The image shows the taxa absences (red dots) and presences (green crosses) for the dataset: Macrobenthos of the Western Scheldt (Ossenisse, Valkenisse, Terneuzen and Vlissingen) on 27 and 28 September 1978
EMODnet Biology continues to improve access to marine biodiversity data by introducing a change that allows users to include taxa absences in their data downloads.
Until now, data available in EMODnet Biology have focused on taxa presence records. While these observations remain essential, absence records, meaning information on where taxa were not recorded, are equally important for interpreting species distributions, supporting ecological analyses, and improving modelling approaches.
With this update, users can now explicitly select whether to include absence data when downloading data via EMODnet Biology services. By default, downloads will continue to return presence-only data, ensuring consistency with existing workflows. However, a new option in the biodiversity records layer in the EMODnet viewer enables users to include absence records where available. These data are already available through EMODnet Biology web services, with documentation available via the EMODnet Biology Guidance GitHub repository. An update including examples on how to obtain this information is expected soon.
This functionality is supported by updates across the data infrastructure, including indexing and data delivery services, and aligns with established Darwin Core biodiversity data standards, such as the use of the occurrenceStatus field (e.g. “present” or “absent”).
This release represents the first step in a broader effort to enhance the handling of absence information within EMODnet Biology. The current update focuses on reported absences, while future developments will address more complex cases, such as pseudo-absences.
By enabling access to both presence and absence data, EMODnet Biology provides users with a more complete view of taxa distributions, supporting improved analyses and more robust scientific outcomes.
EMODnet Biology Web service documentation