From collection to sharing: Strategies for standardising and publishing occurrence data in biodiversity platforms in the UFMG-AC Acarological Collection

Biological collections are essential for biodiversity research and conservation. However, these collections face challenges, including limited financial, human and spatial resources, inadequate infrastructure and competing curatorial responsibilities. The UFMG-AC Acarological Collection, housed at the Centro de Coleções Taxonômicas (CCT) at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), serves as a significant repository of mite diversity, containing over 16,000 catalogued specimens. This study aimed to standardise and publish the occurrence data from the UFMG-AC collection using the Darwin Core (DwC) standard to facilitate integration with global biodiversity databases. The workflow included a manual review of data to correct common errors, followed by the implementation of automated Python scripts to clean, standardise and restructure the data. A taxonomic validation pipeline was also developed to verify hierarchical consistency using the NCBI Taxonomy database and Taxallnomy API. The result is a comprehensive, high-quality dataset, compliant with DwC standards and ready for publication on platforms such as the Brazilian Biodiversity Information System (SiBBr) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). By improving data quality and accessibility, our study ensures the preservation and global dissemination of the UFMG-AC’s invaluable records. This effort highlights the importance of metadata digitisation, automation and standardisation in ensuring data reliability and accessibility. The integration of the UFMG-AC data into public platforms enhances its visibility and utility for biodiversity research.