Why taxonomists and ecologists are not, but should be, carpooling?

Halme, Panu; Kuusela, Saija; Juslén, Aino

doi:10.1007/s10531-015-0899-3

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Synergistic work by plant taxonomists, tropical ecologists, and parataxonomists (16,(67)(68)(69)(70) is needed to complete the task of exploring, describing, revising, and mapping plant species across the vast expanses of the Amazon forests as anthropogenic habitat alteration proceeds in the region (64). It should be kept in mind that for many tropical plant groups, modern revisions are lacking and no specialists are available.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

Cardoso

Särkinen

Alexander

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

326

198

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Recent debates on the number of plant species in the vast lowland rain forests of the Amazon have been based largely on model estimates, neglecting published checklists based on verified voucher data. Here we collate taxonomically verified checklists to present a list of seed plant species from lowland Amazon rain forests. Our list comprises 14,003 species, of which 6,727 are trees. These figures are similar to estimates derived from nonparametric ecological models, but they contrast strongly with predictions of much higher tree diversity derived from parametric models. Based on the known proportion of tree species in neotropical lowland rain forest communities as measured in complete plot censuses, and on overall estimates of seed plant diversity in Brazil and in the neotropics in general, it is more likely that tree diversity in the Amazon is closer to the lower estimates derived from nonparametric models. Much remains unknown about Amazonian plant diversity, but this taxonomically verified dataset provides a valid starting point for macroecological and evolutionary studies aimed at understanding the origin, evolution, and ecology of the exceptional biodiversity of Amazonian forests.Amazonia | floristics | rain forests | seed plants | species diversity

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Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

Cardoso

Särkinen

Alexander

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

326

198

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Producing such databases with high standards and proper methods often requires collaboration between taxonomists and ecologists or conservation biologists (see Halme et al 2015;Sheldon 2016). However, the use of fungal biodiversity surrogates to raise awareness of threatened fungal habitats with the broader public cannot always be based on strong evidence.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

The history and future of fungi as biodiversity surrogates in forests

2017

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Biodiversity surrogates are commonly used in conservation biology. Here we review how fungi have been used as such in forest conservation, emphasizing proposed surrogate roles and practical applications. We show that many fungal surrogates have been suggested based on field experience and loose concepts, rather than on rigorously collected scientific data. Yet, they have played an important role, not only in forest conservation, but also in inspiring research in fungal ecology and forest history. We argue that, even in times of ecosystem oriented conservation planning and molecular tools to analyze fungal communities, fruit bodies of macrofungi have potential as convenient conservation shortcuts and easy tools to communicate complex biodiversity for a broader audience. To improve the reliability of future fungal surrogates we propose a three step protocol for developing evidence based schemes for practical application in forest conservation.

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“…These might include, for example, datasets comprised of taxa classified as either naturalized, invasive, declining, or threatened. We have included this step in the taxonomic cleaning process because this a particular area where taxonomy and ecology overlap considerably and they should not be considered separately (Graham et al 2004, Wheeler 2004, Halme et al 2015.…”

Section: Step 4: Identifying New Taxamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taxonomic cleaning during the assembly of plant ecological datasets can be an especially difficult process for non-taxonomists, not only because of the inherent complexities of taxonomy and the ongoing nature of taxonomic change (Chapman 2005), but also given the recent decline of taxonomic expertise and resources (Wheeler 2014, Halme et al 2015) that would normally be the first point of contact for taxonomic assistance (Gotelli 2004). The sorts of problems that need to be overcome during the assembly of plant ecological datasets include, among others, locating scientifically reliable source datasets, resolving issues of synonymy so that species' names are correct and currently accepted, and, where relevant, assigning the correct ecological status (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taxonomic perils and pitfalls of dataset assembly in ecology: a case study of the naturalized Asteraceae in Australia

Murray¹,

Martin²,

Phillips³

et al. 2017

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The value of plant ecological datasets with hundreds or thousands of species is principally determined by the taxonomic accuracy of their plant names. However, combining existing lists of species to assemble a harmonized dataset that is clean of taxonomic errors can be a difficult task for non-taxonomists. Here, we describe the range of taxonomic difficulties likely to be encountered during dataset assembly and present an easy-to-use taxonomic cleaning protocol aimed at assisting researchers not familiar with the finer details of taxonomic cleaning. The protocol produces a final dataset (FD) linked to a companion dataset (CD), providing clear details of the path from existing lists to the FD taken by each cleaned taxon. Taxa are checked off against ten categories in the CD that succinctly summarize all taxonomic modifications required. Two older, publicly-available lists of naturalized Asteraceae in Australia were merged into a harmonized dataset as a case study to quantify the impacts of ignoring the critical process of taxonomic cleaning in invasion ecology. Our FD of naturalized Asteraceae contained 257 species and infra-species. Without implementation of the full cleaning protocol, the dataset would have contained 328 taxa, a 28% overestimate of taxon richness by 71 taxa. Our naturalized Asteraceae CD described the exclusion of 88 names due to nomenclatural issues (e.g. synonymy), the inclusion of 26 updated currently accepted names and four taxa newly naturalized since the production of the source datasets, and the exclusion of 13 taxa that were either found not to be in Australia or were in fact doubtfully naturalized. This study also supports the notion that automated processes alone will not be enough to ensure taxonomically clean datasets, and that manual scrutiny of data is essential. In the long term, this will best be supported by increased investment in taxonomy and botany in university curricula. NeoBiotaBrad R. Murray et al. / NeoBiota 34: 1-20 (2017) 2

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Why taxonomists and ecologists are not, but should be, carpooling?

Cited by 25 publications

References 27 publications

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

The history and future of fungi as biodiversity surrogates in forests

Taxonomic perils and pitfalls of dataset assembly in ecology: a case study of the naturalized Asteraceae in Australia

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