View a dataset

Once you've found a dataset that interests you, you can view and examine the species and records it contains.

  1. Firstly click on the dataset title in the dataset browser results table [B].
  2. You will now arrive at the selected dataset's metadata page. On this page you can examine all the maps, metadata ("information about the dataset") and statistics related to your selected dataset.
  3. There are a number of distinct sections on the dataset metadata page. A brief description of each section is provided below.

General

The general section shows the standard top level metadata for the selected dataset.

  1. Dataset details shows the dataset's standard metadata such as date loaded, data provider, geographical/temporal coverage etc.
  2. Dataset species distribution shows the 10km2 and 50km2 species distribution maps for the selected dataset.
    • Click Download to download the distribution map in multiple formats or for instructions on how to embed the map in your own website.
    • Click Live map to navigate to the live mapping page preloaded with the selected dataset.
  3. Dataset record distribution shows the 10km2 and 50km2 record distribution maps for the selected dataset.
    • Click Download to download the distribution map in multiple formats or for instructions on how to embed the map in your own website.
    • Click Live map to navigate to the live mapping page preloaded with the selected dataset.
  4. Dataset contacts shows the registered dataset provider and contact at said provider for the selected dataset.

Please note that the dataset live map is limited to species records for the selected dataset only. For example, if one maps Japanese Knotweed(Fallopia japonica) for the National Invasive Species Database, the map will show only those records for Japanese Knotweed within the National Invasive Species Database. There may however be records of the species in other datasets. To view the full distribution for the species please see the Map a species section.

Statistics

The statistics section shows various charts and statistics relating to the selected dataset.

  1. The Records per year chart shows a breakdown of the numbers of records per year in the selected dataset across the dataset's temporal range.
  2. The Species per year chart shows a breakdown of the numbers of species recorded per year in the selected dataset across the dataset's temporal range.
  3. Date Statistics shows information pertaining to the dataset's temporal coverage and also the temporal resolution of the records in the dataset i.e. how many records are recorded to day, month or year level precision etc.
  4. Record Statistics shows spatial/geographical information for the selected dataset i.e. the number of records at 10km, 1km and 100m resolutions etc.

Surveys

The surveys section allows the user to browse/search the surveys registered in the selected dataset. The survey browser has the same interface and design as the dataset browser.

  1. For a more detailed description of the survey browser see the Search for a survey page.

Dataset Attributes

The dataset attributes section lists the title and description of all record attributes in the selected dataset.

The attributes section provides a distinct list of all attributes associated with records in the dataset. However not all records will have attributes.

Species

The species section allows the user to browse/search the species contained within the selected dataset. The species browser has the same interface and design as the dataset browser.

Aside from being limited to species within the selected dataset, the dataset species browser is functionally identical to the main species browser. Please see the Search for a Species page for a more in depth examination of it's usage.

Live Map

  1. Clicking on the Live Map link from the dataset page will bring you to the live mapping page. The live map will be preloaded with your selected dataset.
  2. As described in General section above, the live map can also be accessed by clicking on the "Live map" button in the species/record distribution area of the General section.

Please note that the dataset live map is limited to species records for the selected dataset only. For example, if one maps Japanese Knotweed(Fallopia japonica) for the National Invasive Species Database, the map will show only those records for Japanese Knotweed within the National Invasive Species Database. There may however be records of the species in other datasets. To view the full distribution for the species please see the Map a species section.

Download as CSV

Where possible the National Biodiversity Data Centre encourages the publishing of data under the CC-BY 4.0 license. Datasets licensed as CC-BY can be downloaded directly in comma separated value (csv) file format by clicking on the Download as CSV button. If the selected dataset happens to be published under a restricted license then a message will be displayed showing the registered dataset contact and their contact details. The user can then further their request with the dataset contact directly.