behavior
Definition
The behavior shown by the subject at the time the dwc:Occurrence was recorded.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
roosting
foraging
running
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:binomial
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Binomial
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The combination of genus and first (species) epithet of the scientificName.
Notes
Example: "Ctenomys sociabilis"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Synecology/AssociatedTaxa/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/FullScientificNameString
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:caste
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Caste
Definition
Categorisation of individuals for eusocial species (including some mammals and arthropods).
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary that aligns best with the dwc:Taxon. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
queen
male alate
intercaste
minor worker
soldier
ergatoid
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:CatalogNumberNumeric
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Catalog Number Numeric
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The numeric value of the catalogNumber, used to facilitate numerical sorting and searching by ranges.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/UnitIDNumeric
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:class
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Class
Definition
The full scientific name of the class in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName with HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonRank = classis
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:continent
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Continent
Definition
The name of the continent in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names. Recommended best practice is to leave this field blank if the dcterms:Location spans multiple entities at this administrative level or if the dcterms:Location might be in one or another of multiple possible entities at this level. Multiplicity and uncertainty of the geographic entity can be captured either in the term dwc:higherGeography or in the term dwc:locality, or both.
Examples
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Europe
North America
Oceania
South America
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaName with NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaClass= Continent
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:coordinatePrecision
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Coordinate Precision
Definition
A decimal representation of the precision of the coordinates given in the dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude.
Examples
0.00001
(normal GPS limit for decimal degrees)
0.000278
(nearest second)
0.01667
(nearest minute)
1.0
(nearest degree)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLong/ISOAccuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLong/AccuracyStatement
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:coordinateUncertaintyInMeters
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Coordinate Uncertainty In Meters
Definition
The horizontal distance (in meters) from the given dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude describing the smallest circle containing the whole of the dcterms:Location. Leave the value empty if the uncertainty is unknown, cannot be estimated, or is not applicable (because there are no coordinates). Zero is not a valid value for this term.
Examples
30
(reasonable lower limit on or after 2000-05-01 of a GPS reading under good conditions if the actual precision was not recorded at the time)
100
(reasonable lower limit before 2000-05-01 of a GPS reading under good conditions if the actual precision was not recorded at the time)
71
(uncertainty for a UTM coordinate having 100 meter precision and a known spatial reference system)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/CoordinateErrorDistanceInMeters
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:country
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Country
Definition
The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names. Recommended best practice is to leave this field blank if the dcterms:Location spans multiple entities at this administrative level or if the dcterms:Location might be in one or another of multiple possible entities at this level. Multiplicity and uncertainty of the geographic entity can be captured either in the term dwc:higherGeography or in the term dwc:locality, or both.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Country/Name
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:county
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Second Order Division
Definition
The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than stateProvince (county, shire, department, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names. Recommended best practice is to leave this field blank if the dcterms:Location spans multiple entities at this administrative level or if the dcterms:Location might be in one or another of multiple possible entities at this level. Multiplicity and uncertainty of the geographic entity can be captured either in the term dwc:higherGeography or in the term dwc:locality, or both.
Examples
Missoula
Los Lagos
Mataró
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaName with NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaClass= County
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:dataGeneralizations
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Data Generalizations
Definition
Actions taken to make the shared data less specific or complete than in its original form. Suggests that alternative data of higher quality may be available on request.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Coordinates generalized from original GPS coordinates to the nearest half degree grid cell
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:Dataset
Term IRI
Modified
2009-09-11
Label
Dataset
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The category of information pertaining to a logical set of records.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:dateIdentified
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Date Identified
Definition
The date on which the subject was determined as representing the dwc:Taxon.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a date that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples
1963-03-08T14:07-06:00
(8 Mar 1963 at or after 2:07pm and before 2:08pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC)
2009-02-20T08:40Z
(20 February 2009 at or after 8:40am and before 8:41 UTC)
2018-08-29T15:19
(29 August 2018 at or after 3:19pm and before 3:20pm local time)
1809-02-12
(within the day 12 February 1809)
1906-06
(in the month of June 1906)
1971
(in the year 1971)
2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z
(some time within the interval beginning 1 March 2007 at 1pm UTC and before 11 May 2008 at 3:30pm UTC)
1900/1909
(some time within the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and before the year 1909)
2007-11-13/15
(some time in the interval between the beginning of 13 November 2007 and before 15 November 2007)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/Date/DateText
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:decimalLatitude
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Decimal Latitude
Definition
The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are north of the Equator, negative values are south of it. Legal values lie between -90 and 90, inclusive.
Examples
-41.0983423
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/LatitudeDecimal
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:decimalLongitude
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Decimal Longitude
Definition
The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are east of the Greenwich Meridian, negative values are west of it. Legal values lie between -180 and 180, inclusive.
Examples
-121.1761111
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/LongitudeDecimal
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:discipline
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Discipline
Definition
The primary branch or branches of knowledge represented by the record.
Notes
This term can be used to classify records according to branches of knowledge. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary and to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( | ).This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value. It is also recommended to use this field to describe specimenType in MIDS.
Examples
Botany
Botany | Virology | Taxonomy
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:DwCType
Term IRI
Modified
2014-10-23
Label
Darwin Core Type
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The set of classes specified by the Darwin Core Type Vocabulary, used to categorize the nature or genre of the resource.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Term Name dwc:dynamicProperties
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Dynamic Properties
Definition
A list of additional measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions about the record. Meant to provide a mechanism for structured content.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a key:value encoding schema for a data interchange format such as JSON.
Examples
{"heightInMeters":1.5}
{"targusLengthInMeters":0.014, "weightInGrams":120}
{"natureOfID":"expert identification", "identificationEvidence":"cytochrome B sequence"}
{"relativeHumidity":28, "airTemperatureInCelsius":22, "sampleSizeInKilograms":10}
{"aspectHeading":277, "slopeInDegrees":6}
{"iucnStatus":"vulnerable", "taxonDistribution":"Neuquén, Argentina"}
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:EarliestDateCollected
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Earliest Date Collected
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The earliest date-time in a period during which a event occurred. If the event is recorded as occurring at a single date-time, populate both EarliestDateCollected and LatestDateCollected with the same value. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as ISO 8601:2004(E).
Notes
Date may be used to express temporal information at any level of granularity. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as the W3CDTF profile of ISO 8601 [W3CDTF].
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/ISODateTimeBegin
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:earliestGeochronologicalEra
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-13
Term version IRI
Label
Earliest Geochronological Era
Definition
Use to link a dwc:GeologicalContext instance to chronostratigraphic time periods at the lowest possible level in a standardized hierarchy. Use this property to point to the earliest possible geological time period from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use an IRI from a controlled vocabulary. A "convenience property" that replaces Darwin Core literal-value terms related to geological context. See Section 2.7.6 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide for details.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:endDayOfYear
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
End Day Of Year
Definition
The latest integer day of the year on which the dwc:Event occurred (1 for January 1, 365 for December 31, except in a leap year, in which case it is 366).
Examples
(1 January)
32
(1 February)
366
(31 December)
365
(30 December in a leap year, 31 December in a non-leap year)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/DateTime/DayNumberEnd
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EndTimeOfDay
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
End Time of Day
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The time of day when the event ended, expressed as decimal hours from midnight, local time.
Notes
Examples: "12.0" (= noon), "13.5" (= 1:30pm)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/DateTime/TimeOfDayEnd
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EventAttribute
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Container class for information about attributes related to a given sampling event.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:EventAttributeAccuracy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute Accuracy
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The description of the error associated with the EventAttributeValue.
Notes
Example: "0.01", "normal distribution with variation of 2 m"
ABCD equivalence
DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Aspect/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EventAttributeDeterminedBy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute Determined By
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The agent responsible for having determined the value of the measurement or characteristic of the sampling event.
Notes
Example: "Robert Hijmans"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EventAttributeDeterminedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute Determined Date
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The date on which the the measurement or characteristic of the sampling event was made.
Notes
Date may be used to express temporal information at any level of granularity. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as the W3CDTF profile of ISO 8601 [W3CDTF].
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EventAttributeRemarks
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute Remarks
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Comments or notes accompanying the measurement or characteristic of the sampling event.
Notes
Example: "temperature taken at 15:00"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventAttributes
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Attributes
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of additional measurements or characteristics of the Event.
Notes
Example: "Relative humidity: 28 %; Temperature: 22 C; Sample size: 10 kg"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EventAttributeUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute Unit
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The units for the value of the measurement or characteristic of the sampling event. Recommended best practice is to use International System of Units (SI) units.
Notes
Example: "C"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UnitOfMeasurement
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:EventAttributeValue
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Event Attribute
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The value of the measurement or characteristic of the sampling event.
Notes
Example: "22"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventDate
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Event Date
Definition
The date-time or interval during which a dwc:Event occurred. For occurrences, this is the date-time when the dwc:Event was recorded. Not suitable for a time in a geological context.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a date that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples
1963-03-08T14:07-06:00
(8 Mar 1963 at or after 2:07pm and before 2:08pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC)
2009-02-20T08:40Z
(20 February 2009 at or after 8:40am and before 8:41 UTC)
2018-08-29T15:19
(29 August 2018 at or after 3:19pm and before 3:20pm local time)
1809-02-12
(within the day 12 February 1809)
1906-06
(in the month of June 1906)
1971
(in the year 1971)
2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z
(some time within the interval beginning 1 March 2007 at 1pm UTC and before 11 May 2008 at 3:30pm UTC)
1900/1909
(some time within the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and before the year 1909)
2007-11-13/15
(some time in the interval between the beginning of 13 November 2007 and before 15 November 2007)
ABCD equivalence
accessible from DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/ISODateTimeBegin and DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/ISODateTimeEnd
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:eventID
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Event ID
Definition
An identifier for the set of information associated with a dwc:Event (something that occurs at a place and time). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
Examples
INBO:VIS:Ev:00009375
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Code
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventMeasurementAccuracy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Measurement Accuracy
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The description of the error associated with the EventAttributeValue.
Notes
Example: "0.01", "normal distribution with variation of 2 m"
ABCD equivalence
DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Aspect/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventMeasurementDeterminedBy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Measurement Determined By
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The agent responsible for having determined the value of the measurement or characteristic of the event.
Notes
Example: "Robert Hijmans"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventMeasurementDeterminedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Measurement Determined Date
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The date on which the the measurement or characteristic of the event was made. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as ISO 8601:2004(E).
Notes
Examples: "1963-03-08T14:07-0600" is 8 Mar 1963 2:07pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC, "2009-02-20T08:40Z" is 20 Feb 2009 8:40am UTC, "1809-02-12" is 12 Feb 1809, "1906-06" is Jun 1906, "1971" is just that year, "2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z" is the interval between 1 Mar 2007 1pm UTC and 11 May 2008 3:30pm UTC, "2007-11-13/15" is the interval between 13 Nov 2007 and 15 Nov 2007.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventMeasurementType
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Measurement Type
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The nature of the measurement or characteristic of the event. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Notes
Example: "temperature"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Parameter
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventMeasurementUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Measurement Unit
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The units for the value of the measurement or characteristic of the event. Recommended best practice is to use International System of Units (SI) units.
Notes
Example: "C"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UnitOfMeasurement
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventMeasurementValue
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Event Measurement Value
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The value of the measurement or characteristic of the event.
Notes
Example: "22"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:eventType
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Event Type
Definition
The nature of the dwc:Event.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. Regardless of the dwc:eventType, the interval of the dwc:Event can be captured in dwc:eventDate. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Sample
Observation
Site Visit
Biotic Interaction
Bioblitz
Expedition
Survey
Project
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:family
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Family
Definition
The full scientific name of the family in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName with HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonRank = familia
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:fieldNotes
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Field Notes (IRI)
Definition
One of a) an indicator of the existence of, b) a reference to (publication, URI), or c) the text of notes taken in the field about the dwc:Event.
Notes
The subject is a dwc:Event instance and the object is a (possibly IRI-identified) resource that is the field notes.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:fieldNotes
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Field Notes
Definition
One of a) an indicator of the existence of, b) a reference to (publication, URI), or c) the text of notes taken in the field about the dwc:Event.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Notes available in the Grinnell-Miller Library.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/FieldNotes
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:fieldNumber
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Field Number (IRI)
Definition
An identifier given to the event in the field. Often serves as a link between field notes and the dwc:Event.
Notes
The subject is a (possibly IRI-identified) resource that is the field notes and the object is a dwc:Event instance.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:fieldNumber
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Field Number
Definition
An identifier given to the dwc:Event in the field. Often serves as a link between field notes and the dwc:Event.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
RV Sol 87-03-08
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Code
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:footprintSpatialFit
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Footprint Spatial Fit
Definition
The ratio of the area of the dwc:footprintWKT to the area of the true (original, or most specific) spatial representation of the dcterms:Location. Legal values are 0, greater than or equal to 1, or undefined. A value of 1 is an exact match or 100% overlap. A value of 0 should be used if the given dwc:footprintWKT does not completely contain the original representation. The dwc:footprintSpatialFit is undefined (and should be left empty) if the original representation is any geometry without area (e.g., a point or polyline) and without uncertainty and the given georeference is not that same geometry (without uncertainty). If both the original and the given georeference are the same point, the dwc:footprintSpatialFit is 1.
Notes
Detailed explanations with graphical examples can be found in the Georeferencing Best Practices, Chapman and Wieczorek, 2020 (
).
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/FootprintSpatialFit
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:footprintSRS
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Footprint SRS
Definition
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geometry given in dwc:footprintWKT is based.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use the EPSG code of the SRS, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the geodetic datum, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the ellipsoid, if known. If none of these is known, use the value
not recorded
. It is also permitted to provide the SRS in Well-Known-Text, especially if no EPSG code provides the necessary values for the attributes of the SRS. Do not use this term to describe the SRS of the dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude, nor of any verbatim coordinates - use the dwc:geodeticDatum and dwc:verbatimSRS instead. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
EPSG:4326
GEOGCS["GCS_WGS_1984", DATUM["D_WGS_1984", SPHEROID["WGS_1984",6378137,298.257223563]], PRIMEM["Greenwich",0], UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]]
(WKT for the standard WGS84 Spatial Reference System EPSG:4326)
not recorded
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:footprintWKT
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Footprint WKT
Definition
A Well-Known Text (WKT) representation of the shape (footprint, geometry) that defines the dcterms:Location. A dcterms:Location may have both a point-radius representation (see dwc:decimalLatitude) and a footprint representation, and they may differ from each other.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
POLYGON ((10 20, 11 20, 11 21, 10 21, 10 20))
(the one-degree bounding box with opposite corners at longitude=10, latitude=20 and longitude=11, latitude=21)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/FootprintWKT (ABCD v2.06b)
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:fromLithostratigraphicUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2015-03-27
Term version IRI
Label
From Lithostratigraphic Unit
Definition
Use to link a dwc:GeologicalContext instance to an IRI-identified lithostratigraphic unit at the lowest possible level in a hierarchy.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use an IRI from a controlled vocabulary. A "convenience property" that replaces Darwin Core literal-value terms related to geological context. See Section 2.7.7 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide for details.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:Generalizations
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Generalizations
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
Actions taken to make the data as shared less specific or complete than in its original form. Suggests that alternative data of highly quality may be available on request.
Notes
Examples: "Coordinates generalized from original GPS coordinates to the nearest half degree grid cell", "locality information given only to nearest county".
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:genus
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Genus
Definition
The full scientific name of the genus in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
{DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Bacterial/GenusOrMonomial or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/GenusOrMonomial or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Viral/GenusOrMonomial or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/GenusOrMonomial}
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:geodeticDatum
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Geodetic Datum
Definition
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude are based.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use the EPSG code of the SRS, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the geodetic datum, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the ellipsoid, if known. If none of these is known, use the value
not recorded
. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for a string literal value.
Examples
EPSG:4326
WGS84
NAD27
Campo Inchauspe
European 1950
Clarke 1866
not recorded
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/SpatialDatum
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwciri:geodeticDatum
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Geodetic Datum (IRI)
Definition
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude are based.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use an IRI for the EPSG code of the SRS, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the geodetic datum, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the ellipsoid, if known. If none of these is known, use an IRI corresponding to the value
not recorded
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:georeferencedBy
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Georeferenced By
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations who determined the georeference (spatial representation) for the dcterms:Location.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
). This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Brad Millen (ROM)
Kristina Yamamoto | Janet Fang
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:georeferencedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Georeferenced Date
Definition
The date on which the dcterms:Location was georeferenced.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a date that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples
1963-03-08T14:07-06:00
(8 Mar 1963 at or after 2:07pm and before 2:08pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC)
2009-02-20T08:40Z
(20 February 2009 at or after 8:40am and before 8:41 UTC)
2018-08-29T15:19
(29 August 2018 at or after 3:19pm and before 3:20pm local time)
1809-02-12
(within the day 12 February 1809)
1906-06
(in the month of June 1906)
1971
(in the year 1971)
2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z
(some time within the interval beginning 1 March 2007 at 1pm UTC and before 11 May 2008 at 3:30pm UTC)
1900/1909
(some time within the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and before the year 1909)
2007-11-13/15
(some time in the interval between the beginning of 13 November 2007 and before 15 November 2007)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:georeferenceSources
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Georeference Sources
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of maps, gazetteers, or other resources used to georeference the dcterms:Location, described specifically enough to allow anyone in the future to use the same resources.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
). This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/GeoreferenceSources
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:georeferenceVerificationStatus
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Georeference Verification Status
Definition
A categorical description of the extent to which the georeference has been verified to represent the best possible spatial description for the dcterms:Location of the dwc:Occurrence.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
unable to georeference
requires georeference
requires verification
verified by data custodian
verified by contributor
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/GeoreferenceVerificationStatus
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:habitat
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Habitat
Definition
A category or description of the habitat in which the dwc:Event occurred.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
oak savanna
pre-cordilleran steppe
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/Text
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:higherClassification
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Higher Classification
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of taxa names terminating at the rank immediately superior to the referenced dwc:Taxon.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
), with terms in order from the highest taxonomic rank to the lowest.
Examples
Plantae | Tracheophyta | Magnoliopsida | Ranunculales | Ranunculaceae | Ranunculus
Animalia
Animalia | Chordata | Vertebrata | Mammalia | Theria | Eutheria | Rodentia | Hystricognatha | Hystricognathi | Ctenomyidae | Ctenomyini | Ctenomys
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:higherGeography
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Higher Geography
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of geographic names less specific than the information captured in the dwc:locality term.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
), with terms in order from least specific to most specific.
Examples
North Atlantic Ocean
South America | Argentina | Patagonia | Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi | Neuquén | Los Lagos
with accompanying values
South America
(continent)
Argentina
(country),
Neuquén
(first order division), and
Los Lagos
(second order division)
ABCD equivalence
{DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/LocalityText or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaName}
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:HigherTaxon
Term IRI
Modified
2009-08-24
Label
Higher Taxon
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of the names for the taxonomic ranks less specific than the ScientificName.
Notes
Example: "Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Mammalia, Theria, Eutheria, Rodentia, Hystricognatha, Hystricognathi, Ctenomyidae, Ctenomyini, Ctenomys".
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:higherTaxonconceptID
Term IRI
Modified
2009-08-24
Label
Higher Taxon Concept ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A unique identifier for the taxon concept less specific than that given in the taxonConceptID.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:higherTaxonName
Term IRI
Modified
2009-08-24
Label
Higher Taxon Name
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of the names for the taxonomic ranks less specific than that given in the scientificName.
Notes
Example: "Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Theria; Eutheria; Rodentia; Hystricognatha; Hystricognathi; Ctenomyidae; Ctenomyini; Ctenomys"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:identificationAttributes
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Identification Attributes
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of additional measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions about the Identification.
Notes
Example: "natureOfID=expert identification; identificationEvidence=cytochrome B sequence"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:identificationQualifier
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Identification Qualifier
Definition
A brief phrase or a standard term ("cf.", "aff.") to express the determiner's doubts about the dwc:Identification.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
aff. agrifolia var. oxyadenia
(for
Quercus aff. agrifolia var. oxyadenia
with accompanying values
Quercus
in genus,
agrifolia
in specificEpithet,
oxyadenia
in infraspecificEpithet, and
var.
in taxonRank)
cf. var. oxyadenia
(for
Quercus agrifolia cf. var. oxyadenia
with accompanying values
Quercus
in genus,
agrifolia
in specificEpithet,
oxyadenia
in infraspecificEpithet, and
var.
in taxonRank)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/IdentificationQualifier
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:identificationReferences
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Identification References
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of references (publication, global unique identifier, URI) used in the dwc:Identification.
Notes
When used in the context of an Event (such as in the Humboldt Extension), the subject consists of all of the dwc:Organisms related to the Event. Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( | ).
Examples
Aves del Noroeste Patagonico. Christie et al. 2004.
Stebbins, R. Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. 2003. | Irschick, D.J. and Shaffer, H.B. (1997). The polytypic species revisited: Morphological differentiation among tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) (Amphibia: Caudata). Herpetologica, 53(1), 30-49.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/References
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwciri:inCollection
Term IRI
Modified
2015-03-27
Term version IRI
Label
In Collection
Definition
Use to link any subject resource that is part of a collection to the collection containing the resource.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use an IRI from a controlled registry. A "convenience property" that replaces literal-value terms related to collections and institutions. See Section 2.7.3 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide for details.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:individualID
Term IRI
Modified
2014-10-23
Label
Individual ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
An identifier for an individual or named group of individual organisms represented in the Occurrence. Meant to accommodate resampling of the same individual or group for monitoring purposes. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to a data set.
Notes
Examples: "U.amer. 44", "Smedley", "Orca J 23"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/Result/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/NamedIndividual or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/ObservationUnit/ObservationUnitIdentifiers/ObservationUnitIdentifier or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/SpecimenUnit/Accessions/AccessionNumber
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:informationWithheld
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Information Withheld
Definition
Additional information that exists, but that has not been shared in the given record.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
location information not given for endangered species
collector identities withheld | ask about tissue samples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/InformationWithheld
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:infragenericEpithet
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Infrageneric Epithet
Definition
The infrageneric part of a binomial name at ranks above species but below genus.
Notes
The term dwc:infragenericEpithet should be used in conjunction with dwc:genericName, dwc:specificEpithet, dwc:infraspecificEpithet, dwc:taxonRank and dwc:scientificNameAuthorship to represent the individual elements of the complete dwc:scientificName. It can be used to indicate the subgenus placement of a species, which in zoology is often given in parentheses. Can also be used to share infrageneric names such as botanical sections (e.g.,
Vicia sect. Cracca
).
Examples
Abacetillus
(for scientificName
Abacetus (Abacetillus) ambiguus
Cracca
(for scientificName
Vicia sect. Cracca
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/Result/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Bacterial/Subgenus (for bacterial names) or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/Result/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/Subgenus (for zoological names) or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/Result/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/FirstEpithet (for botanical names)
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:infraspecificEpithet
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Infraspecific Epithet
Definition
The name of the lowest or terminal infraspecific epithet of the dwc:scientificName, excluding any rank designation.
Notes
In botany, name strings in literature and identifications may have multiple infraspecific ranks. According to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Schenzhen Code Articles 6.7 & Art. 24.1), valid names only have two epithets, with the lowest rank being the dwc:infraspecificEpithet. For example: the dwc:infraspecificEpithet in the string
Indigofera charlieriana subsp. sessilis var. scaberrima
is
scaberrima
and the dwc:scientificName is
Indigofera charlieriana var. scaberrima (Schinz) J.B.Gillett
. Use dwc:verbatimIdentification for the full name string used in a dwc:Identification.
Examples
concolor
(for scientificName
Puma concolor concolor (Linnaeus, 1771)
oxyadenia
(for scientificName
Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia (Torr.) J.T. Howell
laxa
(for scientificName
Cheilanthes hirta f. laxa (Kunze) W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen
scaberrima
(for scientificName
Indigofera charlieriana var. scaberrima (Schinz) J.B.Gillett
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Bacterial/SubspeciesEpithet or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/SecondEpithet or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/SubspeciesEpithet
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:LatestDateCollected
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Latest Date Collected
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The latest date-time in a period during which a event occurred. If the event is recorded as occurring at a single date-time, populate both EarliestDateCollected and LatestDateCollected with the same value. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as ISO 8601:2004(E).
Notes
Date may be used to express temporal information at any level of granularity. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as the W3CDTF profile of ISO 8601 [W3CDTF].
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/ISODateTimeEnd
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:latestGeochronologicalEra
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-13
Term version IRI
Label
Latest Geochronological Era
Definition
Use to link a dwc:GeologicalContext instance to chronostratigraphic time periods at the lowest possible level in a standardized hierarchy. Use this property to point to the latest possible geological time period from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use an IRI from a controlled vocabulary. A "convenience property" that replaces Darwin Core literal-value terms related to geological context. See Section 2.7.6 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide for details.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:lifeStage
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Life Stage
Definition
The age class or life stage of the dwc:Organism(s) at the time the dwc:Occurrence was recorded.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
zygote
larva
juvenile
adult
seedling
flowering
fruiting
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MycologicalUnit/MycologicalSexualStage or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MycologicalUnit/MycologicalLiveStages/MycologicalLiveStage or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/ZoologicalUnit/PhasesOrStages/PhaseOrStage
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:locality
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Locality
Definition
The specific description of the place.
Notes
Less specific geographic information can be provided in other geographic terms (dwc:higherGeography, dwc:continent, dwc:country, dwc:stateProvince, dwc:county, dwc:municipality, dwc:waterBody, dwc:island, dwc:islandGroup). This term may contain information modified from the original to correct perceived errors or standardize the description.
Examples
Bariloche, 25 km NNE via Ruta Nacional 40 (=Ruta 237)
Queets Rainforest, Olympic National Park
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaName
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:locationAccordingTo
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Location According To
Definition
Information about the source of this dcterms:Location information. Could be a publication (gazetteer), institution, or team of individuals.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
GADM
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:locationAttributes
Term IRI
Modified
2014-10-23
Label
Location Attributes
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of additional measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions about the location.
Notes
Example: "aspectheading=277; slopeindegrees=6"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:MaterialCitation
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-18
Term version IRI
Label
Material Citation
Definition
A reference to or citation of one, a part of, or multiple specimens in scholarly publications.
Notes
This class constitutes a new value for the controlled vocabulary in the recommendations for basisOfRecord. When importing Darwin Core Archives of literature-based datasets to GBIF, the basisOfRecord should be changed from "Occurrence", "PreservedSpecimen" or "Literature" to "MaterialCitation".
Examples
a citation of a physical specimen from a scientific collection in a taxonomic treatment in a scientific publication
a citation of a group of physical specimens, such as paratypes in a taxonomic treatment in a scientific publication
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Class
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:MaterialEntity
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-13
Term version IRI
Label
Material Entity
Definition
An entity that can be identified, exists for some period of time, and consists in whole or in part of physical matter while it exists.
Notes
The term is defined at the most general level to admit descriptions of any subtype of material entity within the scope of Darwin Core. In particular, any kind of material sample, preserved specimen, fossil, or exemplar from living collections is intended to be subsumed under this term.
Examples
an instance of a fossil
an instance of a herbarium sheet with its attached plant specimen
a particular part of the plant-derived material affixed to a herbarium sheet
an instance of a frozen tissue sample
a specific water sample
an instance of a meteorite fragment
a particular wolf in a zoo
a particular pack of wolves in the wild
an isolated molecule of DNA
a specific deep-frozen DNA sample
a particular field notebook
a particular paper page from a field notebook
an instance of a printed photograph
ABCD equivalence
None (Specimen Unit, when used to denote a class of things, appears to be a broadly construed subclass.)
Type
Class
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:materialEntityID
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-13
Term version IRI
Label
Material Entity ID
Definition
An identifier for a particular instance of a dwc:MaterialEntity.
Notes
Values of dwc:materialEntityID are intended to uniquely and persistently identify a particular dwc:MaterialEntity within some context. Examples of context include a particular sample collection, an organization, or the worldwide scale. Recommended best practice is to use a persistent, globally unique identifier. The identifier is bound to a physical object (the dwc:MaterialEntity) as opposed to a particular digital record (representation) of that physical object.
Examples
06809dc5-f143-459a-be1a-6f03e63fc083
ABCD equivalence
Unit/UnitGUID or Unit/UnitID
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:materialEntityType
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Material Entity Type
Definition
A category that best matches the nature of a dwc:MaterialEntity.
Notes
A more generic classification of a dwc:MaterialEntity than dwc:preparations. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Macro-object
Micro-object
Oversized object
Cut/polished gemstone
Compound Specimen
Core
Mixed Materials
Environmental sample
Microscope slide
Spore print
Macrofossil
Mesofossil
Microfossil
Pinned object/specimen
Taxidermy mount
Blood sampling cards
Oversized fossil
Anthropogenic Artifact
ABCD equivalence
skos:closeMatch to /DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/KindOfUnit. ABCD structural considerations prevent an exactMatch.
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:maximumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Maximum Distance Above Surface In Meters
Definition
The greater distance in a range of distance from a reference surface in the vertical direction, in meters. Use positive values for locations above the surface, negative values for locations below. If depth measures are given, the reference surface is the location given by the depth, otherwise the reference surface is the location given by the elevation.
Examples
-1.5
(below the surface)
4.2
(above the surface)
For a 1.5 meter sediment core from the bottom of a lake (at depth 20m) at 300m elevation: verbatimElevation:
300m
minimumElevationInMeters:
300
, maximumElevationInMeters:
300
, verbatimDepth:
20m
, minimumDepthInMeters:
20
, maximumDepthInMeters:
20
, minimumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters:
, maximumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters:
-1.5
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:measurementAccuracy
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Accuracy
Definition
The description of the potential error associated with the dwc:measurementValue.
Examples
0.01
normal distribution with variation of 2 m
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Aspect/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:measurementDeterminedBy
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Determined By
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations who determined the value of the dwc:MeasurementOrFact.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
). This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
Rob Guralnick
Peter Desmet | Stijn Van Hoey
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:measurementDeterminedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Determined Date
Definition
The date on which the dwc:MeasurementOrFact was made.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a date that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples
1963-03-08T14:07-06:00
(8 Mar 1963 at or after 2:07pm and before 2:08pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC)
2009-02-20T08:40Z
(20 February 2009 at or after 8:40am and before 8:41 UTC)
2018-08-29T15:19
(29 August 2018 at or after 3:19pm and before 3:20pm local time)
1809-02-12
(within the day 12 February 1809)
1906-06
(in the month of June 1906)
1971
(in the year 1971)
2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z
(some time within the interval beginning 1 March 2007 at 1pm UTC and before 11 May 2008 at 3:30pm UTC)
1900/1909
(some time within the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and before the year 1909)
2007-11-13/15
(some time in the interval between the beginning of 13 November 2007 and before 15 November 2007)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:measurementMethod
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Method
Definition
A description of or reference to (publication, URI) the method or protocol used to determine the measurement, fact, characteristic, or assertion.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
minimum convex polygon around burrow entrances
(for a home range area)
barometric altimeter
(for an elevation)
ABCD equivalence
/DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Method or /DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Method or /DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Method
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:measurementType
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Type
Definition
The nature of the measurement, fact, characteristic, or assertion.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
tail length
temperature
trap line length
survey area
trap type
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Parameter or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Parameter
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:measurementUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Unit
Definition
The units associated with the dwc:measurementValue.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use the International System of Units (SI). This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
°C
mm
km²
hh:mm:ss
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UnitOfMeasurement or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UnitOfMeasurement
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:measurementValue
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Measurement Value
Definition
The value of the measurement, fact, characteristic, or assertion.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/SiteMeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Altitude/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Depth/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Biotope/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:minimumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Minimum Distance Above Surface In Meters
Definition
The lesser distance in a range of distance from a reference surface in the vertical direction, in meters. Use positive values for locations above the surface, negative values for locations below. If depth measures are given, the reference surface is the location given by the depth, otherwise the reference surface is the location given by the elevation.
Examples
-1.5
(below the surface)
4.2
(above the surface)
For a 1.5 meter sediment core from the bottom of a lake (at depth 20m) at 300m elevation: verbatimElevation:
300m
minimumElevationInMeters:
300
, maximumElevationInMeters:
300
, verbatimDepth:
20m
, minimumDepthInMeters:
20
, maximumDepthInMeters:
20
, minimumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters:
, maximumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters:
-1.5
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Height/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue
Type
Property
Term Name dcterms:modified
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Date Modified
Definition
Date on which the resource was changed.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a date that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples
1963-03-08T14:07-06:00
(8 Mar 1963 at or after 2:07pm and before 2:08pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC)
2009-02-20T08:40Z
(20 February 2009 at or after 8:40am and before 8:41 UTC)
2018-08-29T15:19
(29 August 2018 at or after 3:19pm and before 3:20pm local time)
1809-02-12
(within the day 12 February 1809)
1906-06
(in the month of June 1906)
1971
(in the year 1971)
2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z
(some time within the interval beginning 1 March 2007 at 1pm UTC and before 11 May 2008 at 3:30pm UTC)
1900/1909
(some time within the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and before the year 1909)
2007-11-13/15
(some time in the interval between the beginning of 13 November 2007 and before 15 November 2007)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:municipality
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Third Order Division
Definition
The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than county (city, municipality, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs. Do not use this term for a nearby named place that does not contain the actual dcterms:Location.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names. Recommended best practice is to leave this field blank if the dcterms:Location spans multiple entities at this administrative level or if the dcterms:Location might be in one or another of multiple possible entities at this level. Multiplicity and uncertainty of the geographic entity can be captured either in the term dwc:higherGeography or in the term dwc:locality, or both.
Examples
Holzminden
Araçatuba
Ga-Segonyana
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaName
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:nameAccordingTo
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Name According To
Definition
The reference to the source in which the specific taxon concept circumscription is defined or implied - traditionally signified by the Latin "sensu" or "sec." (from secundum, meaning "according to"). For taxa that result from identifications, a reference to the keys, monographs, experts and other sources should be given.
Notes
This term provides context to the dwc:scientificName. Together with the dwc:scientificName, separated by
sensu
or
sec.
, it forms the taxon concept label, which may be seen as having the same relationship to dwc:taxonConceptID as, for example, dwc:acceptedNameUsage has to dwc:acceptedNameUsageID. When not provided, in Taxon Core data sets the dwc:nameAccordingTo can be taken to be the data set. In this case the data set mostly provides sufficient context to infer the delimitation of the taxon and its relationship with other taxa. In Occurrence Core data sets, when not provided, dwc:nameAccordingTo can be an underlying taxonomy of the data set, e.g. Plants of the World Online (
) for vascular plant records in iNaturalist (in which case it should be provided), or, which is the case for most dwc:PreservedSpecimen data sets, the dwc:Identification, in which case there is no further context.
Examples
Franz NM, Cardona-Duque J (2013) Description of two new species and phylogenetic reassessment of Perelleschus Wibmer & O’Brien, 1986 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with a complete taxonomic concept history of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque, 2013. Syst Biodivers. 11: 209–236.
(as the full citation of the Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) in Perelleschus splendida sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013))
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:namePublishedIn
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Name Published In
Definition
A reference for the publication in which the dwc:scientificName was originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode.
Notes
A citation of the first publication of the name in its given combination, not the basionym / original name. Recombinations are often not published in zoology, in which case dwc:namePublishedIn should be empty.
Examples
Pearson O. P., and M. I. Christie. 1985. Historia Natural, 5(37):388
Forel, Auguste, Diagnosies provisoires de quelques espèces nouvelles de fourmis de Madagascar, récoltées par M. Grandidier., Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, Comptes-rendus des Seances 30, 1886
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/SpecimenUnit/NomenclaturalTypeDesignations/NomenclaturalTypeDesignation/NomenclaturalReference/TitleCitation
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:nomenclaturalCode
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Nomenclatural Code
Definition
The nomenclatural code (or codes in the case of an ambiregnal name) under which the dwc:scientificName is constructed.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples
ICN
ICZN
BC
ICNCP
BioCode
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/Code
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:nomenclaturalStatus
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Nomenclatural Status
Definition
The status related to the original publication of the name and its conformance to the relevant rules of nomenclature. It is based essentially on an algorithm according to the business rules of the code. It requires no taxonomic opinion.
Examples
nom. ambig.
nom. illeg.
nom. subnud.
ABCD equivalence
(DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/SpecimenUnit/NomenclaturalTypeDesignations/NomenclaturalTypeDesignation/NomenclaturalReference/TitleCitation) pro parte
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceAttributes
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Attributes
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of additional measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions about the Occurrence.
Notes
Examples: "Tragus length: 14mm; Weight: 120g", "Height: 1-1.5 meters tall; flowers yellow; uncommon".
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceID
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Occurrence ID
Definition
An identifier for the dwc:Occurrence (as opposed to a particular digital record of the dwc:Occurrence). In the absence of a persistent global unique identifier, construct one from a combination of identifiers in the record that will most closely make the dwc:occurrenceID globally unique.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a persistent, globally unique identifier.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/UnitGUID
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:OccurrenceMeasurement
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The category of information pertaining to measurements accociated with an occurrence.
ABCD equivalence
Datasets/Dataset/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:occurrenceMeasurementAccuracy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement Accuracy
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The description of the error associated with the occurrenceAttributeValue.
Notes
Example: "0.01", "normal distribution with variation of 2 m"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceMeasurementDeterminedBy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement Determined By
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The agent responsible for having determined the value of the measurement or characteristic of the occurrence.
Notes
Example: "Javier de la Torre"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasuredBy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceMeasurementDeterminedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement Determined Date
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The date on which the the measurement or characteristic of the occurrence was made. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as ISO 8601:2004(E).
Notes
Examples: "1963-03-08T14:07-0600" is 8 Mar 1963 2:07pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC, "2009-02-20T08:40Z" is 20 Feb 2009 8:40am UTC, "1809-02-12" is 12 Feb 1809, "1906-06" is Jun 1906, "1971" is just that year, "2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z" is the interval between 1 Mar 2007 1pm UTC and 11 May 2008 3:30pm UTC, "2007-11-13/15" is the interval between 13 Nov 2007 and 15 Nov 2007.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceMeasurementType
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement Type
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The nature of the measurement or characteristic of the occurrence. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Notes
Example: "tail length"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Parameter
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceMeasurementUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement Unit
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The units for the value of the measurement or characteristic of the occurrence. Recommended best practice is to use International System of Units (SI) units.
Notes
Example: "mm"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UnitOfMeasurement
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceMeasurementValue
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Occurrence Measurement Value
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The value of the measurement or characteristic of the occurrence.
Notes
Example: "45"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:occurrenceStatus
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Occurrence Status
Definition
A statement about the presence or absence of a dwc:Taxon at a dcterms:Location.
Notes
For dwc:Occurrences, the default vocabulary is recommended to consist of
present
and
absent
, but can be extended by implementers with good justification. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:order
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Order
Definition
The full scientific name of the order in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName with HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonRank = ordo
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:Organism
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-18
Term version IRI
Label
Organism
Definition
A particular organism or defined group of organisms considered to be taxonomically homogeneous.
Notes
Instances of the dwc:Organism class are intended to facilitate linking one or more dwc:Identification instances to one or more dwc:Occurrence instances. Therefore, things that are typically assigned scientific names (such as viruses, hybrids, and lichens) and aggregates whose dwc:Occurrences are typically recorded (such as packs, clones, and colonies) are included in the scope of this class.
Examples
a specific bird
a specific wolf pack
a specific instance of a bacterial culture
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Class
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:organismQuantityType
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Organism Quantity Type
Definition
The type of quantification system used for the quantity of dwc:Organisms.
Notes
A dwc:organismQuantityType must have a corresponding dwc:organismQuantity. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
27
(organismQuantity) with
individuals
(organismQuantityType)
12.5
(organismQuantity) with
% biomass
(organismQuantityType)
(organismQuantity) with
Braun-Blanquet Scale
(organismQuantityType)
many
(organismQuantity) with
individuals
(organismQuantityType)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:originalNameUsage
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Original Name Usage
Definition
The taxon name, with authorship and date information if known, as it originally appeared when first established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode. The basionym (botany) or basonym (bacteriology) of the dwc:scientificName or the senior/earlier homonym for replaced names.
Notes
The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known, of the name usage in which the terminal element of the dwc:scientificName was originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode. For example, for names governed by the ICNafp, this term would indicate the basionym of a record representing a subsequent combination. Unlike basionyms, however, this term can apply to scientific names at all ranks.
Examples
Pinus abies
Gasterosteus saltatrix Linnaeus 1768
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:originalNameUsageID
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Original Name Usage ID
Definition
An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) in which the terminal element of the dwc:scientificName was originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode.
Notes
This term should be used to refer to the dwc:taxonID of a dwc:Taxon record that represents the usage of the terminal element of the dwc:scientificName as originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode. For example, for names governed by the ICNafp, this term would establish the relationship between a record representing a subsequent combination and the record for its corresponding basionym. Unlike basionyms, however, this term can apply to scientific names at all ranks. For Darwin Core Archives the related record should be present locally in the same archive.
Examples
tsn:41107
(ITIS)
urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:320035-2
(IPNI)
2704179
(GBIF)
6W3C4
(COL)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:parentNameUsage
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Parent Name Usage
Definition
The full name, with authorship and date information if known, of the direct, most proximate higher-rank parent dwc:Taxon (in a classification) of the most specific element of the dwc:scientificName.
Examples
Rubiaceae
Gruiformes
Testudinae
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:parentNameUsageID
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Parent Name Usage ID
Definition
An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) of the direct, most proximate higher-rank parent taxon (in a classification) of the most specific element of the dwc:scientificName.
Notes
This term should be used for accepted names to refer to the dwc:taxonID of a dwc:Taxon record that represents the next higher taxon rank in the same taxonomic classification. For Darwin Core Archives the related record should be present locally in the same archive.
Examples
tsn:41074
(ITIS)
urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30001404-2
(IPNI)
2704173
(GBIF)
6T8N
(COL)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:phylum
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Phylum
Definition
The full scientific name of the phylum or division in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
Examples
Chordata
(phylum)
Bryophyta
(division)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonName with HigherTaxa/HigherTaxon/HigherTaxonRank = phylum
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:pointRadiusSpatialFit
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Point Radius Spatial Fit
Definition
The ratio of the area of the point-radius (dwc:decimalLatitude, dwc:decimalLongitude, dwc:coordinateUncertaintyInMeters) to the area of the true (original, or most specific) spatial representation of the dcterms:Location. Legal values are 0, greater than or equal to 1, or undefined. A value of 1 is an exact match or 100% overlap. A value of 0 should be used if the given point-radius does not completely contain the original representation. The dwc:pointRadiusSpatialFit is undefined (and should be left empty) if the original representation is any geometry without area (e.g., a point or polyline) and without uncertainty and the given georeference is not that same geometry (without uncertainty). If both the original and the given georeference are the same point, the dwc:pointRadiusSpatialFit is 1.
Notes
Detailed explanations with graphical examples can be found in the Georeferencing Best Practices, Chapman and Wieczorek, 2020 (
).
Examples
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/PointRadiusSpatialFit
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:PreviousIdentifications
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Previous Identifications
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of previous ScientificNames to which the sample was identified.
Notes
Example: "Anthus correndera".
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification with PreferredFlag = false
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:projectTitle
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Project Title
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of titles or names for projects that contributed to a dwc:Event.
Notes
Use this term to provide the official name or title of a project as it is commonly known and cited. Avoid abbreviations unless they are widely understood. The recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space ( | ).
Examples
The Nansen Legacy
Scalidophora i Noreg
Arctic Deep
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Project/ProjectTitle
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:recordedBy
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Recorded By
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original dwc:Occurrence. The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (dwc:recordNumber), should be listed first.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
). This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
José E. Crespo
Oliver P. Pearson | Anita K. Pearson
(where the value in recordNumber
OPP 7101
corresponds to the collector number for the specimen in the field catalog of Oliver P. Pearson)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/GatheringAgents/GatheringAgentsText
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:recordNumber
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Record Number
Definition
An identifier given to the dwc:Occurrence at the time it was recorded. Often serves as a link between field notes and a dwc:Occurrence record, such as a specimen collector's number.
Notes
This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
OPP 7101
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/CollectorsFieldNumber
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:recordNumber
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Record Number (IRI)
Definition
An identifier given to the dwc:Occurrence at the time it was recorded. Often serves as a link between field notes and a dwc:Occurrence record, such as a specimen collector's number.
Notes
The subject is a dwc:Occurrence and the object is a (possibly IRI-identified) resource that is the field notes.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:RelatedBasisOfRecord
Term IRI
Modified
2009-01-26
Label
Related Basis of Record
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The nature of the related resource. Recommended best practice is to use the same controlled vocabulary as for basisOfRecord.
Notes
Example: "PreservedSpecimen"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:relatedResourceType
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Related Resource Type
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The type of the related resource. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Notes
Examples: "StillImage", "MovingImage", "Sound", PhysicalObject", "PreservedSpecimen", FossilSpecimen", LivingSpecimen", "HumanObservation", "MachineObservation", "Location", "Taxonomy", "NomeclaturalChecklist", "Publication"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:relationshipEstablishedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Relationship Established Date
Definition
The date-time on which the relationship between the two resources was established.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a date that conforms to ISO 8601-1:2019.
Examples
1963-03-08T14:07-06:00
(8 Mar 1963 at or after 2:07pm and before 2:08pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC)
2009-02-20T08:40Z
(20 February 2009 at or after 8:40am and before 8:41 UTC)
2018-08-29T15:19
(29 August 2018 at or after 3:19pm and before 3:20pm local time)
1809-02-12
(within the day 12 February 1809)
1906-06
(in the month of June 1906)
1971
(in the year 1971)
2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z
(some time within the interval beginning 1 March 2007 at 1pm UTC and before 11 May 2008 at 3:30pm UTC)
1900/1909
(some time within the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and before the year 1909)
2007-11-13/15
(some time in the interval between the beginning of 13 November 2007 and before 15 November 2007)
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:relationshipOfResource
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Relationship Of Resource
Definition
The relationship of the subject (identified by dwc:resourceID) to the object (identified by dwc:relatedResourceID).
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples
same as
duplicate of
mother of
offspring of
sibling of
parasite of
host of
valid synonym of
located within
pollinator of members of taxon
pollinated specific plant
pollinated by members of taxon
on slab with
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Associations/UnitAssociation/AssociationType
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:reproductiveCondition
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Reproductive Condition
Definition
The reproductive condition of the biological individual(s) represented in the dwc:Occurrence.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
non-reproductive
pregnant
in bloom
fruit-bearing
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:ResourceRelationship
Term IRI
Modified
2023-09-13
Term version IRI
Label
Resource Relationship
Definition
A relationship of one rdfs:Resource (http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#Resource) to another.
Notes
Resources can be thought of as identifiable records or instances of classes and may include, but need not be limited to instances of dwc:Occurrence, dwc:Organism, dwc:MaterialEntity, dwc:Event, dcterms:Location, dwc:GeologicalContext, dwc:Identification, or dwc:Taxon.
Examples
an instance of a dwc:Organism is the mother of another instance of a dwc:Organism
a uniquely identified dwc:Occurrence represents the same dwc:Occurrence as another uniquely identified dwc:Occurrence
a dwc:MaterialEntity is a subsample of another dwc:MaterialEntity
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Associations
Type
Class
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:Sample
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
Container class for information about the results of a sampling event (specimen, observation, etc.)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:SampleAttribute
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Container class for information about attributes related to a given sample.
ABCD equivalence
Datasets/Dataset/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:SampleAttributeAccuracy
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute Accuracy
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The description of the error associated with the SampleAttributeValue.
Notes
Example: "0.01", "normal distribution with variation of 2 m"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Accuracy
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SampleAttributeDeterminedDate
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute Determined Date
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The date on which the the measurement or characteristic of the sample was made.
Notes
Date may be used to express temporal information at any level of granularity. Recommended best practice is to use an encoding scheme, such as the W3CDTF profile of ISO 8601 [W3CDTF].
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/MeasurementDateTime
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SampleAttributeRemarks
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute Remarks
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Comments or notes accompanying the measurement or characteristic of the sample.
Notes
Example: "tip of tail missing"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SampleAttributeUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute Unit
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The units for the value of the measurement or characteristic of the sample. Recommended best practice is to use International System of Units (SI) units.
Notes
Example: "mm"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UnitOfMeasurement
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SampleAttributeValue
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute Value
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The value of the measurement or characteristic of the sample.
Notes
Example: "45"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/LowerValue or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/UpperValue
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:sampleSizeUnit
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Sample Size Unit
Definition
The unit of measurement of the size (time duration, length, area, or volume) of a sample in a sampling dwc:Event.
Notes
A dwc:sampleSizeUnit must have a corresponding dwc:sampleSizeValue, e.g.,
for dwc:sampleSizeValue with
for dwc:sampleSizeUnit. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
minute
hour
day
metre
square metre
cubic metre
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:SamplingAttributeID
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
An identifier for the sampling attribute. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SamplingAttributeType
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sample Attribute Type
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
The nature of the measurement or characteristic of the sample. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Notes
Example: "tail length"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/MeasurementsOrFacts/MeasurementOrFact/MeasurementOrFactAtomised/Parameter
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SamplingEvent
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sampling Event
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
Container class for information about the conditions and methods of acquisition of samples.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:SamplingEventAttributes
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sampling Event Attributes
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of additional measurements or characteristics of the sampling event.
Notes
Example: "Relative humidity: 28 %; Temperature: 22 C; Sample size: 10 kg"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteMeasurementsOrFacts
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SamplingEventID
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sampling Event ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
An identifier for the sampling event. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/Code
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SamplingEventRemarks
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sampling Event Remarks
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Comments or notes about the sampling event.
Notes
Example: "found dead on road"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:SamplingLocation
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sampling Location
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
Container class for information about the location where a sampling event occurred.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/LocalityText
Type
Class
Term Name dwc:SamplingLocationID
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-29
Label
Sampling Location ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
An identifier for the sampling location. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
Notes
Example: "MVZ:LocID:12345"
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:scientificName
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Scientific Name
Definition
The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known. When forming part of a dwc:Identification, this should be the name in lowest level taxonomic rank that can be determined. This term should not contain identification qualifications, which should instead be supplied in the dwc:identificationQualifier term.
Notes
This term should not contain identification qualifications, which should instead be supplied in the IdentificationQualifier term. When applied to an Organism or Occurrence, this term should be used to represent the scientific name that was applied to the associated Organism in accordance with the Taxon to which it was or is currently identified. Names should be compliant to the most recent nomenclatural code. For example, names of hybrids for algae, fungi and plants should follow the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Schenzhen Code Articles H.1, H.2 and H.3). Thus, use the multiplication sign
(Unicode
U+00D7
, HTML
) to identify a hybrid, not
or
, if possible.
Examples
Coleoptera
(order)
Vespertilionidae
(family)
Manis
(genus)
Ctenomys sociabilis
(genus + specificEpithet)
Ambystoma tigrinum diaboli
(genus + specificEpithet + infraspecificEpithet)
Roptrocerus typographi (Györfi, 1952)
(genus + specificEpithet + scientificNameAuthorship)
Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia (Torr.) J.T. Howell
(genus + specificEpithet + taxonRank + infraspecificEpithet + scientificNameAuthorship)
×Agropogon littoralis (Sm.) C. E. Hubb.
Mentha ×smithiana R. A. Graham
Agrostis stolonifera L. × Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/FullScientificNameString
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:scientificNameAuthorship
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Scientific Name Authorship
Definition
The authorship information for the dwc:scientificName formatted according to the conventions of the applicable dwc:nomenclaturalCode.
Examples
(Torr.) J.T. Howell
(Martinovský) Tzvelev
(Györfi, 1952)
ABCD equivalence
{DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Bacterial/ParentheticalAuthorTeamAndYear + DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Bacterial/AuthorTeamAndYear} or {DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/AuthorTeamParenthesis + DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/AuthorTeam} or {DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/AuthorTeamOriginalAndYear + [= or] DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/AuthorTeamParenthesisAndYear}
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:scientificNameRank
Term IRI
Modified
2009-09-21
Label
Scientific Name Rank
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the scientificName. Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Notes
Examples: "subsp.", "var.", "forma", "species", "genus"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/Rank
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:specificEpithet
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Specific Epithet
Definition
The name of the first or species epithet of the dwc:scientificName.
Examples
ABCD equivalence
{DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Bacterial/SpeciesEpithet or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Botanical/FirstEpithet or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/TaxonIdentified/ScientificName/NameAtomised/Zoological/SpeciesEpithet}
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:startDayOfYear
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Start Day Of Year
Definition
The earliest integer day of the year on which the dwc:Event occurred (1 for January 1, 365 for December 31, except in a leap year, in which case it is 366).
Examples
(1 January)
366
(31 December)
365
(30 December in a leap year, 31 December in a non-leap year)
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/DateTime/DayNumberBegin
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:StartTimeOfDay
Term IRI
Modified
2009-04-24
Label
Start Time of Day
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The time of day when the event began, expressed as decimal hours from midnight, local time.
Notes
Examples: "12.0" (= noon), "13.5" (= 1:30pm)
ABCD equivalence
accessible from DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/ISODateTimeBegin
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:stateProvince
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
First Order Division
Definition
The name of the next smaller administrative region than country (state, province, canton, department, region, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names. Recommended best practice is to leave this field blank if the dcterms:Location spans multiple entities at this administrative level or if the dcterms:Location might be in one or another of multiple possible entities at this level. Multiplicity and uncertainty of the geographic entity can be captured either in the term dwc:higherGeography or in the term dwc:locality, or both.
Examples
Montana
Minas Gerais
Córdoba
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaName with NamedAreas/NamedArea/AreaClass= State or = Province (etc.)
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:taxonAccordingTo
Term IRI
Modified
2009-09-21
Label
Taxon According To
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
Information about the authorship of this taxon concept which uses the scientificName in their sense (secundum, sensu). Could be a publication (identification key), institution or team of individuals.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:taxonAttributes
Term IRI
Modified
2009-10-09
Label
Taxon Attributes
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of additional measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions about the taxon.
Notes
Example: "iucnstatus=vulnerable; distribution=Neuquen, Argentina"
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Identifications/Identification/Result/TaxonIdentified/InformalNameString
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:taxonNameID
Term IRI
Modified
2009-07-06
Label
Taxon Name ID
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Definition
A unique identifier for the scientificName.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:taxonomicStatus
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Taxonomic Status
Definition
The status of the use of the dwc:scientificName as a label for a taxon. Requires taxonomic opinion to define the scope of a dwc:Taxon. Rules of priority then are used to define the taxonomic status of the nomenclature contained in that scope, combined with the experts opinion. It must be linked to a specific taxonomic reference that defines the concept.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary.
Examples
invalid
misapplied
homotypic synonym
accepted
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwciri:toTaxon
Term IRI
Modified
2015-03-27
Term version IRI
Label
To Taxon
Definition
Use to link a dwc:Identification instance subject to a taxonomic entity such as a taxon, taxon concept, or taxon name use.
Notes
A "convenience property" that replaces Darwin Core literal-value terms related to taxonomic entities. See Section 2.7.4 of the Darwin Core RDF Guide for details.
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:typeStatus
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Type Status
Definition
A list (concatenated and separated) of nomenclatural types (type status, typified scientific name, publication) applied to the subject.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to separate the values in a list with space vertical bar space (
). This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
holotype of Ctenomys sociabilis. Pearson O. P., and M. I. Christie. 1985. Historia Natural, 5(37):388
holotype of Pinus abies | holotype of Picea abies
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/SpecimenUnit/NomenclaturalTypeDesignations/NomenclaturalTypeText
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwc:verbatimCoordinates
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Verbatim Coordinates
Definition
The verbatim original spatial coordinates of the dcterms:Location. The coordinate ellipsoid, geodeticDatum, or full Spatial Reference System (SRS) for these coordinates should be stored in dwc:verbatimSRS and the coordinate system should be stored in dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem.
Examples
41 05 54S 121 05 34W
17T 630000 4833400
ABCD equivalence
{DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/CoordinatesText or DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesUTM/UTMText}
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Verbatim Coordinate System
Definition
The coordinate format for the dwc:verbatimLatitude and dwc:verbatimLongitude or the dwc:verbatimCoordinates of the dcterms:Location.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
decimal degrees
degrees decimal minutes
degrees minutes seconds
UTM
ABCD equivalence
(partly) DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesGrid/GridCellSystem
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:verbatimLatitude
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Verbatim Latitude
Definition
The verbatim original latitude of the dcterms:Location. The coordinate ellipsoid, geodeticDatum, or full Spatial Reference System (SRS) for these coordinates should be stored in dwc:verbatimSRS and the coordinate system should be stored in dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem.
Examples
41 05 54.03S
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/VerbatimLatitude
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:verbatimLongitude
Term IRI
Modified
2023-06-28
Term version IRI
Label
Verbatim Longitude
Definition
The verbatim original longitude of the dcterms:Location. The coordinate ellipsoid, geodeticDatum, or full Spatial Reference System (SRS) for these coordinates should be stored in dwc:verbatimSRS and the coordinate system should be stored in dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem.
Examples
121d 10' 34" W
ABCD equivalence
DataSets/DataSet/Units/Unit/Gathering/SiteCoordinateSets/SiteCoordinates/CoordinatesLatLon/VerbatimLongitude
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:verbatimScientificNameRank
Term IRI
Modified
2009-09-21
Label
Verbatim Scientific Name Rank
This term is deprecated and should no longer be used.
Is replaced by
Definition
The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the scientificName as it appears in the original record.
Notes
Examples: "Agamospecies", "sub-lesus", "prole", "apomict", "nothogrex".
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Term Name dwc:verbatimSRS
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Verbatim SRS
Definition
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which coordinates given in dwc:verbatimLatitude and dwc:verbatimLongitude, or dwc:verbatimCoordinates are based.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use the EPSG code of the SRS, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the geodetic datum, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary for the name or code of the ellipsoid, if known. If none of these is known, use the value
not recorded
. This term has an equivalent in the dwciri: namespace that allows only an IRI as a value, whereas this term allows for any string literal value.
Examples
EPSG:4326
WGS84
NAD27
Campo Inchauspe
European 1950
Clarke 1866
not recorded
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision
Term Name dwciri:verbatimSRS
Term IRI
Modified
2025-06-12
Term version IRI
Label
Verbatim SRS (IRI)
Definition
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which coordinates given in dwc:verbatimLatitude and dwc:verbatimLongitude, or dwc:verbatimCoordinates are based.
Notes
Recommended best practice is to use an IRI for the EPSG code of the SRS, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary IRI for the name or code of the geodetic datum, if known. Otherwise use a controlled vocabulary IRI for the name or code of the ellipsoid, if known. Otherwise use an IRI for the value corresponding to
not recorded
ABCD equivalence
not in ABCD
Type
Property
Executive Committee decision