Technical heterogeneity refers to the low-level problem of accessing data and exchanging data. The problem of interfaces for software systems such as FlorEin2 or Recorder-D3 is a good example. These systems require specific data formats tailored to the needs of a specific research discipline. Other examples include the stratigraphic occurrence data open file format SOD-OFF, EURISCO Descriptors4 or the FAO/IPGRI Passport Multicrop Descriptor List.5 Technical standards have been developed to overcome these problems. Wrappers and protocols are designed to facilitate the proper exchange of data and interoperability for data bases (like e.g. BioCASE,6 TAPIR,7 DIGIR8 ). The results of our study revealed that the BioCASE data transmission protocol, which is also being accepted as an exchange protocol in the GBIF network (Global Biodiversity Information Facility, cp.