DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10533080
title: High rate of species misidentification reduces the taxonomic certainty of European biodiversity databases of ivies (Hedera L.)

description: We present two databases and six spatial layers recording biodiversity information of the six species of ivies (Hedera L., Araliaceae) native to W Europe (Hedera azorica, H. canariensis, H. helix, H. hiberncia, H. iberica, H. maderensis). Each database covers the entire native distribution of each species. Therefore, the databases document the distribution and occurrence of all the European Hedera taxa except for H. pastuchovii subsp. cypria  which is a restricted endemic of the south-west of the island of Cyprus. 



The first database (TaxRev) includes taxonomic, geographic and habitat information from the morphological revision of 2,276 individuals from 1,280 populations. 866 of the records also included point-occurrence data. This database represents the entire native distribution and the morphological variation of each species.

The second database (MixOcc) includes the spatial-point occurrence of the six species across their entire native distribution ranges. This database was compiled with the 880 records from the TaxRev database (records with high taxonomic certainty, as they all were examined by the taxonomist of the genus) plus 2,372 records from curated online databases selected from the European regions with low expected taxonomic uncertainty (C and E Europe and the Macaronesian Islands). As a result the database have high taxonomic quality (certainty and coverage) and good geographical coverage for Europe at a large-scale except for France and Ireland.

The uploaded files related to the TaxRev database are as follows:


Hedera_TaxRevDatabase_Field description: a cvs file with the description of the 71 variables included in the database

Hedera_TaxRevDatabase_Records:  a cvs file with the database (71 variables, 1,280 records)



The uploaded files related to the MixOcc database are as follows:


Hedera_MixOccDatabase_Field description: a cvs file with the description of the 11 variables included in the database

Hedera_MixDatabase_Records:  a cvs file with the database  (11 variables, 3,252 records)

Finally, we also upload 20 layers including the point-occurrence maps obtained from the MixOcc database. Six species maps (one per species), five additional maps of H. canariensis (one per island), eight additional maps of H. azorica (one per island) and a combined map including the six species. In all of them, we distinguish the records from individuals morphologically reviewed by the taxonomist of the genus and those obtained from online repositories and not reviewed by the taxonomist:



Hedera azorica_MixOccDatabase_Map

Hedera_azorica_map_Corvo

Hedera_azorica_map_Faial

Hedera_azorica_map_Flores

Hedera_azorica_map_Graciosa

Hedera_azorica_map_Pico

Hedera_azorica_map_Santa Maria

Hedera_azorica_map_Sao Jorge

Hedera_azorica_map_Sao Miguel

Hedera_azorica_map_Terceira

Hedera canariensis_MixOccDatabase_Map

Hedera_canariensis_map_El Hierro

Hedera_canariensis_map_Gran Canaria

Hedera_canariensis_map_La Gomera

Hedera_canariensis_map_La Palma

Hedera_canariensis_map_Tenerife

Hedera helix_MixOccDatabase_Map

Hedera hibernica_TaxRevDatabase_Map

Hedera iberica_TaxRevDatabase_Map

Hedera maderensis_MixOccDatabase_Map

Hedera_MixOccDatabase_Map


The records which allow us to improve geographic coverage without compromising taxonomic certainty. The databases and the resulting spatial layers have high taxonomic and geographic certainty and a good geographic coverage for ivies in Europe.
description: DOI references for the original GBIF downloads are:

Hedera helix L.: https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.4h5j94 GBIF.org (18 April 2020) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.4h5j94

Hedera hibernica (G.Kirchn.) Bean: https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.rgjk0o     GBIF.org (21 February 2019) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.rgjk0o

Hedera L.:      https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.xhfblr     GBIF.org (19 July 2018) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.xhfblr

All native records of Hedera canariensis from Biodiversity Data Bank of the Canary Islands (www.biodiversidadcanarias.es)