Species Explorer

Overview ¶

Species Explorer is an in-house Kartoza plugin that provides a simple interface for accessing the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database. Search for any species and instantly visualise occurrence records on your map.

The plugin is ideal for conservation practitioners, researchers, and biodiversity professionals who need quick access to species distribution data.

Key Features ¶

• Species Search: Find species by scientific or common name
• Taxonomic Browser: Navigate the taxonomic hierarchy
• Occurrence Mapping: Display occurrence points on your map
• Data Filtering: Filter by date, location, and data quality
• Layer Creation: Create QGIS layers from search results
• GBIF Integration: Direct connection to GBIF’s REST API

Data Access ¶

The plugin connects to GBIF, providing access to:

• Over 2 billion occurrence records
• 400+ million species occurrence points
• Data from 2,000+ institutions worldwide
• Citizen science observations
• Museum specimen records

Use Cases ¶

• Conservation planning
• Environmental impact assessment
• Species distribution modelling
• Biodiversity research
• Educational projects
• Invasive species monitoring

Installation ¶

1. Open QGIS and go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins
2. Search for “Species Explorer”
3. Click Install Plugin
4. Access from the QGIS menu or toolbar

Credits ¶

This plugin includes code from the pygbif project by Mike Chamberlain.