Research species and biodiversity records with MCP

Run the workflow

1. 1. Find candidate names

   Call gbif_search_species with a specific scientific name. Search spans different checklists; inspect the dataset, rank, taxonomic status and accepted-name references. Similar names and synonyms require review.

2. 2. Inspect taxonomy and the occurrence key

   Use gbif_species_details with the exact candidate key. Keep classification and checklist provenance. Use occurrenceTaxonKey for the occurrence summary; a checklist record key is not automatically a GBIF backbone occurrence key.

3. 3. Request a bounded summary

   Call gbif_occurrence_summary with occurrenceTaxonKey set to that returned backbone key and your country or year filters. Preserve count and reported facets. The summary does not fetch raw observations, people, coordinates or media.

4. 4. Review source data before drawing conclusions

   Reported record counts can include duplicates and uneven sampling. Partial top facets are not complete distributions. Zero records does not establish absence, and records do not establish current presence or a population estimate. Review original datasets, quality flags, licenses and GBIF citation instructions for further analysis.

What a useful result looks like

Candidate scientific names with taxonomic status and source checklist identifiers. Exact taxonomy details with a backbone occurrence key when supplied. Filtered count and bounded occurrence-year and record-basis facets. Source links and explicit limitations for subsequent dataset review.

Know the limits

The GBIF catalogue is dynamic; classification and indexed records can change. Search ranking is not a scientific-name resolution or identification of an organism. The summary does not verify taxon identity in an additional request; inspect taxonomy first. No raw observations, coordinates, images, bulk downloads or citation DOI are generated.