Two sets of standards are relevant here. The first are those that allow data represented within BioCorder to become part of the Semantic Web. The second are those that BioCorder uses to store and exchange data with non-Semantic Web applications (e.g. the GBIF data portal). Data standards for the former are essentially those outlined by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) for the Semantic Web. Specifically these are URI’s (Universal Resource Identifiers, there are many kinds of these, BioCorder largely uses LSID’s), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the protocol that links up the web), and RDF (Resource Description Framework, the format for providing machine readable information on the Semantic Web). Internally specimen data within BioCorder is being developed around the Darwin Core, a simple exchange format for specimens that is compatible with GBIF. Other internationally recognised standards will be adopted as the project develops. However, in most cases these standards lack the breath required by the diverse data concepts stored by BioCorder. Indeed, limitations of standards like these were in part the motivation for the development of the Semantic Web. For further details see the BioCorder FAQ on "Limitations of existing standards to exchange data?"

Assembled below are a non-exhaustive list of schema and communication protocols of relevance to taxonomy and systematics: