Comparative analyses across multiple species are a crucial tool for understanding biodiversity loss and resilience in the face of global change as well as evolution and adaptation.
Comparative analyses across multiple species are a crucial tool for understanding biodiversity loss and resilience in the face of global change as well as evolution and adaptation. This kind of analysis requires curated data from many species as well as a phylogeny linking those species. Unfortunately, efforts at compiling such data for insect and other arthropod species lag behind similar efforts for vertebrates and plants. While many independent resources exist (such as databases and recording schemes) that catalogue various arthropod traits, e.g. ecological habitats, distribution and occurrence, there remains a need for efforts to coordinate these various resources in a centralised, user-friendly way, via e.g. shared protocols, structures and ID tags, and for researchers to integrate these data easily into their workflows.
For more information: https://www.royensoc.co.uk/meeting/insect-data-special-interest-group