Edaphobase is open for, and actively calls for, soil-biodiversity data from all potential data providers. The strength of Edaphobase for revealing soil-biodiversity distribution and ecology is steadily increasing with the addition of further data sets from throughout Europe and the world.
DOIs can be provided for all uploaded data sets. DOIs follow the DataCite scheme.
Since Edaphobase represents a data-warehouse (integrating and harmonizing all newly uploaded data into a common data base), data-import procedures are more involved than simply uploading a “stand-alone” table to a general data repository.
To integrate new data, data upload occurs via special software (downloadable here, available at the end of 2020), which maps and harmonizes new data to the Edaphobase data structures. Thus, there is no need for a data provider to restructure their data to a common template, reducing processing errors. After unpacking the downloaded Zip file, follow the instructions in the “read me” file.
To ease these data-integration procedures, it may be advantageous to consult Edaphobase’s (variable) nomenclatures and definitions before uploading data. A description of Edaphobase’s variables can be found here ; a hierarchal list of all variables, their definitions as well as formats and units can be found here.
Furthermore, to maintain data consistency for common re-use, we also suggest consulting Edaphobase’s standardized vocabularies for categorical variables (“authority lists”, described here).
A small programme (“Edaphobase selection-list browser”) allows browsing the lists and provides copy/paste functions for individual terms. The programme can be downloaded here . After unpacking the Zip file, follow the instructions in the “read me” file.
New data fields or nomenclatures not yet contained in Edaphobase can be suggested and easily added if appropriate.
All newly imported data go through quality control procedures (described here) to maintain high data quality and integration.
Data harmonization procedures within Edaphobase then ensure common data re-use for overarching soil-biodiversity analyses.
Edaphobase provides soil-biodiversity distributional data to GBIF, the BonaRes Data Centre and other general biodiversity data centres. Data providers to Edaphobase can determine if their data is further shared, remains limited to Edaphobase, or even if public access through Edaphobase is restricted. See the Edaphobase Data Policy for more details.