Biodiversity databases

Most frequently used databases in biodiversity research

November 2026

Olivier Norvez

Animation coordinator
@PNDB  
@DataTerra  
@Theia  

Data lifecycle

Data lifecycle

Defining biodiversity data

Artifacts and symbols collected, stored, and disseminated in order to document the constituent elements of life, extant or extinct, at any scale of time and space.

These elements are biological and encompass anything that contributes to the structure and function of life at any scale, from the microscopic to the level of the planet, and to the continuation of life, that is, its ability to persist and evolve over time.

Source: Garnier et al. (2025)

Data, datasets, databases and co

• (a) Data and metadata make up (b) datasets.

• Multiple datasets in one location form a (c) database.

• (d) Aggregators compile data from many databases.
  
  
  

• Repackagers transform data in a way that makes it more accessible for all audiences.

• External users (e.g. scientists, industries, government agencies etc.) access raw data by going through any or all of these data sharing portals.

Source: Blair et al. (2020)

Flux and stocks

Questions to ask

• What is my research question?
• What do I need?
• Spatial extent and resolution?

• Temporal extent and resolution?
• Taxonomic coverage?
• What confidence do I have in the data?

Data repositories

International repositories

French repositories

It is recommended to prioritize deposits in trusted thematic repositories, followed by institutional repositories and, as a last resort, generic repositories.

Ouvrir la science (2024)

Recherche Data Gouv (2024)

French repositories

Biodiversity databases

Some biodiversity databases

GBIF  

• Checklist & occurrence data
• Worldwide
• All taxa (marine & terrestrial)

IUCN Redlist  

• Species information
• Conservation status
• Species range map

OBIS  

• Occurrence, abundance data
• Cover percentage & biomass
• Habitat, genetic, etc.

BOLD  

• DNA sequences
• Link to specimens (attributes, taxonomy, collection/location, images)

GenBank (NCBI)  

• Genetic sequences

MoveBank  

• Individual tracking locations
• Worldwide
• All taxa

TRY  

• Trait plant
• Informations by traits, species, datasets, regions

GloBI  

• Interaction data, including predator-prey, pollinator-plant, pathogen-host, parasite-host

Map of Life  

• Species profile
• Regions, provinces, protected areas
• Biodiversity trends and patterns

Biodiversity databases

Data repositories […] and databases […] are the basis for progress but are not representative in their taxonomic and geographical coverage of the Earth’s biodiversity¹.

In recent decades, the availability and accessibility of biodiversity data and the profusion of portals, tools, and platforms through which to utilize them have increased rapidly […] it can create confusion in navigating biodiversity data within a highly saturated landscape²

Our review showed that each biodiversity database holds unique scientific value because they cover different spatial extents, taxonomic groups, and record types³.

Source: Feng X et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13497

1. Gonzalez A et al. (2024)

2. Kemp H et al. (2026)

3. Feng X et al. (2022)

Biodiversity databases

But there are links between biodiversity databases (and biodiversity data aggregators), thanks to FAIR process (data & metadata standards, controlled vocabularies, etc.)

Source: Feng X et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13497

Biodiversity databases : bonus

The Past, Present, and Future of Online Biodiversity Knowledge Systems

Source: Kemp H et al. (2026)

Thanks