NCEA_ARD_Limitations_2025_12_05
Source: environment.data.gov.uk (2026-01-05)

NFI Soil Fungi & Invertebrate Communities. Soil community data generated through eDNA metabarcoding (marker genes: ITS, 18S, COI) of soil samples collected within National Forest Inventory (NFI) woodland plots across England in 2023/24. The dataset comprises the processed sequence data and provides a list of all the species detected in each of the samples. Where a species was detected in a sample, the Read Counts (the number of DNA sequences assigned to a species) are reported. A blank cell indicates that the species was not detected in the sample. Additionally, for each species the following is included:
• The OTU DNA sequence
• The taxonomic identification: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
• IUCN Red List Threat Status (only available for OTUs named at the species level)
• Invasive status: A Yes/No status indicating whether the species is listed as invasive in the country the sample was taken from (only available for OTUs named at the species level)
• Number of samples in which the species occurs
This is one part of the data generated from the eDNA Soil Biodiversity project.  
The datasets also include a table with information related to the sample collected (i.e., sample comment - a description of the soil collected, and the unique decolation ID).  Data are georeferenced using a delocalised grid. The coordinates for the centroid of the polygon and also the total area of the polygon are included in the dataset. Further information about the delocalisation process is provided in the dataset evidence pack (Sampling Framework).
The ' NFI Soil Fungi & Invertebrate Communities’ is a project funded by the UK Government through Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA).  Users should ensure they have read the supporting documentation before viewing or making use of the data. This includes the 'NCEA Analysis Ready Data Limitations Statement' and dataset specific limitations/caveats outlined in the Sampling Framework report (see Section 18).
 Attribution statement: © Forestry Commission copyright and/or database right 2025. Contains data generated by NatureMetrics. All rights reserved.

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- NCEA Analysis Ready Data (ARD) Limitations Statement, December 2025
NCEA Analysis Ready Data (ARD) Limitations Statement, December 2025

Contents
- General (#general)
- Access (#access)
- Natural capital (#natural)
- Quality (#quality)
- Geography (#geography)
- Licence (#license)
- Governance (#governance)
Abstract

This work was funded by Defra through the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA).

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Natural capital classification

Natural capital records are classified by themes and categories which indicate whether the record relates to natural capital assets (such as habitats and species), the ecosystem services they deliver, the pressures that act on them and/or their value.

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Limitations on public access - Access constraints

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Conditions for access and use - Use constraints

Conditions for access and use - Other constraints

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