National Wetland Inventory Digital Data

http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service produces a series of digital data files on a U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle basis, with metadata conforming to the FGDC metadata format. The data can be access/downloaded from the link above.

ABCD Schema 2.06 - ratified TDWG Standard

http://www.bgbm.org/TDWG/CODATA/Schema/default.htm

The Access to Biological Collections Data (ABCD) Schema is an evolving comprehensive standard for the access to and exchange of data about specimens and observations (a.k.a. primary biodiversity data).ABCD version 2.06 has been recommended by the TDWG meeting in St. Petersburg as the actual standard and has since then been ratified by TDWG members. This version is also used in a second ABCD reference implementation we are currently initiating.

...The ABCD Schema attempts to be comprehensive and highly structured, supporting data from a wide variety of databases. It is compatible with several existing data standards. Parallel structures exist so that either (or both) atomised data and free-text can be accommodated. Versions and 2.06 are currently in use with the GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) and BioCASE (Biological Collection Access Service for Europe) networks.
Apart from the GBIF and BioCASE networks, the potential for the application of ABCD extends to internal networks, or in-house legacy data access (e.g. datasets from external sources that shall not be converted and integrated into an institution’s own data, but be kept separately, though easily accessible). By defining relations between terms, ABCD is a step towards an ontology for biological collections.

Kepler System

https://kepler-project.org

The Kepler Project is dedicated to furthering and supporting the capabilities, use, and awareness of the free and open source, scientific workflow application, Kepler. Kepler is designed to help scientists, analysts, and computer programmers create, execute, and share models and analyses across a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines. Kepler can operate on data stored in a variety of formats, locally and over the internet, and is an effective environment for integrating disparate software components, such as merging "R" scripts with compiled "C" code, or facilitating remote, distributed execution of models. Using Kepler's graphical user interface, users simply select and then connect pertinent analytical components and data sources to create a "scientific workflow"-an executable representation of the steps required to generate results. The Kepler software helps users share and reuse data, workflows, and compo nents developed by the scientific community to address common needs.

US National Park Service Natural Resources Database Template

http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/apps/template/

The National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program's Natural Resource Database Template (NRDT) is a set of Microsoft Access relational database tables that parks and networks can use to develop applications for capturing natural resource inventory and monitoring data.

USDA Ecosystem Unit Number

http://www.fws.gov/stand/standards/econum_rev3.txt

One- and/or two-digit numbers that represent the ecosystem unit boundaries of the United States, which are drawn primarily along watershed boundaries. The Service originally chose the U.S. Geological Survey's Hydrologic Unit Map as the foundation for delineating ecosystem unit boundaries on a national scale. Since that time, boundaries in some of the regions have been moved to the closest county boundaries to simplify management responsibilities. The current unit boundaries reflect this combination.

USDA Ecosystem Unit Name

http://www.fws.gov/stand/standards/econame_rev3.txt

Official names used by the Service to identify the ecosystem unit boundaries of the United States, which are drawn primarily along watershed boundaries. The Service originally chose the U.S. Geological Survey's Hydrologic Unit Map as the foundation for delineating ecosystem unit boundaries on a national scale. Since that time, boundaries in some of the regions have been moved to the closest county boundaries to simplify management responsibilities. The current unit boundaries reflect this combination.

USFS Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States

http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/wetlands-mapping/index_html

The purpose of this standard is to support accurate mapping and classification of wetlands, while ensuring mechanisms for their revisions and update as directed under OMB Circular A-16, Revised. It is designed to direct the current and future digital mapping of wetlands.

The mapping standard will be used for all wetland mapping nationally including Federal Agencies, States, Tribes, especially if that mapping data will be uploaded into NWI/The National Map as a data layer. Specifically, if Federal funding is involved , then use of the proposed Standard is required. For all other efforts, use of the standard is strongly encouraged.

USGS Geographic Names Information System

http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=139:1:447313099015282

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the Federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature. The U.S. Geological Survey developed the GNIS in support of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names as the official repository of domestic geographic names data, the official vehicle for geographic names use by all departments of the Federal Government, and the source for applying geographic names to Federal electronic and printed products.

FGDC Soil Geographic Data Standard

http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/soils/soil997.PDF

The purpose of this standard is to standardize the names, definitions, ranges of values, and other characteristics of soil survey map attribute data developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS). The NCSS is the body composed of the various federal, state, and local units of government who work cooperatively to develop the soil survey of all lands in the United States.

Darwin Core Biodiversity Information Standards

http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/index.htm

The Darwin Core is body of standards. It includes a glossary of terms (in other contexts these might be called properties, elements, fields, columns, attributes, or concepts) intended to facilitate the sharing of information about biological diversity by providing reference definitions, examples, and commentaries. The Darwin Core is primarily based on taxa, their occurrence in nature as documented by observations, specimens, and samples, and related information. Included are documents describing how these terms are managed, how the set of terms can be extended for new purposes, and how the terms can be used. The Simple Darwin Core [SIMPLEDWC] is a specification for one particular way to use the terms - to share data about taxa and their occurrences in a simply structured way - and is probably what is meant if someone suggests to "format your data according to the Darwin Core".

NBII Biocomplexity Thesaurus

http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=578&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true

Development of the Biocomplexity Thesaurus began in 2002-2003 through a partnership between the NBII and ProQuest (formerly CSA), a worldwide information company with more than 30 years experience as a leading bibliographic database provider.

FGDC Biological Data Profile Standard

http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/metadata/biometadata/biodatap.pdf

A common set of terminology and definitions for the documentation of biological data through the creation of extended elements and a profile of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata.

FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (v2)

http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/metadata/base-metadata/v2_0698.pdf

A common set of terminology and definitions for the documentation of digital geospatial data. The standard establishes the names of data elements and compound elements (groups of data elements) to be used for these purposes, the definitions of these compound elements and data elements, and information about the values that are to be provided for the data elements.

USDA Plant Taxonomy Standard

http://plants.usda.gov/

The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System

http://www.itis.gov/

Authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. We are a partnership of U.S., Canadian, and Mexican agencies (ITIS-North America); other organizations; and taxonomic specialists. ITIS is also a partner of Species 2000 and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The ITIS and Species 2000 Catalogue of Life (CoL) partnership is proud to provide the taxonomic backbone to the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL).

National Digital Elevation Program Guidelines

http://www.ndep.gov/NDEP_Elevation_Guidelines_Ver1_10May2004.pdf

The purpose of this document is to provide the member agencies of the National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP), as well as nonmember agencies, with guidelines and recommendations for acquiring digital elevation data in any of its various forms. Individual agencies may choose from flexible options to establish standards for their organizations. The following reasons are commonly cited for promoting and adhering to a common set of elevation guidelines or standards whenever possible and practical.

NOAA Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Ellipsoid Heights

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/NGS-58.html

The following guidelines were developed by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for performing Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys that are intended to achieve ellipsoid height network accuracies of 5 cm at the 95 percent confidence level, as well as ellipsoid height local accuracies of 2 cm and 5 cm, also at the 95 percent confidence level.

NatureServe Terrestrial Vegetation Communities of the United States

http://www.natureserve.org/library/vol1.pdf

An authoritative standardized classification of the terrestrial ecological communities of the United States, naming and describing more than 4,000 community types.

NatureServe Coastal/Marine Systems of North America: Framework for an Ecological Classification Standard: Version II

http://www.natureserve.org/publications/coastalMarineDraft3.pdf

Coastal and marine planners and managers are faced with a complex environment in which to make difficult decisions about habitat conservation and resource management. Given this complexity and recognizing the vastness of the marine environment for which the United States has jurisdiction, there is an urgent and increasing need for a national habitat classification approach that can be used to develop strategies for resource management and conservation. To meet this need the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NatureServe developed the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), a classification standard that is relevant to all U.S. coastal and marine environments and that can be applied on local, regional and continental scales.

NatureServe Ecological Integrity Assessment and Performance Measures for Wetland Mitigation

http://www.natureserve.org/publications/eia_wetland_032707.pdf

The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies have developed a National Wetlands Mitigation Plan that includes the need for assessing the effectiveness of biological and functional indicators that will help establish performance standards for wetland mitigation. This report outlines our approach to establish performance standards for wetlands mitigation using an
adapted version of NatureServe’s methodology for conducting ecological integrity assessments.

NatureServe Ecological Systems of the United States

http://www.natureserve.org/library/usEcologicalsystems.pdf

Conservation of the Earth's diversity of life requires a sound understanding of the distribution and condition of the components of that diversity. Efforts to understand our natural world are directed at a variety of biological and ecological scales—from genes and species, to natural communities, local ecosystems, and landscapes. While scientists have made considerable progress classifying fine-grained ecological communities on the one hand, and coarse-grained ecoregions on the other, land managers have identified a critical need for practical, mid-scale ecological units to inform conservation and resource management decisions. This report introduces and outlines the conceptual basis for such a mid-scale classification unit-—ecological systems.

NatureServe Invasive Species Protocol

http://www.natureserve.org/library/invasiveSpeciesAssessmentProtocol.pdf

NatureServe, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. National Park Service, developed this Invasive Species Assessment Protocol as a tool for assessing, categorizing, and listing non-native invasive vascular plants according to their impact on native species and natural biodiversity in a large geographical area such as a nation, state, province, or ecological region.

NatureServe Network's Benchmark Data Content Standards

http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/heritagemethodology.jsp

The defining characteristic of the NatureServe network is the use of natural heritage methodology. By specifying standard procedures for gathering, organizing, and managing information on biodiversity, natural heritage methodology unites the efforts of hundreds of individuals and dozens of institutions on two continents working to advance the knowledge needed to effectively conserve biodiversity. Over the past quarter-century, natural heritage methodology has evolved to keep pace with the growth in scientific knowledge about the natural world and advances in information technologies. Nevertheless, the underlying continuity of the methodology over time has permitted the network to accumulate knowledge and make available vast amounts of scientifically authoritative data. Natural heritage methodology provides a rigorous set of procedures for identifying, inventorying, and mapping species and ecosystems of conservation concern; for gathering related information on conservation sites and managed areas; and for setting conservation priorities.

NatureServe Biotics 4 Data Model

http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/biotics/HDMS-DataModel.jsp

NatureServe's biodiversity data model, the focus of refinement and evolution over more than 25 years, reflects a set of inventory and data management standards and protocols referred to as natural heritage methodology. Adhered to by each of the network members, this model and the associated standards and protocols are encapsulated in NatureServe's Biotics 4 software. Biotics 4 represents the eighth generation of data management software developed by NatureServe for use by network participants.

NatureServe Element Occurremnce Spatial Data Standard

http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/eodraft/all.pdf

An Element Occurrence (EO) is an area of land and/or water in which a species or natural community is, or was, present. An EO should have practical conservation value for the Element
as evidenced by potential continued (or historical) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location. For species1 Elements, the EO often corresponds with the local population, but when appropriate may be a portion of a population (e.g., long distance dispersers) or a group of nearby populations (e.g., metapopulation). For community Elements, the EO may represent a stand or patch of a natural community, or a cluster of stands or patches of a natural community. Because they are defined on the basis of biological information, EOs may cross jurisdictional boundaries.
An Element Occurrence record2 is a data management tool that has both spatial and tabular components including a mappable feature and its supporting database. EOs are typically represented by bounded, mapped areas of land and/or water. EO records are most commonly created for current or historically known occurrences of natural communities or native species of conservation interest. They may also be created, in some cases, for extirpated occurrences.

Ecological Metadata Standard

http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/software/eml/

Ecological Metadata Language (EML) is a metadata specification developed by the ecology discipline and for the ecology discipline. It is based on prior work done by the Ecological Society of America and associated efforts (Michener et al., 1997, Ecological Applications). EML is implemented as a series of XML document types that can by used in a modular and extensible manner to document ecological data. Each EML module is designed to describe one logical part of the total metadata that should be included with any ecological dataset.

US/Canada Taxonomic Naming Standard

http://www.itis.usda.gov/

Welcome to ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System! Here you will find authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. We are a partnership of U.S., Canadian, and Mexican agencies (ITIS-North America); other organizations; and taxonomic specialists. ITIS is also a partner of Species 2000 and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The ITIS and Species 2000 Catalogue of Life (CoL) partnership is proud to provide the taxonomic backbone to the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL).

NOAA Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Ellipsoid Heights

http://geodesy.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/NGS-58.html

The following guidelines were developed by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for performing Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys that are intended to achieve ellipsoid height network accuracies of 5 cm at the 95 percent confidence level, as well as ellipsoid height local accuracies of 2 cm and 5 cm, also at the 95 percent confidence level. See Appendix A for information about local and relative accuracies. These guidelines were developed in a partnership with Federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, and private surveyors and are the result of processing various test data sets and having extensive discussions with various GPS users groups.