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GBIF

GBIF provides free and open access to biodiversity data

Actions22

  • Collection Actions
  • Dataset Actions
  • Dataset Search Actions
  • Installation Actions
  • Institution Actions
  • Occurrence Actions
  • Occurrence Count Actions
  • Occurrence Search Actions
  • Occurrence Search Catalog Number Actions
  • Occurrence Search Collection Code Actions
  • Occurrence Search Occurrence ID Actions
  • Occurrence Search Recorded By Actions
  • Occurrence Search Record Number Actions
  • Occurrence Search Institution Code Actions
  • Organization Actions
  • Name Parser Actions
  • Network Actions
  • Node Actions
  • Species Actions
  • Species Match Actions
  • Species Search Actions
  • Species Suggest Actions

Collection → Get

AI-generated

Overview

This node integrates with the GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) API to retrieve biodiversity data. Specifically, for the Collection - Get operation, it fetches detailed information about a particular collection or its related sub-resources from the GBIF database.

Common scenarios where this node is beneficial include:

  • Retrieving metadata about a specific biological collection by its ID.
  • Accessing related sub-resources such as comments, contacts, identifiers, tags, and other metadata linked to a collection.
  • Integrating biodiversity collection data into workflows for research, data analysis, or reporting.

Practical example:

  • A researcher wants to get detailed information about a collection of specimens stored in a natural history museum. By providing the collection ID, the node fetches all relevant data including contact persons and tags associated with that collection.

Properties

Name Meaning
ID The unique identifier of the collection to retrieve.
Sub-Resource Optional related resource of the collection to fetch. Options: (empty), Comment, Contact, Contact Person, Identifier, Machine Tag, Master Source Metadata, Occurrence Mapping, Tag

Output

The node outputs an array of JSON objects representing the requested collection data or its sub-resource data retrieved from the GBIF API.

  • The json output contains the full response from the GBIF API endpoint /grscicoll/collection/{id}/{subResource}.
  • The structure depends on the selected sub-resource; if no sub-resource is specified, it returns the main collection details.
  • No binary data output is produced by this node.

Dependencies

  • This node requires internet access to call the public GBIF API at https://api.gbif.org/v1.
  • No authentication or API keys are required since the GBIF API is publicly accessible.
  • No additional n8n credentials or environment variables are needed.

Troubleshooting

  • Empty or invalid ID: If the collection ID is not provided or incorrect, the API will return an error or empty result. Ensure the ID is valid and correctly entered.
  • Invalid sub-resource: Selecting a sub-resource that does not exist for the given collection may result in an error or empty response.
  • Network issues: Since the node relies on external API calls, network connectivity problems can cause request failures.
  • API rate limits: Although GBIF API is public, excessive requests might be throttled. Consider adding delays or handling retries.

Common error messages:

  • HTTP 404 Not Found: The collection ID or sub-resource does not exist.
  • HTTP 400 Bad Request: Invalid parameters supplied.
  • Network timeout or connection errors: Check internet connectivity.

Links and References

Discussion