AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(3), P. 581 - 597

Published: Feb. 24, 2022

Functional traits offer a rich quantitative framework for developing and testing theories in evolutionary biology, ecology ecosystem science. However, the potential of functional to drive theoretical advances refine models global change can only be fully realised when species-level information is complete. Here we present AVONET dataset containing comprehensive trait data all birds, including six ecological variables, 11 continuous morphological traits, on range size location. Raw measurements are presented from 90,020 individuals 11,009 extant bird species sampled 181 countries. These also summarised as averages three taxonomic formats, allowing integration with phylogeny, geographical maps, IUCN Red List eBird citizen science database. The provides most detailed picture variation any major radiation organisms, offering template hypotheses exploring origins, structure functioning biodiversity.

Language: Английский

---

Sampling biases shape our view of the natural world

Ecography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 44(9), P. 1259 - 1269

Published: June 21, 2021

Spatial patterns of biodiversity are inextricably linked to their collection methods, yet no synthesis bias or consequences exists. As such, views organismal distribution and the ecosystems they make up may be incorrect, undermining countless ecological evolutionary studies. Using 742 million records 374 900 species, we explore global impacts biases related taxonomy, accessibility, ecotype data type across terrestrial marine systems. Pervasive sampling observation exist animals, with only 6.74% globe sampled, disproportionately poor tropical sampling. High elevations deep seas particularly unknown. Over 50% in most groups account for under 2% species citizen‐science exacerbates biases. Additional will needed overcome many these biases, but must increasingly value publication bridge this gap better represent species' distributions from more distant inaccessible areas, provide necessary basis conservation management.

Language: Английский

---

Freshwater salinisation: a research agenda for a saltier world

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(5), P. 440 - 453

Published: Jan. 18, 2022

The widespread salinisation of freshwater ecosystems poses a major threat to the biodiversity, functioning, and services that they provide. Human activities promote through multiple drivers (e.g., agriculture, resource extraction, urbanisation) are amplified by climate change. Due its complexity, we still far from fully understanding ecological evolutionary consequences salinisation. Here, assess current research gaps present agenda guide future studies. We identified different in taxonomic groups, levels biological organisation, geographic regions. suggest focusing on global- landscape-scale processes, functional approaches, genetic molecular levels, eco-evolutionary dynamics as key avenues predict for human societies.

Language: Английский

---

A global map of terrestrial habitat types

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Aug. 5, 2020

Abstract We provide a global, spatially explicit characterization of 47 terrestrial habitat types, as defined in the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) classification scheme, which is widely used ecological analyses, including quantifying species’ Area Habitat. produced this novel map year 2015 by creating global decision tree that intersects best currently available data on land cover, climate and use. independently validated using occurrence 828 species vertebrates (35152 point plus 8181 polygonal occurrences) 6026 sampling sites. Across datasets mapped classes we found average balanced accuracy 0.77 ( $$\bar{+}$$ +¯ 0.14 SD) at Level 1 0.71 0.15 2, while noting potential issues records validation. The maps broaden our understanding habitats globally, assist constructing area refinements are relevant broad-scale studies future IUCN Red List assessments. Periodic updates planned better or more recent becomes available.

Language: Английский

---

Passive acoustic monitoring provides a fresh perspective on fundamental ecological questions

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(4), P. 959 - 975

Published: Jan. 20, 2023

Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has emerged as a transformative tool for applied ecology, conservation and biodiversity monitoring, but its potential contribution to fundamental ecology is less often discussed, PAM studies tend be descriptive, rather than mechanistic. Here, we chart the most promising directions ecologists wishing use suite of currently available methods address long‐standing questions in explore new avenues research. In both terrestrial aquatic habitats, provides an opportunity ask across multiple spatial scales at fine temporal resolution, capture phenomena or species that are difficult observe. combination with traditional approaches data collection, could release from myriad limitations have, times, precluded mechanistic understanding. We discuss several case demonstrate estimation, population trend analysis, assessing climate change impacts on phenology distribution, understanding disturbance recovery dynamics. also highlight what horizon PAM, terms near‐future technological methodological developments have provide advances coming years. Overall, illustrate how can harness power ecological era no longer characterised by limitation. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

---

Completeness analysis for over 3000 United States bee species identifies persistent data gap

Ecography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023(5)

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Native bee species in the United States provide invaluable pollination services. Concerns about native declines are growing, and there calls for a national monitoring program. Documenting ranges at ecologically meaningful scales through coverage completeness analysis is fundamental step to track bees from communities. It may take decades before all existing specimens digitized, so projections needed now focus future research management efforts. From 1.923 million records, we created range maps nearly 88% (3158 species) of contiguous States, provided first inventory digitized major insect clade, perhaps most important, estimated spatial accounting known USA collections, including undigitized specimens. Completeness analyses were very low (3–37%) across four examined resolutions when using currently available specimen records. Adding subset observations community science data sources did not significantly increase completeness, adding projected 4.7 increased by only an additional 12–13%. Assessments data, indicate persistent taxonomic geographic deficiencies. In conjunction with expedited digitization, new inventories that integrate specimen‐based documentation will be required close these gaps. A combined effort involving both strategic accelerated digitization campaigns more complete understanding distributions.

Language: Английский

---

Avian Diversity: Speciation, Macroevolution, and Ecological Function

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 51(1), P. 533 - 560

Published: Aug. 28, 2020

The origin, distribution, and function of biological diversity are fundamental themes ecology evolutionary biology. Research on birds has played a major role in the history development these ideas, yet progress was for many decades limited by focus patterns current diversity, often restricted to particular clades or regions. Deeper insight is now emerging from recent wave integrative studies combining comprehensive phylogenetic, environmental, functional trait data at unprecedented scales. We review empirical advances describe how they reshaping our understanding global bird processes which it arises, with implications avian biogeography ecology. Further expansion integration sets may help resolve longstanding debates about origins biodiversity offer framework predicting response ecosystems environmental change.

Language: Английский

---

Safeguarding our future by protecting biodiversity

Plant Diversity, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 42(4), P. 221 - 228

Published: May 20, 2020

The Anthropocene is marked by twin crises: climate change and biodiversity loss. Climate has tended to dominate the headlines, reflecting, in part, greater complexity of crisis. Biodiversity itself a difficult concept. Land plants global biomass terrestrial arthropods probably terms numbers species, but most Tree Life consists single-celled eukaryotes, bacteria, archaea. Wild provide huge variety products services people, ranging from those that are species-specific, such as food, medicine, genetic resources, many which partly interchangeable, timber forage for domestic animals, others depend on whole community, not individual regulation water supply carbon sequestration. use information remote sensing encouraged simplified view values nature's contributions this does match way people value nature. We can currently estimate proportion species threatened human impacts only few well-assessed groups, it ranges 14% (birds) 63% (cycads). Less than 8% land have been assessed, estimated 30-44% threatened, although there still (0.2%) well-documented extinctions. Priorities improving protection include: inventory, with surveys focused geographical areas taxonomic groups under-collected; expanding protected area system its representativeness; controlling overexploitation; managing invasive species; conserving ex situ; restoring degraded ecosystems; change. Convention Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 United Nations Framework Change (UNFCCC) COP26 meetings, both postponed 2021, will an opportunity address crises, success require high ambition all participants.

Language: Английский

---

Making Messy Data Work for Conservation

One Earth, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 2(5), P. 455 - 465

Published: May 1, 2020

Conservationists increasingly use unstructured observational data, such as citizen science records or ranger patrol observations, to guide decision making. These datasets are often large and relatively cheap collect, they have enormous potential. However, the resulting data generally "messy," their can incur considerable costs, some of which hidden. We present an overview opportunities limitations associated with messy by explaining how preferences, skills, incentives collectors affect quality information contain investment required unlock Drawing widely from across sciences, we break down elements observation process in order highlight likely sources bias error while emphasizing importance cross-disciplinary collaboration. propose a framework for appraising those engaging these types dataset make them work conservation broader sustainability applications. The world's ecosystems face daunting array threats, including habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, climate change.1Doherty T.S. Dickman C.R. Nimmo D.G. Ritchie E.G. Multiple multiplying threats? Interactions between predators other ecological disturbances.Biol. Conserv. 2015; 190: 60-68Crossref Scopus (132) Google Scholar, 2Young H.S. McCauley D.J. Galetti M. Dirzo R. Patterns, causes, consequences anthropocene defaunation.Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 2016; 47: 333-358Crossref (160) 3Venter O. Sanderson E.W. Magrach A. Allan J.R. Beher J. Jones K.R. Possingham H.P. Laurance W.F. Wood P. Fekete B.M. et al.Sixteen years change global terrestrial human footprint implications biodiversity conservation.Nat. Commun. 7: 12558Crossref PubMed (550) 4Benítez-López Alkemade Schipper Ingram D. Verweij Eikelboom Huijbregts impact hunting on tropical mammal bird populations.Science. 2017; 356: 180-183Crossref (186) Scholar Robust must be cornerstone scientists all stripes seeking understand dynamics environmental map out pathways toward sustainability.5Cadotte M.W. Barlow Nuñez M.A. Pettorelli N. Stephens P.A. Solving problems Anthropocene: need bring novel theoretical advances into applied ecology fold.J. Appl. 54: 1-6Crossref (22) Practical decisions promotion health evidence based, interventions no exception,6Sutherland W.J. Pullin A.S. Dolman P.M. Knight T.M. evidence-based conservation.Trends 2004; 19: 305-308Abstract Full Text PDF (1121) 7Walsh J.C. Dicks L.V. Sutherland effect scientific practitioners' management decisions.Conserv. Biol. 29: 88-98Crossref (102) 8Milner-Gulland E.J. Cadotte Hulme P.E. Kerby G. Whittingham M.J. Ensuring has impact.J. 2012; 49: 1-5Crossref (23) but gathering that via primary collection within formal study design is expensive, time consuming, impractical.9Gardner T.A. Araujo I.S. Ávila-Pires T.C. Bonaldo A.B. Costa J.E. Esposito M.C. Ferreira Hawes Hernandez M.I. cost-effectiveness surveys forests.Ecol. Lett. 2008; 11: 139-150Crossref (386) Scholar,10Vijapure T. Sukumaran S. Optimization taxonomic resolution indicator taxon cost-effective monitoring: perspectives heterogeneous coastline.J. Environ. Manage. 2019; 247: 474-483Crossref (4) Confronted complex restrictive budgets, governments conservationists draw rapidly growing body semi-structured monitoring trends assessing interventions.11Follett Strezov V. An analysis based research: usage publication patterns.PLoS One. 10: e0143687Crossref (153) 12Johnston Fink Reynolds M.D. Hochachka W.M. Sullivan B.L. Bruns N.E. Hallstein E. Merrifield M.S. Matsumoto Kelling Abundance models improve spatial temporal prioritization resources.Ecol. 25: 1749-1756Crossref (78) 13Woodcock B.A. Isaac N.J.B. Bullock J.M. Roy D.B. Garthwaite Crowe Pywell R.F. Impacts neonicotinoid long-term population changes wild bees England.Nat. 12459Crossref (206) high-volume, been subject number recent reviews data-generation potential social media online technologies,14Muller C.L. Chapman L. Johnston Kidd C. Illingworth Foody Overeem Leigh R.R. Crowdsourcing atmospheric sciences: current status future potential.Int. Climatol. 35: 3185-3203Crossref (167) phenomenon big data,15Mooney S.J. Pejaver Big public health: terminology, machine learning, privacy.Annu. Public Health. 2018; 39: 95-112Crossref (83) Scholar,16Hochachka Hutchinson R.A. Sheldon Wong W.K. Data-intensive broad-scale science.Trends 27: 130-137Abstract (231) understanding of, participation in, science.14Muller 15Mooney 16Hochachka 17Bonney Phillips T.B. Ballard H.L. Enck J.W. Can enhance science?.Public Underst. Sci. 2-16Crossref (256) 18Ballard Dixon C.G.H. Harris E.M. Youth-focused science: examining role learning agency conservation.Biol. 208: 65-75Crossref limited attention paid mechanisms arise ways issues may anticipated (bias avoidance) overcome mitigation). Here, umbrella term "messy data" describe whose does not conform thus potentially unmeasured (Box 1). They typically generated processes designed either (1) separate purpose, wherein secondary (e.g., patrols), (2) generating where and/or opportunistic many projects). "observers" cover gatherers any form whom unwitting, unpaid, collecting adjunct objective. Within this definition "messy" exists wide range (Figure For example, projects Cornell Laboratory Ornithology's eBird, survey designers lack control over behavior observers sufficient resources enough metadata, sophisticated statistical modeling account aspects bias.20Sullivan Aycrigg J.L. Barry J.H. Bonney R.E. Cooper C.B. Damoulas Dhondt A.A. Dietterich Farnsworth al.The eBird enterprise: integrated approach development application science.Biol. 2014; 169: 31-40Crossref (384) Other datasets, contrast, about (or generators), producing biases much harder tackle. This latter group includes herbaria museums, patrols, illegal wildlife trade seizures at international borders, crowd-sensing posts.21Moore J.F. Mulindahabi F. Masozera M.K. Nichols J.D. Hines Turikunkiko Oli Hayward Are patrols effective reducing poaching-related threats protected areas?.J. 55: 99-107Crossref (30) 22Hinsley Lee T.E. Harrison Roberts D.L. Estimating extent structure horticultural orchids media.Conserv. 30: 1038-1047Crossref (52) 23Runhovde S.R. Seizures inconvenience? Policy, discretion accidental discoveries policing Norwegian border.Crime Law Soc. Change. 64: 177-192Crossref (16) ScholarBox 1A Glossary TermsBias: systematic (as opposed random) causing loss accuracy precision).Big data: too traditional data-handling software, well highly variable data. require new methods storage handle volumes tease signal noise.Citizen intentional, voluntary amateur enthusiasts research activities. Participants provide (observational experimental) facilities researchers also input project design.Crowd sensing: numbers individuals, each submits (usually) web-enabled mobile devices smartphones.Distributed mind: describing task split numerous individuals same time, e.g., protein-folding project, foldit (https://fold.it).Gamification: game-design game principles non-game contexts.Observation process: factors lead event being recorded observation. people are, chance detect event, motivation record record.Occupancy modeling: analytical explicitly (probability detection) event), two otherwise confounded. Typically analyzes binary occurrence repeat samples, although extensions allow different structures.Semi-structured comprising observations made without standardized protocol, important metadata regarding process.Unstructured protocol.Web scraping: extraction amounts sources, occur knowledge permission content creator.Whole-system approach: method conducting question formulated investigated explicit consideration full context phenomena interest, analysis, responses interested parties occur. Bias: precision). noise. Citizen design. Crowd smartphones. Distributed (https://fold.it). Gamification: contexts. Observation record. Occupancy structures. Semi-structured process. Unstructured protocol. Web creator. Whole-system Messy advantages structured surveys, low cost, easy accessibility, high volume, real-world relevance. In cases, only source interest. past abundance distribution organism impossible reference museum historical Seebens al.24Seebens H. Blackburn Dyer E.E. Genovesi Jeschke Pagad Pyšek Winter Arianoutsou No saturation accumulation alien species worldwide.Nat. 8: 14435Crossref (716) McClenachan al.25McClenachan McKenzie M.G. Drew J.A. surprising results best practices ecology.BioScience. 65: 932-939Crossref (41) Scholar). working purposes web-scraping listings products offered sale online) allows activities putting themselves physical danger. limitations. Any poses three main challenge: accounting errors mistakes incorrect identification); random variation "noise"), inherent observed; (3) observer bias—systematic arising preferential recording certain events). especially pervasive, requiring particularly careful consideration.26Isaac N.J. Pocock Bias biological records.Biol. Linn. 115: 522-531Crossref (136) 27Isaac van Strien A.J. August de Zeeuw M.P. Anderson B. Statistics extracting signals noisy data.Methods 5: 1052-1060Crossref (226) 28Aceves-Bueno Adeleye Feraud Huang Y. Tao Yang S.E. quantitative review.Bull. Am. 98: 278-290Crossref upon insights natural synthesize offer guidance wishing engage particular, challenge notion after collection. discuss weighing, early stage, disadvantages using against user-designed, scientifically survey. lay steps appraise candidate beginning underlying process—specifically, way affected motivations, needs, backgrounds observers. illustrate exercise serves purposes: anticipating identifying align users mutual benefit. Finally, argue realizing requires practitioners adopt whole-system entire life cycle, problem formulation presentation results. reach internet, coupled rapid uptake devices, created unparalleled gather low-cost various types.29McKinley D.C. Miller-Rushing Brown Cook-Patton S.C. Evans D.M. French Parrish J.K. science, resource management, protection.Biol. 15-28Crossref (335) Scholar,30Sheil Mugerwa Fegraus E.H. African golden cats, serendipity: tapping camera trap revolution.South Afr. Wildl. Res. 2013; 43: 74-78Crossref (5) acquire, subsequent cost collation, appropriate interpretation terms both money; always worth using. To take example volunteer-collected organizations managing substantial funding attract, retain, support volunteers; maintain data-entry systems; validate data.31Pocock D.S. Sheppard L.J. H.E. Choosing Using Science: A Guide When How Use Science Monitor Biodiversity Environment. NERC/Centre Ecology & Hydrology, 2014Google al.31Pocock useful flowchart volunteer through costs benefits indicating whether feasible. UK projects, Breeding Bird Survey Butterfly Monitoring Scheme,19Brereton Botham Middlebrook I. Randle Z. Noble United Kingdom Scheme Annual Report 2016. Centre Hydrology Conservation, 2017https://www.ukbms.org/docs/reports/2016/Butterfly%20Ann%20Report%202016.pdfGoogle Scholar,32Harris Massimino Gillings Eaton Balmer Procter Pearce-Higgins Woodcock 2017. British Trust Ornithology, 2018Google directly inform policy providing indicators) £70,000 £150,000 annually maintain.33Roy Preston C.D. Savage Tweddle Robinson Understanding Environmental Monitoring: Final Behalf Framework. NERC Hydrology/Natural History Museum, 2012Google rely observers, sampling times, locations, protocols nonetheless carefully planned, making amenable therefore representing good value money. By less money support, information; DOFbasen, contains sightings birds Denmark, showed it detected fewer than half declines rates Denmark apparent more Danish Common Scheme.34Kamp Oppel Heldbjerg Nyegaard Donald P.F. fail common Denmark.Divers. Distrib. 22: 1024-1035Crossref (60) similar comparison consistent agreement calculated simple techniques (90 141 species' positively correlated sets), was widespread species.35Boersch-Supan P.H. Trask A.E. Baillie Robustness avian trend species-dependent.Biol. 240: 108286Crossref (15) There corollary set messiness produced engagement direct participation.18Ballard Additionally, yield might unanticipated challenges36Kelling Riedewald Caruana Hooker paradigm studies.BioScience. 2009; 59: 613-620Crossref (205) (although exclusive type data). Partridge Count Scheme, scheme up Game Wildlife Conservation monitor gray partridge (Perdix perdix) breeding success, subsequently used evaluate agri-environmental schemes.37Ewald Aebischer Richardson Grice Cooke agri-environment schemes grey partridges farm level England.Agric. Ecosyst. 2010; 138: 55-63Crossref (32) Many published studies now include raw supplementary material, sharing easier. It authors code able existing cleaning processing. another posts platforms Twitter searched warnings biosecurity risks agricultural pests;38Caley Welvaert surveillance: estimating reporting probabilities insects concern.J. Pest 93: 543-550Crossref (9) conduct surveillance professional would vastly higher necessarily better information. Social illuminate clandestine behaviors trading (IWT) when pertinent happening, general its characteristics rather detailed questions absolute magnitudes.22Hinsley most pervasive forms offering very little scope mitigation. case IWT, privacy settings carried forums, open Facebook groups, vendors will advertise closed, private groups sell messages. know what proportion recorded. Furthermore, openly, sales usually place private, meaning location identity consumer, even final price agreed, known. Careful framing questions, together limitations, employed before datasets.22Hinsley Datasets originate postings bias, result (which conducted researchers). Data collected non-researcher answer questions; examples harvest hunters develop strategies area management.39Critchlow Plumptre Alidria Nsubuga Driciru Rwetsiba Wanyama Beale C.M. Improving law-enforcement effectiveness efficiency areas ranger-collected data.Conserv. 572-580Crossref (42) Scholar,40Bischof Nilsen E.B. Brøseth Männil Ozoliņš Linnell Implementation uncertainty recreational manage carnivores.J. 824-832Crossref nothing acquire expensive use. situations, collected, so countered during phase. Indeed, statistics driven part requirement large, datasets.41Gandomi Haider Beyond hype: concepts, methods, analytics.Int. Inf. 137-144Crossref (1807) Complex enabled countless sciences greatly utility implications. Firstly, specialist analysts software computing Bayesian analysis), barriers ongoing expertise); open-source R should, however, increase accessibility analysis. Secondly, statistically characterizing clear covariate unavailable. free choose times places cannot accounted standardization could achieved strict, formalized protocol), availability important. gathered post hoc users. Thirdly, greater sophistication summarize non-specialist audiences, one wish enthuse encourage communication outputs.42McInerny G.J. Chen Freeman Gavagha

Language: Английский

---

Monitoring the world's bird populations with community science data

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 248, P. 108653 - 108653

Published: July 4, 2020

Language: Английский

---