Data curation profiling of biocollections

In the contexts of the data deluge and open data, scientists studying biodiversity benefit from online access to global datasets of existing vouchered biological and paleontological collections. Using biocollections collected over time across the world allows for the advancement of scientific knowledge concerning evolution in process as well as species poleward migrations, an indicator of climate change. This study's purpose was to validate and expand the Data Curation Profiles (DCP) to digital biocollections and inform a DCP framework for worldwide biota. Ten biocollection producers, curating various types of specimens affiliated with the project building the United States' national biodiversity infrastructure, were interviewed using the DCP questionnaire. Results indicate there is extreme diversity in the curation of biocollections and additional DCP questions should be added to reflect the complicated approaches to biological data curation. Although discipline specific metadata creation tools, standards, and practices enable long‐term sustainability of the U.S. digitization effort, some scientists would benefit from further clarification and guidance on the information needs of consumers beyond designated communities of expert users, and the long‐term preservation of biocollections.