|
| ||
|
|
||
Biodiversity Data (biodiversity + data)
Selected AbstractsGlobal biogeographical data bases on marine fishes: caveat emptorDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 6 2008D. Ross Robertson ABSTRACT A review of georeferenced collection-site records for Caribbean shore-fishes served by major online distributors of aggregated biodiversity data found large-scale errors in over a third of the species and genera, in nearly two-thirds of the families. To avoid compromising the value of their services to the global science community online providers must actively address the question of data quality. [source] Challenging Wallacean and Linnean shortfalls: knowledge gradients and conservation planning in a biodiversity hotspotDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2006Luis Mauricio Bini ABSTRACT Knowledge about biodiversity remains inadequate because most species living on Earth were still not formally described (the Linnean shortfall) and because geographical distributions of most species are poorly understood and usually contain many gaps (the Wallacean shortfall). In this paper, we developed models to infer the size and placement of geographical ranges of hypothetical non-described species, based on the range size frequency distribution of anurans recently described in the Cerrado Biome, on the level of knowledge (number of inventories) and on surrogates for habitat suitability. The rationale for these models is as follow: (1) the range size frequency distribution of these species should be similar to the range-restricted species, which have been most recently described in the Cerrado Biome; (2) the probability of new discoveries will increase in areas with low biodiversity knowledge, mainly in suitable areas, and (3) assuming range continuity, new species should occupy adjacent cells only if the level of knowledge is low enough to allow the existence of undiscovered species. We ran a model based on the number of inventories only, and two models combining effects of number of inventories and two different estimates of habitat suitability, for a total of 100 replicates each. Finally, we performed a complementary analysis using simulated annealing to solve the set-covering problem for each simulation (i.e. finding the smallest number of cells so that all species are represented at least once), using extents of occurrence of 160 species (131 real anuran species plus 29 new simulated species). The revised reserve system that included information about unknown or poorly sampled taxa significantly shifted northwards, when compared to a system based on currently known species. This main result can be explained by the paucity of biodiversity data in this part of the biome, associated with its relatively high habitat suitability. As a precautionary measure, weighted by the inferred distribution data, the prioritization of a system of reserves in the north part of the biome appears to be defensible. [source] Towards an integrated computational tool for spatial analysis in macroecology and biogeographyGLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2006Thiago Fernando L. V. B. Rangel ABSTRACT Because most macroecological and biodiversity data are spatially autocorrelated, special tools for describing spatial structures and dealing with hypothesis testing are usually required. Unfortunately, most of these methods have not been available in a single statistical package. Consequently, using these tools is still a challenge for most ecologists and biogeographers. In this paper, we present sam (Spatial Analysis in Macroecology), a new, easy-to-use, freeware package for spatial analysis in macroecology and biogeography. Through an intuitive, fully graphical interface, this package allows the user to describe spatial patterns in variables and provides an explicit spatial framework for standard techniques of regression and correlation. Moran's I autocorrelation coefficient can be calculated based on a range of matrices describing spatial relationships, for original variables as well as for residuals of regression models, which can also include filtering components (obtained by standard trend surface analysis or by principal coordinates of neighbour matrices). sam also offers tools for correcting the number of degrees of freedom when calculating the significance of correlation coefficients. Explicit spatial modelling using several forms of autoregression and generalized least-squares models are also available. We believe this new tool will provide researchers with the basic statistical tools to resolve autocorrelation problems and, simultaneously, to explore spatial components in macroecological and biogeographical data. Although the program was designed primarily for the applications in macroecology and biogeography, most of sam's statistical tools will be useful for all kinds of surface pattern spatial analysis. The program is freely available at http://www.ecoevol.ufg.br/sam (permanent URL at http://purl.oclc.org/sam/). [source] Assessing the reliability of biodiversity databases: identifying evenly inventoried island parasitoid faunas (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) worldwideINSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY, Issue 2 2010ANA M. C. SANTOS Abstract., 1.,Taxonomic and geographic biases are common in biodiversity inventories, especially in hyperdiverse taxa, such as the Ichneumonoidea. Despite these problems, biodiversity databases could be a valuable source of information if their reliability is carefully assessed. 2.,One major problem of using these data for large-scale analyses is the unevenness of data quality from different areas, which makes them difficult to compare. One way of surpassing such problem would be to identify sets of areas that are evenly inventoried. 3.,Here, we propose a scoring protocol for the identification of sets of evenly inventoried areas from taxonomic databases, based on three criteria: (i) completeness at high taxonomic levels, (ii) congruence with well-established ecological relationships (such as species,area relationship), and (iii) publication effort received. We apply this protocol to the selection of a set of evenly inventoried islands worldwide for two Ichneumonoidea families (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) from the data gathered in Taxapad database. 4.,From the 118 islands included in Taxapad, 53 and 70 can be considered sufficiently inventoried for Braconidae and Ichneumonidae, respectively. The publication effort criterion was more restrictive than the other two criteria. The Indomalayan, Nearctic and Palearctic regions had more than half of their islands identified as evenly inventoried, for both families. 5.,We discuss the generality of the biases and incompleteness of most biodiversity data, and also how the basic principles of the protocol proposed here can be applied to taxonomic databases devoted to other taxa. Also, the islands identified here can serve as the basis for large-scale analyses of the poorly known biogeography of the Ichneumonoidea. [source] Should biomass be considered more frequently as a currency in terrestrial arthropod community analyses?JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007MICHEL SAINT-GERMAIN Summary 1Community structure involving large taxonomical groups is frequently used to assess changes in ecosystems along environmental gradients or in response to disturbance. For terrestrial arthropods, abundance is generally used as the response variable in community data analyses; biomass, however, is generally a better indicator of the functionality of a species within a community, as it is strongly correlated with metabolism. 2In this study, we considered whether biomass should be used more often in community analyses with terrestrial arthropod biodiversity data, particularly when asking questions involving strong functional components. We selected 10 previously published and five unpublished Coleoptera abundance data sets, and produced biomass species-by-sample matrices using body length to body mass conversion equations, and then compared the results obtained using commonly used ecological analyses. 3Correlations between species abundance and biomass varied from strong to poor, depending on the taxa considered and on the sampling method used. We show that abundance and biomass can produce different results in community data analysis and lead to alternative interpretations for data sets with poor abundance to biomass correlations. 4Synthesis and applications. When dealing with databases showing poor abundance to biomass relationships, the question of the relevance of using biomass instead of abundance emerges, and the choice of the response variable to be used in analyses should be considered carefully. At the very least, when studying terrestrial arthropod biodiversity, one should consider the use of biomass with simple conversion equations that do not require obtaining the mass of individual specimens. This approach may lead to different interpretations. For research questions in which trophic interactions may play an important role, biomass may provide a broader and more accurate picture of the processes driving changes in community structure. [source] Using the extended quarter degree grid cell system to unify mapping and sharing of biodiversity dataAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009R. Larsen Abstract Information on the distribution of animal populations is essential for conservation planning and management. Unfortunately, shared coordinate-level data may have the potential to compromise sensitive species and generalized data are often shared instead to facilitate knowledge discovery and communication regarding species distributions. Sharing of generalized data is, unfortunately, often ad hoc and lacks scalable conventions that permit consistent sharing at larger scales and varying resolutions. One common convention in African applications is the Quarter Degree Grid Cells (QDGC) system. However, the current standard does not support unique references across the Equator and Prime Meridian. We present a method for extending QDGC nomenclature to support unique references at a continental scale for Africa. The extended QDGC provides an instrument for sharing generalized biodiversity data where laws, regulations or other formal considerations prevent or prohibit distribution of coordinate-level information. We recommend how the extended QDGC may be used as a standard, scalable solution for exchange of biodiversity information through development of tools for the conversion and presentation of multi-scale data at a variety of resolutions. In doing so, the extended QDGC represents an important alternative to existing approaches for generalized mapping and can help planners and researchers address conservation issues more efficiently. Résumé L'information sur la distribution des populations animales est essentielle pour la planification de la conservation et la gestion. Malheureusement, les données partagées au niveau des coordonnées risquent de compromettre les espèces sensibles, et les données généralisées sont souvent partagées pour faciliter la découverte et la communication des connaissances concernant la distribution des espèces. Le partage de données généralisées est, malheureusement, souvent opportuniste et manque de conventions mesurables qui permettraient le partage cohérent sur une plus grande échelle et à des résolutions variées. Une convention commune pour des applications africaines est le système de Quarter Degree Grid Cells (QDGC). Cependant, la norme actuelle ne supporte pas l'emploi des références uniques à travers l'Equateur et le premier méridien. Nous présentons une méthode pour étendre la nomenclature QDGC pour soutenir l'adoption de références uniques à l'échelle du continent, en Afrique. Le QDGC étendu fournit un instrument pour partager les données généralisées sur la biodiversité là où les lois, les réglementations et les autres considérations formelles empêchent ou interdisent la distribution de l'information au niveau coordonné. Nous disons dans quelle mesure le QDGC étendu peut être utilisé comme norme, une solution mesurable pour l'échange d'informations sur la biodiversité grâce au développement d'instruments pour la conversion et la présentation de données àéchelle multiple à des résolutions diverses. Ce faisant, le QDGC étendu représente une alternative importante aux approches existantes pour la cartographie généralisée et il peut aider les planificateurs et les chercheurs à traiter les problèmes de conservation plus efficacement. [source] Quantifying the effect of catchment land use and water nutrient concentrations on freshwater river and stream biodiversityAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 1 2009M. J. Weijters 1.A major threat to freshwater taxon diversity is the alteration of natural catchment Land use into agriculture, industry or urban areas and the associated eutrophication of the water. In order to stop freshwater biodiversity loss, it is essential to quantify the relationships between freshwater diversity and catchment Land use and water nutrient concentrations. 2.A literature survey was carried out on biodiversity data from rivers and streams. Fish and macroinvertebrates were selected as focal groups as they are widely used as indicator species of river and stream health. Only published data were selected that (a) compared data found at impaired sites with a pristine reference situation (either in time or space), (b) clearly defined the stressors studied (Land use cover and/or nutrient concentrations), and (c) clearly defined biodiversity (number of native species, species lists or IBI-scores). 3.The number of native taxa found in each study was transferred in an index of relative taxon richness (RTR) ranging from 0 (severely altered) to 100 (pristine reference conditions). Only those taxa were included that were (at least) present in the most pristine situation. This made it possible to combine, compare and analyse results from different studies. Catchment Land use was expressed as the percentage of non-natural Land use (agriculture, industry, housing or mining). As a measure of nutrients, the concentrations of NO3, NH4, PO4, total N and total P in the river and stream water were used. 4.Over 240 published articles have been studied, but only 22 met the criteria described above and could be used for further analysis. 5.This study showed that altered catchment Land use has a major effect on freshwater biodiversity and that the rate of species loss is serious; on average every 10% of lost natural catchment Land use cover leads to a loss of almost 6% (±0.83) of the native freshwater fish and macroinvertebrate species. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Managing biodiversity data within the context of climate change: towards best practiceAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010PAUL GIOIA Abstract Decision makers, planners and researchers have identified the need to assess the effects of climate change on biodiversity, resulting in extensive research across a number of fields. The availability of comprehensive, accurate and relevant data is central to undertaking effective research. However, the quality and availability of biodiversity information is substantially determined by current and historical data collection strategies. If researchers and planners are to make effective use of existing and future investments in biodiversity information, a strategic approach should be taken in identifying and implementing best practice information management. This paper discusses ways to improve institutional support for information management and increase the availability of quality information. The paper reviews the most common areas of climate change and biodiversity research, and identifies best practices in information management, focusing on data used within biodiversity and climate change analyses. [source] | ||||||||||