R: rredlist - IUCN Red List Client

rredlist-package {rredlist} | R Documentation

## rredlist - IUCN Red List Client

### Description

rredlist - IUCN Red List Client

### Taxonomic Names vs. IUCN IDs

From the documentation (quoting): "It is advisable wherever possible to use the taxon name (species name) to make your API calls, rather than using IDs. IDs are not immovable are expected to be used mainly by organisations that work closely with the IUCN Red List."

### Authentication

IUCN requires you to get your own API key, an alphanumeric string that you need to send in every request. Get it at http://apiv3.iucnredlist.org/api/v3/token Keep this key private. You can pass the key in to each function via the `key` parameter, but it's better to store the key either as a environment variable (`IUCN_REDLIST_KEY`) or an R option (`iucn_redlist_key`) - we suggest using the former option.

### High vs. Low level package APIs

High level API High level functions do the HTTP request and parse data to a data.frame for ease of downstream use. The high level functions have no underscore on the end of the function name, e.g., `rl_search()`

Low level API The parsing to data.frame in the high level API does take extra time. The low level API only does the HTTP request, and gives back JSON without doing any more parsing. The low level functions DO have an underscore on the end of the function name, e.g., `rl_search_()`

### No Spatial

This package does not include support for the spatial API, described at http://apiv3.iucnredlist.org/spatial

### Citing the Red List API

The citation is `IUCN 2015. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-4 <www.iucnredlist.org>` You can get this programatically via `rl_citation()`

### Rate limiting

From the IUCN folks: Too many frequent calls, or too many calls per day might get your access blocked temporarily. If you're a heavy API user, the Red List Unit asked that you contact them, as there might be better options. They suggest a 2-second delay between your calls if you plan to make a lot of calls.

### Author(s)

Scott Chamberlain myrmecocystus@gmail.com

[Package rredlist version 0.4.0 Index]