Data use

We are strongly committed to providing open access to biodiversity data in order to facilitate research, public understanding, and all levels of education. Therefore, we endeavor to create, curate, and share our data, under the following agreement with users:

  • Data condition: All specimen data is provided “as is” and users assume all risk. Verification of information is encouraged through physical investigation of specimens. Requests for verification are welcome; it is important to us that our data is used for further analysis and that it is as reliable as possible. Therefore, we will assist whenever feasible.
  • Sensitive data: ARIZ retains the right to restrict access to sensitive data. Sensitive data includes but is not restricted to collection locality information for specimens of federally endangered species, and specimens collected on private land.
  • Acknowledgment: Users must publicly acknowledge use of ARIZ data in such products as publications, presentations, and websites that result from use of the data.
  • Reciprocation: Users who acquire substantial amounts of data from the database for projects are very strongly requested to contact the herbarium, to provide a brief description of the project and to grant ARIZ permission to link to any online product that use the data. This is to ensure that the use of the Herbarium is well documented and that the value of natural history collections is constantly demonstrated.
  • Citation: please use the following format:
    • Biodiversity occurrence data provided by the University of Arizona Herbarium (Accessed through, e.g., SEINet, GBIF Data Portal, REMIB, date).
  • Photographic reproduction: Users of the collection may photograph herbarium specimens only by permission of herbarium staff. Permission will granted on the condition that users agree to provide a signed list of all specimens photographed (species plus accession number) and agree not to redistribute photographs electronically (for example, via a website) or otherwise share them secondarily, except as specifically permitted by herbarium staff. Photographs may be used in printed publications (books or scientific journals) provided the photographer agrees to comply with all conditions of the herbarium data access policy, including acknowledgement. The University of Arizona also reserves the right to request that photographers hide collection locality information in photographs of specimens of species listed as threatened or endangered at the state (Arizona), federal (United States of America) or international (CITES) level. In addition, we may request that photographers hide locality information for other species not listed as threatened or endangered, but deemed by herbarium staff to be in danger of overcollecting.
  • Redistribution: Data is not to be redistributed electronically or shared secondarily unless by prior agreement with ARIZ.