Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes
Background Primary biodiversity records (PBR) are essential in many areas of scientific research as they document the biodiversity through time and space. However, concerns about PBR quality and fitness-for-use have grown, especially as derived from taxonomical, geographical and sampling effort bias...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-12-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2743.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797418157292388352 |
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| author | Nora Escribano Arturo H. Ariño David Galicia |
| author_facet | Nora Escribano Arturo H. Ariño David Galicia |
| author_sort | Nora Escribano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Primary biodiversity records (PBR) are essential in many areas of scientific research as they document the biodiversity through time and space. However, concerns about PBR quality and fitness-for-use have grown, especially as derived from taxonomical, geographical and sampling effort biases. Nonetheless, the temporal bias stemming from data ageing has received less attention. We examine the effect of changes in land use in the information currentness, and therefore data obsolescence, in biodiversity databases. Methods We created maps of land use changes for three periods (1956–1985, 1985–2000 and 2000–2012) at 5-kilometres resolution. For each cell we calculated the percentage of land use change within each period. We then overlaid distribution data about small mammals, and classified each data as ‘non-obsolete or ‘obsolete,’ depending on both the amount of land use changes in the cell, and whether changes occurred at or after the data sampling’s date. Results A total of 14,528 records out of the initial 59,677 turned out to be non-obsolete after taking into account the changes in the land uses in Navarra. These obsolete data existed in 115 of the 156 cells analysed. Furthermore, more than one half of the remaining cells holding non-obsolete records had not been visited at least for the last fifteen years. Conclusion Land use changes challenge the actual information obtainable from biodiversity datasets and therefore its potential uses. With the passage of time, one can expect a steady increase in the availability and use of biological records—but not without them becoming older and likely to be obsolete by land uses changes. Therefore, it becomes necessary to assess records’ obsolescence, as it may jeopardize the knowledge and perception of biodiversity patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:28:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-036d4fe60c3e49dba49fd3fe501e1c33 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:28:27Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-036d4fe60c3e49dba49fd3fe501e1c332023-12-03T11:10:31ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-12-014e274310.7717/peerj.2743Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changesNora Escribano0Arturo H. Ariño1David Galicia2Department of Environmental Biology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, SpainDepartment of Environmental Biology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, SpainDepartment of Environmental Biology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, SpainBackground Primary biodiversity records (PBR) are essential in many areas of scientific research as they document the biodiversity through time and space. However, concerns about PBR quality and fitness-for-use have grown, especially as derived from taxonomical, geographical and sampling effort biases. Nonetheless, the temporal bias stemming from data ageing has received less attention. We examine the effect of changes in land use in the information currentness, and therefore data obsolescence, in biodiversity databases. Methods We created maps of land use changes for three periods (1956–1985, 1985–2000 and 2000–2012) at 5-kilometres resolution. For each cell we calculated the percentage of land use change within each period. We then overlaid distribution data about small mammals, and classified each data as ‘non-obsolete or ‘obsolete,’ depending on both the amount of land use changes in the cell, and whether changes occurred at or after the data sampling’s date. Results A total of 14,528 records out of the initial 59,677 turned out to be non-obsolete after taking into account the changes in the land uses in Navarra. These obsolete data existed in 115 of the 156 cells analysed. Furthermore, more than one half of the remaining cells holding non-obsolete records had not been visited at least for the last fifteen years. Conclusion Land use changes challenge the actual information obtainable from biodiversity datasets and therefore its potential uses. With the passage of time, one can expect a steady increase in the availability and use of biological records—but not without them becoming older and likely to be obsolete by land uses changes. Therefore, it becomes necessary to assess records’ obsolescence, as it may jeopardize the knowledge and perception of biodiversity patterns.https://peerj.com/articles/2743.pdfHistorical recordsLand use changesSmall mammalsTemporal biasBiodiversity datasetsPrimary biodiversity records |
| spellingShingle | Nora Escribano Arturo H. Ariño David Galicia Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes PeerJ Historical records Land use changes Small mammals Temporal bias Biodiversity datasets Primary biodiversity records |
| title | Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes |
| title_full | Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes |
| title_fullStr | Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes |
| title_short | Biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes |
| title_sort | biodiversity data obsolescence and land uses changes |
| topic | Historical records Land use changes Small mammals Temporal bias Biodiversity datasets Primary biodiversity records |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2743.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT noraescribano biodiversitydataobsolescenceandlanduseschanges AT arturoharino biodiversitydataobsolescenceandlanduseschanges AT davidgalicia biodiversitydataobsolescenceandlanduseschanges |