spLinker

If your collection wishes to be part of the speciesLink network, please follow the instructions in how to join.

We use different strategies to access biodiversity data from participating collections. When data is already available through mainstream technologies — such as IPT or TAPIR — we configure our tools to periodically fetch data, keeping the network always updated.

For collections that don't have their data already available through known means, our staff developed spLinker: a muliplatform application that can be installed on Windows, macOS or GNU/Linux. With spLinker, data providers can send data any time they wish. It doesn't matter which data management software is used, spLinker can access data from text files, spreadsheets or relational databases by means of a field mapping (from → to) according to the DarwinCore standard. This mapping is usually performed by our team. When the software being used is well known, we have templates ready to use. Otherwise, we ask for a data sample to create a new custom mapping.

The development of spLinker followed two main guidelines: the first one is that collections should be free to choose the data management solution that best suits their needs, leaving to CRIA the integration effort with the minimum of intervention. The second one is to free collections from the need to host their data in servers operating at 24/7. With spLinker, collections have full control over when to send their data and are free to choose the technology they wish to use.

Important: Usage of spLinker relies on a unique token provided by our team, and the software is also usually installed with our help.

spLinker - [download latest version]