A new R package to parse plant species occurrence records into unique collection events efficiently reduces data redundancy

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 5, 2024

Abstract Biodiversity data aggregators, such as Global Information Facility (GBIF) suffer from inflation of the number occurrence records when different databases are merged but not fully reconciled. The ParseGBIF workflow is designed to parse duplicate GBIF species into unique collection events (gatherings) and optimise quality spatial associated with them. provides tools verify standardize scientific names according World Checklist Vascular Plants taxonomic backbone, ‘collection events’, in process compiling most informative data, where more than one available, providing crude estimates quality. When for a medium-sized vascular plant family, Myrtaceae, were processed by ParseGBIF, average useful analysis increased 180%. could therefore be valuable evaluation species’ occurrences at national scale support biodiversity plans, identification areas important biodiversity, sample bias estimation inform future sampling efforts, forecast range shifts response global climate change.

Language: Английский

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Controlling the effects of sampling bias in biodiversity models

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 51(9), P. 1755 - 1766

Published: April 17, 2024

Abstract Aim Sampling bias and gaps have a direct influence on the perceived patterns of biodiversity, hence limiting our ability to make well‐informed decisions about biodiversity conservation. Yet most methods either disregard or underestimate effects sampling in modelling patterns. Our objective is test sensitivity commonly used for dimensions (richness, endemism, beta diversity) collection gaps, as way mitigate those we introduce novel approach that employs effort minimize models. Location South America. Methods Here, use controlled simulations virtual species distribution by methods, is, models (SDMs), spatial interpolation (SI), environmental prediction (EP), estimating richness, diversity. research contributes advancing introducing approach, named uniform from (USSE), gaps. Results Main Conclusions EP with USSE has proven effective accurately predicting especially scenarios which does not coincide niches. It outperformed SI SDMs. The latter performed poorly, yielding lowest predictive score. In endemism diversity, all yielded similar results, without statistically significant differences. For generalized dissimilarity model proved be robust method, even face biased sampling. Controlled are key testing methods. These tests can isolate confounding factors inherent real‐world data, enabling methodological assessments. Although fieldwork curation collections must remain indispensable, could help overcome limitations biases, helping expedite conservation actions much needed.

Language: Английский

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Taking advantage of opportunistically collected historical occurrence data to detect responses to climate change: The case of temperature and Iberian dung beetles

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Abstract This study introduces a novel approach to leverage high‐resolution historical climate data and opportunistically collected species occurrence for detecting adaptive responses global change. We applied this procedure the temperature most comprehensive Iberian dataset of dung beetle occurrences as an illustrative example. To understand how populations different are responding, we devised that compares temporal trend spatial variables at locations times all collection (overall trend) with specific trends among each species. The prevalence various is linked life history or taxonomic characteristics, enabling identification key factors influencing propensity experience effects from Our findings suggest nearly half may be adversely affected by increases, geographic shift being common response. results generated through proposed methodology should regarded preliminary information, serving formulate hypotheses about diverse change aiding in selection candidate capable coping challenges posed changing temperatures.

Language: Английский

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Resurveying inner-alpine dry grasslands after 70 years calls for integrative conservation efforts

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 289, P. 110393 - 110393

Published: Dec. 15, 2023

European inner-alpine dry grasslands face substantial threats within the increasingly human-altered landscape, endangering their persistence. To understand changes in grassland communities, we revisited historical vegetation plots of Josias Braun-Blanquet after 70 years Val Venosta, Italy, hosting rare steppe-like vegetation. By disentangling key environmental factors encompassing climate, land use and human management, ecological site preferences, aimed at explaining communities with implications for future conservation. extending our analysis beyond conventional dissimilarity metrics adopting a landscape-ecological perspective accounting species-environment interactions, assessed how affect patterns among sites, recent non-protected protected sites generalized additive modelling. Moreover, examined ecologically significant species to evaluate contribution community variation between discerning consequences landscape scale. Our results revealed both on sites. The encroachment shrubs was associated increase generalist species, including various woody where grazing had ceased. Furthermore, observed higher abundance nutrient-demanding next intensive agriculture. These trends were consistent regardless protection status, implying that current conservation measures may be insufficient guarantee ensure long-term typical grasslands, interdisciplinary efforts are essential address adverse impacts across entire landscape.

Language: Английский

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The data from sightings suggest a causal correspondence between the distribution of survey effort and the distribution of whales in the Gulf of California

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 5, 2024

Data on the distribution of most species are often collected using non-standardized sampling protocols, resulting in biased data due to preferential selection certain environmental conditions. This study aimed assess survey effort for whale monitoring Gulf California, México and estimate its correlation with variables at different resolutions. comprehensive database compiles navigation details observations from 1982 2018. The number routes California was calculated, 10% 5% best-surveyed cells were located five Generalized Linear Models employed explanatory capacity eight effort. Only approximately 3%-10% entire area can be considered well-surveyed. Collection highest areas cold waters, high levels particulate organic carbon, phytoplankton, irrespective resolution. However, regardless conditions, efforts correlated available whales. These results suggest that knowledge prolonged interaction between collectors population mainly influence heterogeneous Understanding biases associated factors may provide insights future programs. inform effective conservation strategies whales beyond.

Language: Английский

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