Ecological
and
evolutionary
processes
are
recognized
as
the
main
factors
generating
maintaining
biodiversity.
However,
how
biodiversity
knowledge
is
collated,
organized,
distributed
worldwide
influences
our
perceptions
inferences
about
underlying
processes.
We
demonstrated
that
name-bearing
type
specimens
(NBT),
most
fundamental
reference
for
identity
of
any
species,
all
freshwater
brackish
fish
species
in
world
mostly
housed
museums
Global
North
countries.
The
unequal
distribution
NBT
results
from
historical
socioeconomic
has
implications
both
South
For
North,
which
concentrates
NBT,
we
found
a
mismatch
between
their
ichthyological
collections
native
biotas.
On
other
hand,
countries
with
elsewhere
face
barrier
advancing
research
due
to
difficulty
accessing
material,
hampering
global
efforts
cataloging,
reviewing,
describing
new
species.
advocate
if
truly
committed
research,
should
pursue
initiatives
make
biological
fairer
among
countries,
involves
programs
specimen
repatriation
facilitation
accessibility
material
researchers
they
were
collected.
PLoS Biology,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
22(7), С. e3002658 - e3002658
Опубликована: Июль 11, 2024
Tetrapods
(amphibians,
reptiles,
birds,
and
mammals)
are
model
systems
for
global
biodiversity
science,
but
continuing
data
gaps,
limited
standardisation,
ongoing
flux
in
taxonomic
nomenclature
constrain
integrative
research
on
this
group
potentially
cause
biased
inference.
We
combined
harmonised
taxonomic,
spatial,
phylogenetic,
attribute
with
phylogeny-based
multiple
imputation
to
provide
a
comprehensive
resource
(TetrapodTraits
1.0.0)
that
includes
values,
predictions,
sources
body
size,
activity
time,
micro-
macrohabitat,
ecosystem,
threat
status,
biogeography,
insularity,
environmental
preferences,
human
influence,
all
33,281
tetrapod
species
covered
recent
fully
sampled
phylogenies.
assess
gaps
biases
across
taxa
space,
finding
shared
missing
values
increased
taxon-level
completeness
richness
clades.
Prediction
of
using
revealed
substantial
changes
estimated
macroecological
patterns.
These
results
highlight
incurred
by
nonrandom
missingness
strategies
best
address
them.
While
there
is
an
obvious
need
further
collection
updates,
our
phylogeny-informed
database
traits
can
support
more
representation
their
attributes
ecology,
evolution,
conservation
research.
Knowledge
of
biodiversity
is
unevenly
distributed
across
the
Tree
Life.
In
long
run,
such
disparity
in
awareness
unbalances
our
understanding
life
on
Earth,
influencing
policy
decisions
and
allocation
research
conservation
funding.
We
investigated
how
humans
accumulate
knowledge
by
searching
for
consistent
relationships
between
scientific
(number
publications)
societal
views
Wikipedia)
interest,
species-level
morphological,
ecological,
sociocultural
factors.
Across
a
random
selection
3019
species
spanning
29
Phyla/Divisions,
we
show
that
factors
are
most
important
correlates
interest
biodiversity,
including
fact
useful
or
harmful
to
humans,
has
common
name,
listed
International
Union
Conservation
Nature
Red
List.
Furthermore,
large-bodied,
broadly
distributed,
taxonomically
unique
receive
more
attention,
whereas
colorfulness
phylogenetic
proximity
correlate
exclusively
with
attention.
These
results
highlight
favoritism
toward
limited
branches
Life,
priorities
align.
This
suggests
may
be
missing
out
key
agenda
simply
because
they
not
cultural
radar.
Journal of Biogeography,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
51(8), С. 1365 - 1373
Опубликована: Март 8, 2024
Abstract
The
gap
between
the
number
of
described
species
and
that
actually
exist
is
known
as
Linnean
shortfall
fundamental
importance
for
biogeography
conservation.
Unsurprisingly,
there
have
been
many
attempts
to
quantify
its
extent
different
taxa
regions.
In
this
Perspective
,
we
argue
such
forecasts
remain
highly
problematic
because
does
depend
not
only
on
rates
exploration
(sampling
undescribed
taxa)
which
estimates
commonly
based
but
also
taxonomic
change
(lumping
splitting).
These
changes
concepts
adopted
information
methods
used
delimit
species.
Commonly
estimating
unknown
(e.g.
discovery
curves,
taxon
ratios)
can
underestimate
or
overestimate
if
they
do
effectively
account
trends
change.
A
further
complication
history
well
documented
most
typically
available
in
biodiversity
databases.
Moreover,
wide
geographic
variation
adoption
delimitation
mean
comparison
even
same
regions
may
be
unreliable.
Given
high
likelihood
future
major
taxa,
propose
two
main
strategies
consider
influence
species:
(i)
a
conservative
approach
shortfall,
restricting
analysis
groups
where
taxonomies
are
relatively
stable
(ii)
explicitly
incorporating
metrics
into
models
estimates.
short,
relevant
will
achieved
by
accounting
dynamic
nature
process
itself.
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
22(8)
Опубликована: Июль 23, 2024
The
volume
of
and
interest
in
unstructured
participatory
science
data
has
increased
dramatically
recent
years.
However,
contain
taxonomic
biases—encounters
with
some
species
are
more
likely
to
be
reported
than
encounters
others.
Taxonomic
biases
driven
by
human
preferences
for
different
logistical
factors
that
make
observing
certain
challenging.
We
investigated
bias
reports
butterflies
characterizing
differences
between
a
dedicated
semi‐structured
dataset,
eButterfly,
popular
iNaturalist,
spatiotemporally
explicit
models.
Across
194
butterfly
species,
we
found
53
were
overreported
34
underreported
opportunistic
data.
Ease
identification
feature
diversity
significantly
associated
overreporting
sampling,
strong
patterns
family
also
detected.
Quantifying
not
only
helps
us
understand
how
humans
engage
nature
but
is
necessary
generate
robust
inference
from
Knowledge
of
biodiversity
is
unevenly
distributed
across
the
Tree
Life.
In
long
run,
such
disparity
in
awareness
unbalances
our
understanding
life
on
Earth,
influencing
policy
decisions
and
allocation
research
conservation
funding.
We
investigated
how
humans
accumulate
knowledge
by
searching
for
consistent
relationships
between
scientific
(number
publications)
societal
views
Wikipedia)
interest,
species-level
morphological,
ecological,
sociocultural
factors.
Across
a
random
selection
3019
species
spanning
29
Phyla/Divisions,
we
show
that
factors
are
most
important
correlates
interest
biodiversity,
including
fact
useful
or
harmful
to
humans,
has
common
name,
listed
International
Union
Conservation
Nature
Red
List.
Furthermore,
large-bodied,
broadly
distributed,
taxonomically
unique
receive
more
attention,
whereas
colorfulness
phylogenetic
proximity
correlate
exclusively
with
attention.
These
results
highlight
favoritism
toward
limited
branches
Life,
priorities
align.
This
suggests
may
be
missing
out
key
agenda
simply
because
they
not
cultural
radar.
The
academic
publishing
industry,
while
essential
for
disseminating
scientific
knowledge,
is
riddled
with
ironies
and
challenges
that
often
leave
researchers
in
disbelief.
Here
I
briefly
explore
the
convoluted
journey
of
research
from
conception
to
publication,
highlighting
immense
effort
scientists
invest
their
work
only
face
a
complex
costly
process.
Despite
critical
role
peer
review,
performed
without
financial
compensation,
many
must
pay
substantial
article
processing
charges
(APCs)
make
findings
accessible.
Alternatively,
they
encounter
subscription-based
journals
profit
paywalls,
leaving
royalties.
While
no-fee
open
access
offer
glimmer
hope,
lack
impact
factors
crucial
career
progression.
This
paper
delves
into
these
issues,
examines
disparity
APC
affordability
between
Global
North
South,
discusses
potential
solutions.
advocate
more
equitable
collaborative
community,
emphasizing
importance
venues
controlled
by
societies
promise
preprints.
hope
this
brief
contribution
will
provoke
thought,
renew
discussions
and,
hopefully,
lead
changes
landscape.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
292(2044)
Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025
Human
implicit
biases
towards
visually
appealing
and
familiar
stimuli
are
well
documented
rooted
in
our
brains’
reward
systems.
For
example,
humans
drawn
to
charismatic,
organisms,
but
less
is
known
about
whether
such
permeate
research
choices
among
biologists,
who
strive
for
objectivity.
The
factors
driving
effort,
as
aesthetics,
logistics
species’
names,
poorly
understood.
We
report
that,
from
1965
2020,
nearly
half
of
the
variation
publication
trends
293
North
American
male
passerine
near-passerine
birds
was
explained
by
three
subject
human
bias:
aesthetic
salience
(visual
appeal),
range
size
(familiarity)
number
universities
within
ranges
(accessibility).
also
demonstrate
that
endangered
featured
on
journal
covers
had
higher
salience,
with
eponymous
names
were
studied
much
those
not
named
after
humans.
Thus,
ornithological
knowledge,
decisions
based
thereon,
heavily
skewed
fancy,
species.
This
knowledge
disparity
feeds
a
cycle
public
interest,
environmental
policy,
conservation,
funding
opportunities
scientific
narratives,
shrouding
potentially
important
information
proverbial
plumage
drab,
distant,
disregarded
unintended
consequences
biologists’
may
exacerbate
organismal
inequalities
amid
biodiversity
declines
limit
inquiry.
