There is no easy answer to this question. Biodiversity data varies considerably and their application or interpretation depends on how the data were collected and why. Users should consider the following points when interpreting data.
At the end of the day, the user is responsible for the interpretation and application of the data. Please refer to section two of our Terms & Conditions and look at clauses 2.1 and 2.5 in particular.
If you have any queries concerning the interpretation of data available through DASSH, please contact us dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk.
Data are material or information, which includes species or habitat survey data, species lists, habitat or biotope lists, species or habitat/biotope distribution maps, figures, images, video clips and other relevant information (written or otherwise). Please note that images (slides, stills) and video or film can be important forms of data in their own right.
To be useful the data should comply with the four 'W's of biological recording, that is include, who, where, when, and of course what. 'Where' should include a geospatial reference, which is a complicated way of saying a location or place, preferably with latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, or as an absolute minimum a place name.
That would be a massive task, so no! Fortunately there is a network of marine Data Archives Centres (DACs) in the UK coordinated through MEDIN. Have a look at the list of DACs in the links section. If you are still in doubt about where to submit your data contact DASSH and we will point you in the right direction (dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk).
Contributing data/images to DASSH does not infringe or compromise your intellectual property rights! Intellectual property rights always remains with the Data provider and is protected by the DASSH Terms and Conditions.
Simply read though our Submit data section for details. If you have any doubts simply email us (dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk).
Metadata are data about data. As a minimum, metadata describe who collected the data, where they were collected, when they were collected, what the dataset(s) describes, how the dataset was collected, and a contact person/organization or data provider from which a copy of the data can be obtained. Metadata standards ensure metadata are collected in a standardised way which allows them to be shared or combined to form a national information resource and help to answer management questions both nationally and internationally.
DASSH specializes in marine biodiversity data and/or information, for example species or habitat survey data, species lists, habitat or biotope lists, species or habitat/biotope distribution maps, figures, images, video clips and other relevant information (written or otherwise). DASSH is therefore, particularly interested in data, images or video. Data and image sources are likely to include the following.