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Global priorities for an effective information basis of biodiversity distributions

Author

Listed:
  • Carsten Meyer

    (Biodiversity, Macroecology and Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Göttingen)

  • Holger Kreft

    (Biodiversity, Macroecology and Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Göttingen)

  • Robert Guralnick

    (University of Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida at Gainesville)

  • Walter Jetz

    (Yale University
    Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus)

Abstract

Gaps in digital accessible information (DAI) on species distributions hamper prospects of safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services, and addressing central ecological and evolutionary questions. Achieving international targets on biodiversity knowledge requires that information gaps be identified and actions prioritized. Integrating 157 million point records and distribution maps for 21,170 terrestrial vertebrate species, we find that outside a few well-sampled regions, DAI on point occurrences provides very limited and spatially biased inventories of species. Surprisingly, many large, emerging economies are even more under-represented in global DAI than species-rich, developing countries in the tropics. Multi-model inference reveals that completeness is mainly limited by distance to researchers, locally available research funding and participation in data-sharing networks, rather than transportation infrastructure, or size and funding of Western data contributors as often assumed. Our results highlight the urgent need for integrating non-Western data sources and intensifying cooperation to more effectively address societal biodiversity information needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Carsten Meyer & Holger Kreft & Robert Guralnick & Walter Jetz, 2015. "Global priorities for an effective information basis of biodiversity distributions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9221
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9221
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    1. D'Alberto, R. & Targetti, S. & Schaller, L. & Bartolini, F. & Eichhorn, T. & Haltia, E. & Harmanny, K. & Le Gloux, F. & Nikolov, D. & Runge, T. & Vergamini, D. & Viaggi, D., 2024. "A European perspective on acceptability of innovative agri-environment-climate contract solutions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    2. Rob Cooke & Ferran Sayol & Tobias Andermann & Tim M. Blackburn & Manuel J. Steinbauer & Alexandre Antonelli & Søren Faurby, 2023. "Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Keil, Petr & Chase, Jonathan, 2022. "Interpolation of temporal biodiversity change, loss, and gain across scales: a machine learning approach," EcoEvoRxiv rky7b, Center for Open Science.
    4. Coline C. F. Boonman & Josep M. Serra-Diaz & Selwyn Hoeks & Wen-Yong Guo & Brian J. Enquist & Brian Maitner & Yadvinder Malhi & Cory Merow & Robert Buitenwerf & Jens-Christian Svenning, 2024. "More than 17,000 tree species are at risk from rapid global change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Qing Zhang & Yanping Wang & Xuan Liu, 2024. "Risk of introduction and establishment of alien vertebrate species in transboundary neighboring areas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Santiago José Elías Velazco & Franklin Galvão & Fabricio Villalobos & Paulo De Marco Júnior, 2017. "Using worldwide edaphic data to model plant species niches: An assessment at a continental extent," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-24, October.

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