Science Review2018

An annual compilation of research data uses enabled by 2 3

Foreword

Compared to last year, 2017 saw a 60 per cent increase in number of scientific About the Science Review publications relying on GBIF-mediated data The GBIF Science Review provides an annual survey literature index at https://www.gbif.org/resource/ As in previous years, this GBIF Science Review engineers and frequently volunteers to transform drawn from the Secretariat’s ongoing literature search?contentType=literature. gives an exciting overview of the breadth and all of this knowledge into standardized digital tracking programme, which identifies research importance of research based on biodiversity formats. And, of course, the publications uses and citations of biodiversity information As in previous years, the categories used here are accessed through GBIF’s global infrastructure. The intended to help readers navigate the major subject data mobilized through the GBIF network. In the summarized in this review are the results of areas of GBIF-assisted research, despite the fact 2018 edition, which surveys literature published research funding, the outputs of research peer-reviewed articles summarized in the following pages offer a partial but instructive view of research that some papers may cut across multiple topics. in 2017, we note a nearly 60 per cent growth institutions, and the work of researchers active investigations enhanced and supported by free and For clarity’s sake, articles appear under only one Review in number of papers using GBIF-mediated data in areas as diverse as taxonomy and ecology, open access to data that the GBIF network of members category in the . Countries assigned to authors compared to 2016. With continued increases medicine and food security, climate change and and publishers make available. are based on the location of the institutions identified in data mobilization efforts across the GBIF sustainability. GBIF sits at the heart of all this in the author information, while funding information We have labelled open-access scientific articles included for the highlighted papers draws upon the network, more than 280 new publishers started activity, a broker or catalyst that makes much using the symbol a. We feel this step serves those papers’ acknowledgements. sharing their data openly and freely, adding of this possible and everywhere contributes to interested in reading the research at a time of to the more than 250 million new species collaboration and reuse. institutional journal subscriptions. Those interested in sharing research uses that have escaped our attention can write to us at occurrences indexed by GBIF.org in 2017. This I particularly wish to acknowledge that this The comprehensive list of the year’s uses remains [email protected]. development has since allowed the community to review would not exist without the efforts of decoupled from the printed version of the Science pass a significant milestone, as the one billionth many in the GBIF network to support researchers Review and is available exclusively through the online occurrence record was published in July 2018. and to encourage good citation of data. Above all, This document demonstrates why a community our Science Communications Coordinator, Daniel and infrastructure like GBIF is necessary. Noesgaard has worked tirelessly through the year Countless people from all over the world played to monitor new publications and to produce the some part in making all of this research possible. compact summaries that make up most of this Generations of scientists and naturalists provided document. the observations, collections, measurements CONTENTS and identifications now brought together in the GBIF data index. Much of this effort would be DONALD HOBERN Uses and trends �� 4 invisible without all the associated contributions GBIF Executive Secretary Biodiversity and human health �� 6 by collection staff, database managers, software September 2018 Biodiversity data �� 9 Crops and pollinators ��13 Ecology, evolution, behaviour and systematics ��15 Cover photo: Impacts of climate change ��26 Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta subsp. elegans) available at https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1269537010. Photo taken by amalibrahim and published through GBIF.org via iNaturalist Research-grade Observations. Licensed Invasive alien species ��29 under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. On the distribution of species ��34 Rights: The GBIF Science Review is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Species conservation and protected areas ��40

Citation: GBIF Secretariat. (2018). GBIF Science Review 2018. https://doi.org/10.15468/VA9B-3048 4 5

Uses and trends NUMBER OF ARTICLES WITH AUTHORS BY COUNTRY/ISLAND/TERRITORY 190 United States 84 United Kingdom These visualizations of the use of GBIF-mediated data serve to show not just the growing number of countries, islands & peer-reviewed publications appearing each year, but also the increasing number of countries, islands 76 Germany and territories whose institutions host authors who apply the data in their research articles. Each 75 Brazil territories with authors who trend highlights the GBIF network’s widening sphere of influence and impact on scientific research 68 Spain used GBIF-mediated data related to the biological domain. 57 Australia • Mexico in peer-reviewed papers 54 China published in 2017 49 Canada 46 France 35 Switzerland 27 South Africa 102 25 Argentina • Colombia • Italy ANNUAL NUMBER OF PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES USING GBIF-MEDIATED DATA 22 Netherlands 21 Denmark • Norway 69 20 India 71 2017 450 696 80 18 Belgium 135 15 Czechia • Portugal • Sweden 2016 438 438 14 Poland Proportion and number of papers by authors 557 12 Chile • Russia 2015 407 407 239 within GBIF regions 11 New Zealand 2014 350 347 10 Ecuador 9 Greece • Taiwan 241 2013 249 249 8 Costa Rica • Iran • Japan • Turkey 7 Austria • Egypt • Finland 2012 229 229 6 Hungary • Israel • Peru 42+18+1066+K 2011 169 169 5 Ireland • Kenya 4 Indonesia • Saudi Arabia • Benin • Cameroon • Nigeria 2010 148 148 3 Bangladesh • Guatemala • Hong Kong • New Caledonia • Panama • Senegal • Serbia Singapore • Slovenia • Ukraine • Uruguay • Venezuela • Viet Nam 2009 89 89 2 Cuba • Ghana • South Korea • Kuwait • Libya • Malaysia • Morocco • Nepal • Pakistan Romania • Slovakia • Tunisia • United Arab Emirates 2008 52 52 1 Armenia • Azerbaijan • Bolivia • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Bulgaria • Burkina Faso Chad • Estonia • Ethiopia • Falkland Islands (Malvinas) • French Guiana • Georgia Guyana • Honduras • Iraq • Jamaica • Kyrgyzstan • Laos • Luxembourg • Malta Mozambique • Nicaragua • Niger • Paraguay • Puerto Rico • Qatar • Tanzania Thailand • Zimbabwe

GBIF Regions Asia Africa Europe Latin America North America Oceania 6 7

selection from a cultural perspective, while at the Revealing a high correlation between significant health human Biodiversity and human health same time identifying plants with potential medicinal mosquito-mammal interactions and confirmed human properties for pharmacological studies. Zika infections, the study provides new material for The researchers identify 34 different cultural groups future studies in Zika virus maintenance. each with their own local names and conceived Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-017- etiologies of the disease. In one community, the glow 1206-4 of a lightning bug is believed to be the cause, while others point to the consumption of poisonous animals. THE FUTURE OF RAGWEED: MAKING MORE Treatments vary but all relate to the local perception EUROPEANS SNEEZE of the disease, which also affects the selection of DATA USED: 10,539 SPECIES OCCURRENCES a Rasmussen K, Thyrring J, Muscarella R and Borchsenius plant remedies. In one group, remedies based on fast- F (2017) Climate-change-induced range shifts of three growing plants are used when disease progression is allergenic ragweeds (Ambrosia L.) in Europe and their quick, and vice versa. potential impact on human health. PeerJ. PeerJ 5: e3104. Using GBIF-mediated occurrences, the researchers Author country/area: Denmark classify the identified plant species, and find that Research funding: National Science Foundation preferred traditional antileishmanials are native to Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) is considered to be among Amazonia, but often wild. Through phytochemical the most potent aeroallergens and the major cause and pharmacological review, the study surveys of late summer hay fever. Medical costs exceed $18 the medicinal properties of the species, providing billion per year in the US, and in Hungary, one in four candidates for potential therapeutic trials. people are allergic to ragweed, making this member Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) a major public jep.2017.01.048 health concern. In the present study, researchers from Denmark ARTIBEUS JAMAICENSIS BY CHERYL HARLESTON https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1291683823 CC BY-NC 4.0 PREDICTING RISK OF ZIKA INFECTIONS THROUGH CO-OCCURRENCE OF VECTOR AND HOST used GBIF-mediated occurrences of three Ambrosia BUILDING A NETWORK OF CHAGAS VECTORS AND Triatominae species are also present, and ten host DATA USED: 37,297 SPECIES OCCURRENCES species (A. artemisiifolia, A. psilostachya and A. trifida) HOSTS species are potentially associated with three or more González-Salazar C, Stephens CR and Sánchez-Cordero V to create species distribution models for quantifying DATA USED: 47,942 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Triatominae bugs. Two species, Baiomys musculus (2017) Predicting the Potential Role of Non-human Hosts the allergy risk in Europe under future climates. Their Rengifo-Correa L, Stephens CR, Morrone JJ, Téllez- and Liomys pictus, are highlighted as potentially in Zika Virus Maintenance. EcoHealth. Springer Nature results showed that areas of high risk are likely to Rendón JL and González-Salazar C (2017) Understanding associated with five Triatominae species. 14(1): 171–177. double by the year 2100, leading to novel risk areas in transmissibility patterns of Chagas disease through Author country/area: Mexico Denmark, France, Germany, Russia and the Baltics. The researchers test the predictive power of the complex vector–host networks. Parasitology. Cambridge Research funding: Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de University Press (CUP) 144(06): 760–772. network by confirming the presence of verified Chagas Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica hosts. The additional co-occurrences provide testable Author country/area: Mexico Vector-borne public health threats such as Zika, Research funding: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, hypotheses for new vector-host interactions to be Dengue and Chikungunya are caused by highly Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, addressed. Fronteras de la Ciencia mutable arboviruses with potential for rapid adaptive Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1017/ changes in response to new hosts and host ranges. Chagas disease is a parasitical infection caused by S0031182016002468 While mosquito vectors such as Aedes aegypti have the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi occurring in the USING TRADITIONAL REMEDIES TO INSPIRE been identified, understanding the role of mammalian American tropics. Typically transmitted through MODERN MEDICINES reservoir hosts in the maintenance of arboviruses insect bites by so-called kissing bugs (subfamily DATA USED: 291 SPECIES is crucial to limiting spread and emergence of these Triatominae), Chagas is usually associated with mild Odonne G, Houël E, Bourdy G and Stien D (2017) Treating diseases. symptoms, however, chronic infections can lead to leishmaniasis in Amazonia: A review of ethnomedicinal cardiac, digestive or neurological alterations. concepts and pharmaco-chemical analysis of traditional In this study, researchers from Mexico used GBIF- treatments to inspire modern phytotherapies. Journal of mediated species occurrences to identify potential Little is known about the transmission patterns of the Ethnopharmacology. Elsevier BV 199: 211–230. mammalian blood-meal sources for Ae. aegypti and parasite, and in this study, researchers used GBIF- as such, potential arbovirus hosts. These biotic Author country/area: France mediated occurrences of potential mammalian host interactions led to a ranked list of mammalian species, species combined with records of Triatominae species Research funding: Agence Nationale de la Recherche AMBROSIA TRIFIDA BY JULIABOHEMIAN https://www.gbif.org/ including seven bat species in the top 10, of which two occurrence/1640119729 CC BY-NC 4.0 to generate a complex interference network and Reviewing literature on traditional remedies for species are already confirmed dengue hosts, and four predict interactions from co-occurrences. leishmaniasis in Amazonia, this study attempts species are hosts of protozoan parasites Leishmania A third of the mammals occur in sites where to understand the mechanisms underlying plant mexicana and Trypanosoma cruzi. 8 9

Understanding the future distributions of such research could help to target key monitoring sites, allergenic plants is crucial to predicting the inform vector control measures and supplement Biodiversity data consequences for human health. The authors of education campaigns aimed at preventing the spread this study conclude that unless strict management of JEV in environmentally suitable locales. strategies are enforced, restricting dispersal and Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017- establishment of new colonies, Europe will face a 2086-8 substantial increase in areas affected by severe human health ragweed associated allergy problems. MORE HUMANS–MORE VIRAL SPILLOVER EVENTS Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3104 DATA USED: 7,126 SPECIES OCCURRENCES a Walsh MG, Wiethoelter A and Haseeb MA (2017) The MAPPING MOSQUITOES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC impact of human population pressure on flying fox niches HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING and the potential consequences for Hendra virus spillover. DATA USED: 1,172 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Scientific Reports. Springer Nature 7(1). a Longbottom J, Browne AJ, Pigott DM, Sinka ME, Golding Author countries/areas: Australia, United States N, Hay SI, Moyes CL and Shearer FM (2017) Mapping the Research funding: None listed spatial distribution of the Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, 1901 (Diptera: Culicidae) When human activities lead to changed landscapes, within areas of Japanese encephalitis risk. Parasites & new ecosystem configurations may entail, Vectors. Springer Nature 10(1). subsequently increasing potential for unprecedented Author countries/areas: Australia, United Kingdom, United contact between humans and wildlife, including States species carrying human pathogens. Research funding: Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Bats are known reservoirs of Nipah, Ebola and Foundation, University of Melbourne, University of Oxford Hendra viruses, the latter being the focus of a study Culex tritaeniorhyncus, a mosquito native to northern examining how human migration in Australia has Asia, is the primary vector of Japanese encephalitis affected the range of fruit bats Pteropus( spp.)–also SALIX CAPREA BY MARTIN GRIMM https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1455569693 CC BY-NC 4.0 virus (JEV). A relative of dengue, yellow fever and known as flying foxes–and whether these changes West Nile, this flavivirus infects nearly 68,000 are associated with Hendra virus spillover events, EXPANDING OBIS BEYOND SPECIES OCCURRENCES workshop in Oostende in 2015, at which members of humans each year, triggering incurable brain i.e when a virus passes from a reservoir to a novel the project consortium used pilot datasets to design a De Pooter D, Appeltans W, Bailly N, Bristol S, Deneudt inflammation that causes death in up to 30 per cent of species. DwC-based solutions to challenges of combined K, Eliezer M, Fujioka E, Giorgetti A, Goldstein P, Lewis M, the cases and permanent neurological or psychiatric oceanic data. Using GBIF-mediated occurrences, the authors Lipizer M, Mackay K, Marin M, Moncoiffé G, Nikolopoulou damage in another 30 to 50 per cent. modelled the distribution of four flying fox species S, Provoost P, Rauch S, Roubicek A, Torres C, van de The workshop explored several different combinations The World Health Organization estimates that more in mainland Australia based on climate variables Putte A, Vandepitte L, Vanhoorne B, Vinci M, Wambiji N, of DwC components and extensions, and decided that than 3 billion people in 24 countries in Southeast Asia and human migration across three decades from Watts D, Klein Salas E and Hernandez F (2017) Toward the most suitable solution would be based on the and the Western Pacific risk exposure to JEV infection. 1980. The models showed that the niches of two a new data standard for combined marine biological and Event Core combined with an Occurrence extension But as with many arboviruses, the distribution of its species in particular have expanded southward along environmental datasets - expanding OBIS beyond species and a revised MeasurementOrFact extension. The occurrences. Biodiversity Data Journal. Pensoft Publishers arthropod vectors is poorly documented. Here the the eastern coast, following increases in human proposed standard will allow OBIS to move beyond just 5: e10989. authors combined 225 Cx. tritaeniorhyncus records population, especially in the 1990s. occurrence data and enable publishing of event-based from GBIF.org along with data from VectorMap and Author countries/areas: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, datasets combining biological, physical and chemical Finally, the authors showed how the changing 21st-century scientific literature, in hope of improving Greece, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, United Kingdom, measurements. geometry of flying fox habitat was strongly associated knowledge of where the species occurs and mapping United States, Venezuela with Hendra virus spillovers, adding knowledge about Research funding: None listed Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.5.e10989 environmentally suitable areas for incidence of JEV. epidemiology and infection ecology of this rare, but The Ocean Biogeographic Information System THE GLOBAL POLLEN PROJECT: PROVIDING OPEN In addition to predicting high suitability in India, fatal zoonosis. (OBIS) was established in 2000 to create an online, AND FREE ACCESS TO POLLEN IDENTIFICATION Nepal and China, the resulting models draw specific Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017- user-friendly system for absorbing, integrating and DATA attention to highly suitable regions in northwest India, 08065-z accessing data about life in the oceans. In 2005, DATA USED: 1,500 SPECIES southeast Pakistan, northern Japan and southeast OBIS adapted the Darwin Core (DwC) standard for a Martin AC and Harvey WJ (2017) The Global Pollen Russia where records of Cx. tritaeniorhyncus are Project: a new tool for pollen identification and the biodiversity data, which supports publishing through lacking. While higher resolution occurrence data dissemination of physical reference collections. Methods GBIF. could improve the maps’ ability to assess risks, this in Ecology and Evolution. Wiley-Blackwell 8(7): 892–897. Following the implementation of sampling event data Author country/area: United Kingdom in GBIF, OBIS established a pilot project to investigate Research funding: Natural Environment Research Council best practices for storing and sharing combined datasets. This paper summarizes the findings of a See all Biodiversity and human health citations at GBIF.org 10 11

Environmental changes affect vegetation dynamics national datasets from Europe into one meta-dataset, TRACKING FREE-ROAMING CHEETAHS OUTSIDE TRACKING THE INVASION OF SOSNOWSKY’S and analyses of both fossil and modern pollen called ClimFun. Through nomenclatural harmonization, PROTECTED AREAS OF SOUTH AFRICA HOGWEED IN THE KOMI REPUBLIC assemblages can be an important source of evidence. formatting and filtering, the resulting dataset spans DATA PUBLISHED: 3,165 SPECIES OCCURRENCES DATA USED: 10,894 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Taxonomic identification of pollen grains, however, can six million records of more than 10,000 species. a Marnewick K, Page-Nicholson S, Roxburgh L and Somers a Chadin I, Dalke I, Zakhozhiy I, Malyshev R, Madi E,

be a daunting task, as existing reference collections M (2017) Tracking data from nine free-roaming Cheetahs Kuzivanova O, Kirillov D and Elsakov V (2017) Distribution data biodiversity To demonstrate the value of the database, the (Acinonyx jubatus) collared in the Thabazimbi area, of the invasive plant species Heracleum sosnowskyi are kept private and inaccessible to researchers. researchers show simple examples of climate-related Limpopo Province, South Africa. Biodiversity Data Journal. Manden. in the Komi Republic (Russia). PhytoKeys. Pensoft This paper presents a new online, open and peer- shifts in the fruiting dates for two species, Amanita Pensoft Publishers 5: e11323. Publishers 77: 71–80. reviewed database of pollen data from across the rubescens and Hypholoma fasciculare. The patterns Author country/area: South Africa Author country/area: Russia world, allowing submission and identification of found rely on data spanning more than 15 degrees Research funding: GBIF Research funding: Russian Foundation for Basic Research, unknown grains through crowdsourcing, as well as of latitude and altitudes from sea level to 1700 m, Government of Komi Republic a repository for digitization and sharing of existing and are as such only achievable because of the Two of South Africa’s cheetah populations exist The autonomous Komi Republic located in the north- reference collections. Connected to the GBIF.org continental scale of the data. in protected areas, while a third roams free on privately owned ranchland outside protected areas. east of the Russian Plain constitutes an important biodiversity data database, The Global Pollen Project (GPP) tool Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. biogeographic boundary between the European and provides direct and easy linkage from pollen grains to fbr.2017.01.001 Asian continents. Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum occurrences for more than 1,500 plant species. DEVELOPING A COMMON STRUCTURAL sosnowskyi) was introduced as a forage crop in Generating new opportunities for research, the FRAMEWORK FOR DATA PAPERS the second half of the 20th century, but now all GPP tool can be a valuable resource for automatic populations in the region are invasive. pollen identification through machine learning. As a Chen Y-N (2017) An analysis of characteristics and This data paper represents a study of the distribution an alternative to physical slides that degrade over structures embedded in data papers: a preliminary study. of H. sosnowskyi in the Komi Republic recorded time, the tool has already proven useful in university Libellarium: journal for the research of writing, books, and from moving vehicles mounted with video cameras teaching by being incorporated in lectures and lab cultural heritage institutions. University of Zadar 9(2). synched with GPS trackers. Traveling at speeds of up exercises. Author country/area: Taiwan to 90 km/h, the study vehicles collected data within a Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041- Research funding: None listed radius of 300 km around Syktyvkar, capital of Komi. 210X.12752 Many institutions, including GBIF, encourage sharing The reseachers broke the recorded video feeds into of research data through data papers that extend BIG DATA PUTTING THE ‘FUN’ BACK IN FUNGAL frames and sorted the images based on H. sosnowskyi RESEARCH metadata in a way that mirrors the traditional occurrences. The final dataset contains 10,894 scientific publication model. Dozens of journals now DATA USED: 245,382 SPECIES OCCURRENCES ACINONYX JUBATUS BY WILLIAM_WALLDEN https://www.gbif.org/ occurrence records, all of which are available through Andrew C, Heegaard E, Kirk PM, Bässler C, Heilmann- accept data papers, however, as highlighted by this occurrence/1315076539 CC BY-NC 4.0 GBIF.org. Clausen J, Krisai-Greilhuber I, Kuyper TW, Senn-Irlet B, study, they lack a common standard. Under continuous threat from illegal wildlife trade Using the recorded occurrences combined with Büntgen U, Diez J, Egli S, Gange AC, Halvorsen R, Høiland By reviewing submission templates and guidelines and retaliatory killings by ranch owners to protect bioclimatic variables, the researchers modeled the K, Nordén J, Rustøen F, Boddy L and Kauserud H (2017) from 26 data journals, the authors describe a unifying Big data integration: Pan-European fungal species livestock, this population is, however, the largest in potential distribution of the weed, and determined the framework consisting mainly of three distinct observations’ assembly for addressing contemporary South Africa. northern range boundary to 67.2°. questions in ecology and global change biology. Fungal components: 1) basic information (e.g. title, abstract, During a tracking programme of nearly six years, Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3897/ Biology Reviews. Elsevier BV 31(2): 88–98. author, etc.), 2) dataset descriptions (i.e. how was data collected, how it was formatted, what does researchers trapped nine free-roaming cheetahs, phytokeys.77.11186 Author countries/areas: Austria, Czechia, Denmark, it cover, etc.), and 3) relationships (i.e. links and six males and three females, and fitted them with Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, United SSDM: A NEW SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR CREATING references). tracking collars. The cheetahs were then released and Kingdom, United States STACKED SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELS tracked for the remainder of their lives (or the life of Research funding: Research Council of Norway The authors use the proposed framework to highlight DATA USED: 6,641,610 SPECIES OCCURRENCES the collar). Schmitt S, Pouteau R, Justeau D, de Boissieu F and Open access to biodiversity data presents an the successful case of mapping metadata directly derived from the GBIF Integrated Publishing Toolkit At the conclusion of the programme, four animals Birnbaum P (2017) ssdm: An r package to predict unparalleled potential for understanding many distribution of species richness and composition based on (IPT) onto a data paper template that can be edited had been shot and one killed on the road, while one aspects of the ecology and biogeography of stacked species distribution models. Methods in Ecology male, tracked for nearly six years had died of natural organisms. Many national initiatives have gathered and submitted to a journal for consideration. and Evolution. Wiley 8(12): 1795–1803. causes. The fate of the remaining three animals species occurrence records from e.g. citizen science As of September 2018, authors have contributed was unknown. The dataset, published in entirety to Author country/area: New Caledonia projects and museums, however, to answer global- to more than 75 data papers describing datasets GBIF, revealed that ranges of free-roaming cheetahs Research funding: Direction for Economic and scale questions, data needs to transcend national published in GBIF. Environmental Development (DDEE) of the North Province of covered on average 18 ranches, and that male borders. New Caledonia Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.15291/libellarium. cheetahs had slightly larger ranges than females. Striking in their absence from analyses of species’ v9i2.266 In this paper, reseachers based in New Caledonia Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.5.e11323 shifts in response to climate change, fungi are the present a new user-friendly platform for stacking focus of this study, in which researchers compile nine species distribution models (SSDM) implemented in 12 13

the popular R software environment. Free and open and Anthozoa (corals) lack species-level identification source, the “SSDM” package takes datasets of species in a third of the occurrences. Within certain insect Crops and pollinators presence/absence records and environmental orders, however, taxonomic presicion is as low as 0.5 variables, outputting maps of SSDMs based on a range per cent. of statistical methods. If absence records are required Further comparing number of species with and not available, the package can generate pseudo- occurrences, with known species richness within absences or use background data. each class, the researchers found birds and insects SSDM features a user-friendly graphical interface to be the most over- and under-represented classes, to accommodate loading of input data, modelling, respectively. This bias is not new, but recent growth in and displaying the resulting model maps with an data also shows that this gap is not becoming smaller. indication of the accurracy and performance. Only in three classes (birds, amphibians and ray- To demonstrate the functionality and ease of use, finned fishes) did fewer than half the species have 20 biodiversity data the authors modelled the distributions of 100 of occurrences. In comparison, less than nine per cent of the world’s worst invasive alien species using more arthropod species has a similar coverage. than 6 million occurrences downloaded from GBIF. Relating these findings to number of web results for org combined with 19 WorldClim climate variables. different species as a proxy for societal preferences, Stacking the models, the output map provides a their model uncovered several significant correlations view of the worldwide vulnerability to these invasive showing that a high societal preference is related species. to a high number of GBIF occurrences. This was, The SSDM package is available for download from however, not the case for taxonomic research (proxied CRAN or within the R environment. by number of research papers published), where Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041- the model revealed fewer correlations that in some 210X.12841 cases were even negative. For instance, for the class Agaricomycetes having a large volume of research BOMBUS PENSYLVANICUS BY KATHY RICHARDSON https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1847522785 CC BY-NC 4.0 IS TAXONOMIC BIAS IN GBIF EXPLAINED BY was related to a lower number of GBIF occurrences. When analysing the maps, the authors found that RESEARCH FOCUS OR SOCIETAL PREFERENCES? IDENTIFYING GAPS TO PRIORITIZE AREAS FOR Hordeum murinum (CWR of barley) and Vicia sativa DATA ANALYSED: 649,767,741 SPECIES OCCURRENCES The authors conclude: CROP WILD RELATIVE CONSERVATION (CWR of fava beans) have the largest number of a Troudet J, Grandcolas P, Blin A, Vignes-Lebbe R and > Many international projects have been developed DATA USED: 39,598 SPECIES OCCURRENCES spatial gaps. They generate a ranked list of 10x10 km Legendre F (2017) Taxonomic bias in biodiversity data and since the Convention on Biological Diversity, a García RM, Parra-Quijano M and Iriondo JM (2017) A Multispecies Collecting Strategy for Crop Wild Relatives cells based on gap richness and find 523 populations societal preferences. Scientific Reports. Springer Nature illustrating an increased awareness of the astonishing 7(1). Based on Complementary Areas with a High Density of in the top 10 areas across 58 taxa, of which 24 are not diversity of functions and services that biodiversity Ecogeographical Gaps. Crop Science. Crop Science Society Author country/area: France present in current germplasm collections. supports. Nevertheless, while biodiversity declines of America 57(3): 1059. Research funding: Ministère de la Recherche at an unprecedented rate, taxonomic bias is still a Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.2135/ burden on biodiversity studies. It is urgent that we Author countries/areas: Colombia, Spain cropsci2016.10.0860 Describing and understanding taxonomic biases and Research funding: None listed their causes are undeniable priorities. Attempts to get rid of this burden and that we start embracing the REFORESTATION THROUGH HOMEGARDEN-BASED explain taxonomic bias include, apart from obvious, whole of biodiversity. (CC BY 4.0) As climates change and the global human population NATURAL REGENERATION keeps increasing, crop production and food security intrinsic reasons (such as species in remote Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017- DATA USED: 250 SPECIES is under threat. Current cultivars lack adaptive locations), also extrinsic factors, such as research 09084-6 Rooduijn B, Bongers F and van der Wal H (2018) Wild focus and societal pressures. mechanisms, so securing potential genetic diversity native trees in tropical homegardens of Southeast Mexico: in crop wild relatives (CWR) is crucial. Fostered by fragmentation, mediated by management. In this study, researchers quantify the relative impact In a study published in Crop Science, researchers Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Elsevier BV 254: of taxonomic research and societal preferences on 149–161. taxonomic bias in data from GBIF, the world’s largest present a new approach to prioritizing areas for open access biodiversity database. collecting seeds. Based on a list of 88 mainly cereal Author countries/areas: Mexico, Netherlands and legume priority taxa from the Spanish National Research funding: PROMEP CA SEP, CONACYT Using a range of measures the researchers assessed Inventory of CWR, the authors used occurrence data Providing ecological, economic and socio-cultural both bias and precision across 626 million GBIF- from GBIF to derive the most relevant bioclimatic, values to local communities, tropical home gardens mediated occurrences representing one million edaphic and geophysic variables for the taxa in (THG) are diversified agroforestry systems also species in 24 taxonomic classes. They find that 94 per question. Using the most important variables for supporting important ecosystem services such as cent of occurrences are identified (at least) at species each species, they generated land characterization pollination and decomposition. THGs may also act level. Highest precision is found among plants, fungi maps to identify ecogeographic and spatial gaps, i.e. as both sinks and sources of tropical biodiversity, and birds, whereas classes Maxillopoda (crustaceans) distance to location of available accessions. however, quantitative evaluation of such dynamics

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remain largely lacking. usage of the fungicide chlorothalonil was the best In this study, authors examined abundance and predictor of prevalence of the bumblebee pathogen Ecology, evolution, behaviour and systematics diversity of wild native trees in THGs in the lowlands Nosema bombi in four declining species. They also of Tabasco state in southeast Mexico–completely found that total fungicide usage was correlated with deforested in the 1950s and onwards–while range contractions in all declining species. assessing the role of tree cover fragmentation and Adding to existing evidence, this study highlights socio-management. They inventoried a random fungicide exposure–linked to pathogen prevalence– selection of 59 THGs in 19 villages equally spread as a critical factor affecting threatened and across the region, using GBIF to validate the origin of endangered bumblebees in the US. plant species observed. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1098/ Their analysis revealed that while tree cover rspb.2017.2181 fragmentation affects the level of self-established vs planted trees, socio-management–i.e. complex gardens with species-knowledgable owners–plays a bigger role also in terms of density of native trees and individual species’ abundances. Showing that THGs are important sinks for wild native trees, the study concludes that homegarden- crops and pollinators based natural regeneration may be a key resource in reforestation. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. agee.2017.10.015

THE DEMISE OF BUMBLEBEES: LINKING HAKEA LAURINA BY LINGER https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1099976883 CC BY-NC 4.0 PESTICIDES AND PATHOGENS TO DECLINING POPULATIONS ASSESSING ENDEMICITY OF JAPANESE FUNGI By examining two volumes of Colored Illustrations of DATA USED: 67,725 SPECIES OCCURRENCES DATA USED: 109 TAXA Mushrooms of Japan (I and II) (Imazeki and Hong 1987, McArt SH, Urbanowicz C, McCoshum S, Irwin RE and Adler , , , & . (2016). 1989), a masterpiece on mycobiota information, LS (2017) Landscape predictors of pathogen prevalence 剛細矢志穂美埋橋健太郎保坂伸一工藤 An assessment of fungi endemic to Japan. researchers reviewed the comments of 3,928 and range contractions in US bumblebees. Proceedings of Japanese Journal of Mycology], 57(2),日本菌学会会 77–84. the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The Royal Society 報 [ mushrooms and found clear mention of endemicity for 284(1867): 20172181. Author country/area: Japan 182 taxa. These were selected and further assessed Research funding: None listed by referring to the GBIF-mediated records for Author country/area: United States Research funding: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Summary by Tsuyoshi Hosoya (GBIF Japan) occurrences in other countries. NSF Fungi are one of the most important and highly diverse Results revealed 109 taxa already known to occur Efficient pollinators of wild flowering plants and crops, groups of organisms. Although some attention has outside Japan that should not be categorized as bumblebees provide important ecosystem services, been given to species with interest for conservation endemic. However, for 71 taxa endemicity could not threatened by range contractions and declining biology, such as endangered or invasive alien species, be ruled out, and at present, these should be accepted populations. In the US, this has been linked to a variety none of these have been examined systematically. as possible endemic mushrooms. of factors including urbanization, pesticides and In the present paper, the authors seek to assess Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.18962/jjom.57.2_77 pathogens. the endemicity of Japanese fungi using GBIF- In a study of bumblebees in the US, authors attempt mediated data. Endemic species are unique to a given UNRAVELLING THE PLANT BIODIVERSITY geographic location, such as an island, country or HOTSPOTS OF MEDITERRANEAN-TYPE to elucidate the relative importance of different ECOSYSTEMS stressors associated with range contractions. At 284 other defined area. Categorizing a species as endemic should be limited to well-known species to avoid DATA USED: 9,762 SPECIES OCCURRENCES sites, they sampled and identified Bombus species, Skeels A and Cardillo M (2017) Environmental niche while screening for pathogens and quantifying falsely classifying due to lack of data. Proving the conservatism explains the accumulation of species landscape and pesticide usage. endemicity of a species is difficult, if not impossible. richness in Mediterranean-hotspot plant genera. Evolution. Primary biodiversity data, however, makes it easy to Combining the field data with GBIF-mediated Wiley-Blackwell 71(3): 582–594. confirm the occurrence of a species in an overseas occurrences of eight target species, the authors used Author country/area: Australia location and thereby rule out endemicity. a machine learning model technique to show that the Research funding: None listed

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Although much lower in productivity than tropical link between fire frequency and bark thickness. On woody plants and how they relate to spring IDENTIFYING AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES USING regions, some ecosystems with Mediterranean-like average, species found in fire-frequent savannas temperature predictability in East Asia, Europe, NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING climates (MTE) are biological hotspots with species have bark three times thicker than species in fire- and North America. By combining experimental and DATA USED: 222 FAMILIES diversity comparable to that of the tropics. The infrequent forests. monitoring data for a large representative set of Carew ME, Metzeling L, St Clair R and Hoffmann AA (2017) evolutionary and ecological mechanisms behind this species, they reveal continental-scale differences in Detecting invertebrate species in archived collections The researchers further assessed the vulnerability using next-generation sequencing. Molecular Ecology phenomenon are poorly understood. leaf-out strategies, as plants from North America with of communities under future scenarios, and found Resources. Wiley-Blackwell. high spring temperature variability have much higher In this study, researchers test the hypothesis that that seasonal forests and savannas are robust, while Author country/area: Australia processes similar to those driving diversity in the tropical rainforests may be especially vulnerable, winter chilling requirements than related species in East Asia with low spring temperature variability. Research funding: Australian Research Council, Melbourne tropics (known as the Tropical Niche Conservatism as wildfires are expected to increase in frequency in Water Corporation, Victorian Government, EPA Victoria Hypothesis) could explain the MTE hotspots. warmer climates. The differences in phenological strategies suggest In studies of aquatic invertebrate biodiversity, Focusing on four large plant genera with most of that species’ reactions to climate warming may vary Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12725 restraints on time and expenses often mean that their species found in two MTE hotspots - the floristic depending on continent, highlighting the importance

communities are only identified to family levels. evolution... Ecology, regions of 1) the Greater Cape in South Africa and of considering regional climate histories in models of Archived samples stored in ethanol may, however, be 2) Southwest Australia - the researchers estimated global change. identified more specifically at a later stage. the environmental niches of 136 species using Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12746 occurrence data from GBIF combined with climate and This study uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) soil data. SPARKS OF CREATION: FIRE AS A PRIMARY DRIVER of DNA barcodes to systematically identify species in Using biogeographic modelling to infer ancestral OF GLOBAL PLANT DIVERSITY archived macroinvertebrate samples from two sites areas, they designated species as being either DATA USED: 109,140,607 GEOREFERENCED PLANT OCCURRENCES in Australia, some of which had been stored up to 12 Pausas JG and Ribeiro E (2017) Fire and plant diversity at years at room temperature. Despite anticipated DNA hotspot or nonhotspot in origin, and compared the global scale. Global Ecology and Biogeography. Wiley the tempo and modes of niche evolution between degradation, the researchers were able to amplify 26(8): 889–897. partial DNA barcodes from most samples, and using

Ecology, evolution... the groups. Their results suggest that niche conservatism, too, is the underlying process in which Author countries/areas: Netherlands, Spain these, identify the species often by more than one Research funding: Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, plant diversity in MTEs results from longer time for amplified sequence. Generalitat Valenciana, Spanish National Research Council speciation. Not all families had identifiable species, however, Why are there so many species? Ecologists persist Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13179 when the researchers compared the number SAMBUCUS NIGRA BY SARA RALL https://www.gbif.org/ in efforts to refine our understanding of how factors occurrence/1453533635 CC BY-NC 4.0 of identified species per family with estimated FIRE-RESISTANCE IN A HOTTER FUTURE like climate, productivity and species interactions equivalents in GBIF, they revealed potential gaps DATA USED: 578,071 SPECIES OCCURRENCES CONTINENTAL-SCALE DIFFERENCES IN LEAF contribute to the boundless variety of life on earth. in the barcode library that could explain the lack of Pellegrini AFA, Anderegg WRL, Paine CET, Hoffmann WA, UNFOLDING STRATEGIES Disturbance receives its share of attention, at least identified species. Kartzinel T, Rabin SS, Sheil D, Franco AC and Pacala SW DATA USED: >1,411,996 SPECIES OCCURRENCES in some forms, but here the authors call attention to Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/1755- (2017) Convergence of bark investment according to fire Zohner CM, Benito BM, Fridley JD, Svenning J-C and Renner one widespread disruptive force—namely, fire—that and climate structures ecosystem vulnerability to future 0998.12644 SS (2017) Spring predictability explains different leaf-out seems to have escaped in-depth study. change. Ecology Letters. Wiley-Blackwell 20(3): 307–316. strategies in the woody floras of North America, Europe and Author countries/areas: Brazil, Norway, United Kingdom, East Asia. Ecology Letters. Wiley 20(4): 452–460. This first global assessment of fire regimes examines United States temporal and spatial patterns of speciation and plant Author countries/areas: Denmark, Germany, Norway, United diversity across 753 terrestrial ecoregions that Research funding: National Science Foundation, National States Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, William Ebenstein account for 88 per cent of land surface. The authors NEW DATA ON BRYOZOANS IN THE SOUTH Research funding: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für ATLANTIC OCEAN Student Research Fund Umwelt und Gesundheit, European Research Council, Aarhus combined thermal remote-sensing and climate data with species richness data in hope of unlocking DATA USED: 196 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Fires are common in drier regions of the world, and University Figuerola B, Barnes DKA, Brickle P and Brewin PE (2017) relationships between ecoregional environmental plants in such ecosystems have evolved traits to Bryozoan diversity around the Falkland and South In temperate regions with unpredictable seasonal variables and plant diversity. While relying on data tolerate frequent burning and intense temperatures. progression, plants rely on a combination of signals Georgia Islands: Overcoming Antarctic barriers. Marine The mechanisms involved in the evolution of fire- from Kier et al. (2005) as their primary data source, Environmental Research. Elsevier BV 126: 81–94. to guide when to unfold their leaves. Relying on the authors also test their results against more than tolerance through e.g. thickened bark, however, are Author countries/areas: Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Spain, temperature only and unfolding during an early warm 109 million GBIF-mediated plant occurrences. unknown. spell means risks of frost damage, however, waiting United Kingdom In this study, researchers compiled a database of bark too long means missing out on early carbon gain. Despite known limitations to the study’s scale and Research funding: Shackleton Scholarship Fund thickness for more than 500 woody plant species, Integrating additional signaling from day length and data biases, clear patterns emerged from analyses of The cold, nutrient-rich waters of the South Atlantic and used GBIF-mediated occurrences combined with winter chilling, especially, provides a more robust both data sources, suggesting that fire activity is one Ocean are biodiversity hotspots due to the Antarctic climate data to establish environmental niches for strategy. of the strongest indicators—perhaps the strongest Circumpolar Current, but also some of the fastest indicator—of coarse-scale plant diversity. each species. By including a dataset on occurrences In this study, researchers investigate differences warming waters in the world. This study aimed to of fires, the researchers describe a strong, global in leaf-out strategies among Northern Hemisphere Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12596 produce new species occurrence data on cheilostome 18 19

bryozoans from the waters of the Falkland (Malvinas) however, less studied family of Arecaceae (palms). THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF AN ICONIC EXPLORING PATTERNS AND GAPS IN PLANT and South Georgia Islands, two clusters on each They validate the latter tree through biogeographic MULTISPECIES MUTUALISM DIVERSITY OF TROPICAL AFRICA side of the Polar Front, to better understand spatial analysis using GBIF-mediated occurrences by DATA USED: 23 SPECIES DATA USED: 70,220 SPECIES OCCURRENCES relationships within the region. estimating ancestral ranges and calculating dispersal Ward PS and Branstetter MG (2017) The acacia ants a Sosef MSM, Dauby G, Blach-Overgaard A, van der Burgt X, Catarino L, Damen T, Deblauwe V, Dessein S, Dransfield events, showing that SUPERSMART is a fully functional revisited: convergent evolution and biogeographic context Through scuba sampling surveys, the study recovered in an iconic ant/plant mutualism. Proceedings of the J, Droissart V, Duarte MC, Engledow H, Fadeur G, Figueira tool capable of dealing with vast amounts of data for 351 bryozoan samples including 18 and 23 potentially Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The Royal Society R, Gereau RE, Hardy OJ, Harris DJ, de Heij J, Janssens S, new genera and species, respectively. Combined with producing time-calibrated species phylogenies. 284(1850): 20162569. Klomberg Y, Ley AC, Mackinder BA, Meerts P, van de Poel JL, Sonké B, Stévart T, Stoffelen P, Svenning J-C, Sepulchre P, existing, mainly GBIF-mediated data, the findings Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/ Author country/area: United States Zaiss R, Wieringa JJ and Couvreur TLP (2017) Exploring the expand the known ranges of 32 species. The surveys syw066 Research funding: National Science Foundation include the first reported occurrences of 43 species floristic diversity of tropical Africa. BMC Biology. Springer SEED DORMANCY DEPENDS ON SEED SIZE AND Certain species of ants nest inside specialized Nature 15(1). around the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and ten SEASONALITY species around the South Georgia Islands. compartments of plants (domatia) and even receive Author countries/areas: Belgium, Cameroon, Czechia, DATA USED: 216,600 SPECIES OCCURRENCES food bodies from extra-floral nectaries of the host. In Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, United evolution... Ecology, Rubio de Casas R, Willis CG, Pearse WD, Baskin CC, Baskin The study demonstrates that the islands of the South return, the ants aggressively patrol and protect the Kingdom, United States JM and Cavender-Bares J (2017) Global biogeography of Atlantic are poorly explored, and the data uncovered host plant against any and all intruders, including Research funding: French Foundation for Research on seed dormancy is determined by seasonality and seed suggests that the biogeographic barrier of the Polar herbivores and competing plants. Biodiversity, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region Front is not as impermeable as previously thought. size: a case study in the legumes. New Phytologist. Wiley 214(4): 1527–1536. In this study, researchers explore the evolutionary In this study, researchers used the RAINBIO database Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. Author countries/areas: Canada, Spain, United States history of an iconic multispecies mutualism- between to investigate the main floristic patterns and gaps for marenvres.2017.02.005 Research funding: National Science Foundation, European neotropical acacia ants (Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus tropical Africa. RAINBIO is a compilation of 13 datasets Commission, Junta de Andalucia group) and swollen-thorn acacias (Vachellia spp.). (two of which originated in GBIF), comprising more SUPERSMART: A SELF-UPDATING SOFTWARE Using genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis than 600,000 occurrences across 25,000 vascular PLATFORM FOR INFERRING PHYLOGENETIC TREES In climates with unpredictable seasonal patterns, the of 18 different ant species of Pseudomyrmex, the plant species. DATA USED: 724,002 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Ecology, evolution... ability of seeds to remain dormant provides ecological researchers infer the phylogeny of the ant species and a Antonelli A, Hettling H, Condamine FL, Vos K, Nilsson advantages by restricting germination to favourable In their spatial analysis of the dataset they find only estimate their ancestral ranges. The group as a whole RH, Sanderson MJ, Sauquet H, Scharn R, Silvestro D, Töpel growth periods. With aseasonal climates, however, 21 half-degree units with more than 100 records. The appears to have diverged 12-14 million years ago, M, Bacon CD, Oxelman B and Vos RA (2016) Toward a Self- this trait may be maladaptive. average number of records per species in a unit is less Updating Platform for Estimating Rates of Speciation and and the domatium-nesting P. ferrigeneus subgroup is than two, and more than 4,000 species are only found In this study, researchers used a GBIF-mediated Migration, Ages, and Relationships of Taxa. Systematic estimated to be about six million years old. in a single sampling unit. This degree of endemism is Biology. Oxford University Press (OUP) syw066. dataset of 216,600 legume (Fabaceae) family highest in the central African forests with around 30 occurrences combined with data on climate, Author countries/areas: France, Netherlands, Sweden, per cent of species being endemic. Switzerland, United States dormancy status and seed size to investigate Research funding: Swedish Research Council, European the biogeography of seed dormancy and trait Examining collection efforts through time, the Research Council, Wallenberg Academy, Carl Tryggers associations. researchers see clear patterns linked to political situations, both globally (e.g. the two world wars) Stiftelse Plants exhibiting the trait are more prevalent in and locally (e.g. Liberian civil wars). National Flora Phylogenetic trees based on molecular and fossil data temperate zones, whereas seed size is inversely programmes also affect collection efforts. The can be powerful tools for biogeographical analyses correlated with latitude. They propose a model in best-explored countries according to the dataset seeking to explain macroevolutionary processes such which the dormancy trait depends on seed size and are Cameroon and Benin, while the least explored as migration, speciation, diversification and niche seasonality, and this is supported the empirical countries include Angola and Somalia. evolution. results. Seed size alone, however, appears to be the The authors point to citizen science as a possible In this paper, researchers present a new conceptual better predictor of dormancy. means of aiding the filling of gaps in the knowledge of and bioinformatic approach to inferral of dated They suggest that the patterns uncovered will WELWITSCHIA MIRABILIS SUBSP. MIRABILIS BY LUIS QUERIDO https://www. tropical African plant diversity. phylogenies called SUPERSMART (conveniently short translate across ecological and phylogenetic scales- gbif.org/occurrence/1668891775 CC BY-NC 4.0 for Self-Updating Platform for Estimating Rates of that aseasonal climates will be dominated by plants Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-017- Speciation and Migration, Ages, and Relationships producing larger, nondormant seeds, while smaller, The researchers also estimated the ancestral range 0356-8 of Taxa). The open source modular framework which dormant seeds will predominate in seasonal habitats. of 23 Vachellia host species using GBIF-mediated relies on GenBank sequence data can be freely Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14498 occurrences. While the appearance of domatia in installed and run on Linux systems by anyone. the host plant seems to have a single origin, the The authors demonstrate the functionality of domatia-nesting trait unique to the P. ferrigeneus SUPERSMART on two distinct clades: the very-well ants developed in two clades separately, about three sequenced Primates order, and the much larger, million years apart. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2569 20 21

MATCHING SEED TO SITE The present study explores diversification of a exemplary illustrations and photos. While the user can DATA USED: 82,920 SPECIES OCCURRENCES common and widely distributed songbird, the black- select features in any order desired, they are ordered Doherty KD, Butterfield BJ and Wood TE (2017) Matching billed thrush (Turdus ignobilis), found in northwestern by the easiest to identify and most informative traits. seed to site by climate similarity: Techniques to prioritize South America. The authors describe the distribution For possible species matches, the tool also provides plant materials development and use in restoration. of the species using a combination of GBIF-mediated Ecological Applications. Wiley 27(3): 1010–1023. direct links to maps of distributions based on GBIF- occurrences and recordings of vocalizations from mediated occurrences that may help users confirm Author country/area: United States xento-canto (https://www.xeno-canto.org), showing their identification. Research funding: Bureau of Land Management wider ranges than previously described across foothill When land management agencies select plants to use and lowland areas east of the Andes. The authors aim to continue developing the online key and invite colleagues to contribute to aid identification in restoration, the first choice is often locally sourced Adding to the equation by combined mitochondrial native plants. However, propagules from such species of these important indicators of enviromental and nuclear gene sequencing of 76 individual conditions in Amazonia. may not be available, and commercial availability birds including all named T. ignobilis subspecies, could end up being the deciding factor. they resconstruct a phylogeny revealing novel Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3897/ evolution... Ecology, In this study, researchers use species distribution biogeographic interplay between populations. phytokeys.78.11370 models (SDM) based on GBIF-mediated occurrences Based on these observations, the authors suggest SCHISMADERMA CARENS BY FAYNE https://www.gbif.org/ EVOLUTION OF TERRESTRIAL BREEDING IN for charateristic grass and forb species of the cool a new taxonomic treatment recognizing two distinct occurrence/1802758723 CC BY 4.0 AFRICAN TOADS deserts of the Colorado Plateau to demonstrate biological species in the group, highlighting the DATA USED: 13,828 SPECIES OCCURRENCES distribution of non-endemics revealed 34 terrestrial the utility of a climate similarity index developed to importance of cross-border collaboration to obtain the Liedtke HC, Müller H, Hafner J, Penner J, Gower DJ, Mazuch ecoregions, of which those tropical and subtropical rank sites for collecting seeds to be transferred to a level of sampling neeeded for studies of Neotropical T, Rödel M-O and Loader SP (2017) Terrestrial reproduction play the most important role as sources of species location being restored. biogeography. as an adaptation to steep terrain in African toads. richness in Taiwan. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. While the index is able to predict the relative Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. Surprisingly, closeness was not the only factor, as a The Royal Society 284(1851): 20162598. Ecology, evolution... performance of available accessions at the target ympev.2017.03.020 location, it can also be used to guide seed-banking higher number of angiosperm species in Taiwan are Author countries/areas: Czechia, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom efforts. Adoption of the described methods is likely shared with Papua New Guinea than the Philippines, TRACING THE MIGRATION OF FLOWERING PLANTS Research funding: None listed to increase efficiency and restoration success, and FROM CONTINENTS TO ISLANDS the closest tropical neighbour. inform collection efforts for mitigating disturbances, DATA USED: 4,500,000 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40529-017- Among terrestrial vertebrates, amphibians are the such as climate change. a Liao C-C and Chen C-H (2017) Investigation of floristic 0171-0 most reproductively diverse group, with more than similarities between Taiwan and terrestrial ecoregions in 40 different reproductive strategies recognized Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1505 Asia using GBIF data. Botanical Studies. Springer Nature IDENTIFYING AMAZONIAN FERNS USING A NEW in anurans, alone. In tropical climates especially, 58(1). ONLINE KEY terrestrial breeding is common, but the factors driving EXPLORING THE DIVERSIFICATION OF A Author country/area: Taiwan the evolution of this strategy are unknown. NEOTROPICAL SONGBIRD Research funding: None listed a Zuquim G, Tuomisto H and Prado J (2017) A free-access In this study, researchers reconstructed the DATA USED: 12,209 SPECIES OCCURRENCES online key to identify Amazonian ferns. PhytoKeys. Pensoft Islands represent unique ecological niches as they most complete phylogeny of African toads (family Avendaño JE, Arbeláez-Cortés E and Cadena CD (2017) Publishers 78: 1–15. On the importance of geographic and taxonomic sampling are seperated from other land masses by water. Not Bufonidae) to date including 78 per cent of described Author countries/areas: Brazil, Finland in phylogeography: A reevaluation of diversification and all islands are the same, however, as the distance species. Assigning reproductive strategies to species Research funding: Academy of Finland, Brazilian National species limits in a Neotropical thrush (Aves, Turdidae). from an island to continents and neighbouring islands and examining environmental factors associated with Council for Scientific and Technological Development Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Elsevier BV 111: affects the level of endemism and relatedness with GBIF-mediated occurrences, the authors found that 87–97. land masses in the vicinity. Being able to easily and accurately identify species the most likely factors contributing to the evolution Author country/area: Colombia Taiwan is a geologically active continental island is crucial to producing quality data on species of terrestrial reproduction were steep slopes and low Research funding: Universidad de los Andes, Instituto formed 2-3 million years ago on a complex convergent distributions needed for improving conservation water availability. Alexander von Humboldt boundary between four tectonic plates. In this study planning. Taxonomic identification based on printed Based on the evolutionary timing of transitioning floras may be difficult for the untrained eye, and with Studies describing biogeographic patterns and of Taiwanese flora, researchers used GBIF-mediated from the dry, flat and open habitats to steeper and new species being described continuously, printed evolutionary processes require thorough geographic occurrences of all flowering plants in East and South wetter habitats, the authors note that the transition keys may become outdated quickly. and taxonomic sampling, especially if drawing Asia to categorize plants into either endemic or non- coincided with or preceded evolution of terrestial conclusions that affect classification. In the endemic, and to identify potential sources of the latter In this paper, researchers from Brazil and Finland breeding, suggesting an adaptive mode of evolution, Neotropical region, answers to the most interesting group. present a new, free to use, online identification tool rather than exaptation that made colonization of evolutionary questions involve taxa with wide Their work identified 847 endemic and 2,428 non- aimed at describing Amazonian fern species. Including these new habitats possible. distributions reaching far beyond existing political endemic angiosperm species. Analysis of the Asian data on more than 250 species, the Lucid-based tool Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1098/ boundaries. offers the user the ability to differentiate species rspb.2016.2598 based on 54 morphological features, each described avoiding botanical jargon and accompanied by 22 23

NEON: 30 YEARS OF ECOLOGICAL MONITORING data produced by the project will be freely available SYMBIOTIC TRAIT RESTRICTS ESTABLISHMENT OF spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales, opportunistic ACROSS THE UNITED STATES through the NEON data portal, and the team is also LEGUMES OUTSIDE NATIVE RANGES data, however, can be biased and often lacks DATA USED: 56,105 OCCURRENCE RECORDS working towards publishing the data as sampling DATA USED: 7,800,446 SPECIES OCCURRENCES information about absences of species. a Hoekman D, LeVan KE, Ball GE, Browne RA, Davidson RL, event datasets through GBIF.org. a Simonsen AK, Dinnage R, Barrett LG, Prober SM and Erwin TL, Knisley CB, LaBonte JR, Lundgren J, Maddison Thrall PH (2017) Symbiosis limits establishment of Using occurrence data on 71 wetland bird species DR, Moore W, Niemelä J, Ober KA, Pearson DL, Spence Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1744 legumes outside their native range at a global scale. Nature from GBIF publisher Artportalen, a study by Alejandro JR, Will K and Work T (2017) Design for ground beetle Communications. Springer Nature 8: 14790. Ruete (1st prize winner of the 2016 Ebbe Nielsen abundance and diversity sampling within the National SELF-FERTILIZING PLANTS ARE MORE COMMON Challenge) and colleagues introduces a novel dynamic ON ISLANDS Author country/area: Australia Ecological Observatory Network. Ecosphere. Wiley 8(4): Research funding: None listed occupancy model that attempts to cope with known e01744. DATA USED: 11,473,392 SPECIES OCCURRENCES sources of bias including lack of absence data and Grossenbacher DL, Brandvain Y, Auld JR, Burd M, Cheptou Many legumes (family Fabaceae) are dependent on variation in sampling effort. Author countries/areas: Canada, Finland, United States P-O, Conner JK, Grant AG, Hovick SM, Pannell JR, Pauw Research funding: National Science Foundation symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) for A, Petanidou T, Randle AM, Rubio de Casas R, Vamosi J, growth and reproduction, a trait evolved from a single When applied to the real observations, the model Winn A, Igic B, Busch JW, Kalisz S and Goldberg EE (2017) Designed to improve understanding of the ecological origin almost 60 million years ago. The extent to which estimates daily occupancy for a given species and evolution... Ecology, Self-compatibility is over-represented on islands. New effects of climate change, land-use change and this microbial symbiosis either promotes or impeeds site, and when summarized, provides a detailed Phytologist. Wiley 215(1): 469–478. invasive species, the National Ecological Observatory plant distribution is unknown. picture of seasonal site use including within-season Network (NEON) is a continental-scale sampling Author countries/areas: Australia, Canada, France, Greece, population dynamics. In this study, researchers investigated and compared platform of 47 sites across 20 ecoclimatic regions of South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United States Confirming the robustness of the model using the United States (including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Research funding: National Science Foundation non-native establishment patterns of 3,500 species of symbiotic and non-symbiotic legumes. Relying on simulated data, the authors conclude that modelling Rico) that will enable researchers to collect and record Plants that are able to self-fertilize may have an GBIF-mediated occurrences, the researchers verified using opportunistic data with multiple replicates can samples and data for a period of 30 years. advantage when colonizing new habitats as they legume range data from the International Legume provide more biologically relevant information than don’t need to find a mate to reproduce. Baker’s In this paper, specialists describe efforts and Database and Information Service (ILDIS). By applying traditional annual occupancy models. law describes this tendency and predicts an over- rationale behind the NEON project dedicated to the nitrogen-fixation status of each species, their data Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3100 Ecology, evolution... representation of self-compatible species among sampling abundance and diversity of ground beetles revealed a significantly lower probability of symbiotic remote island colonizers. The hypothesis has been (Carabidae), an ideal sentinel taxon. Using a simple legumes occurring in non-native regions, suggesting EATING PLANTS–A RECIPE FOR EVOLUTIONARY tested numerous times since it was put forward in but effective pitfall trapping methodology, rigorously symbiosis as a limiting factor. The authors point to SUCCESS 1955, however, the results have been very mixed. DATA USED: 490,319 SPECIES OCCURRENCES prototyped and tested to maximize efficiency and lack of compatible bacterial species or inappropriate Poore AGB, Ahyong ST, Lowry JK and Sotka EE (2017) minimize vertebrate bycatch, the team will collect Assessing 100+ such studies, researchers identified environmental conditions for nitrogen fixation as carabids from 40 traps per site every two weeks. The Plant feeding promotes diversification in the Crustacea. a number of weaknesses potentially responsible for likely explanations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. collected beetles will sorted and identified by experts the ambiguity. The majority of studies focused only on While other factors (e.g latitude of origin, woodiness Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114(33): to the species level. island species, disregarding mainland populations as and human uses) also appeared important, their 8829–8834. a comparison, and the scope of most studies was also Using initial project findings combined with existing effects did not eliminate symbiosis as a key Author countries/areas: Australia, United States limited to a few species and islands. GBIF-mediated data, the researchers show the determinant of establishment in novel ranges. The Research funding: None listed potential usefulness in modelling how phenology To overcome this, the authors of this paper compared study highlights the importance of mutualisms and Eating fruits and vegetables is second nature to might change with future climate alterations. All the the worldwide frequency of breeding systems on other species interactions in predicting species humans, however, the ability to extract sufficient mainland versus islands for three plant families of invasiveness. nutrients from plant material is a special adaptation. more than 1,500 species combined. Using GBIF- Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14790 Once such an evolutionary hurdle is overcome, it mediated occurrences combined with other sources may allow a lineage access to previously unexploited to determine the distributions of each species, they ESTIMATING CHANGES IN SEASONAL resources and thus lead the way to increased species found that 66 per cent of island species were self- SITE OCCUPANCY USING OPPORTUNISTIC richness, as shown in studies of insects, mammals compatible, whereas only 41 per cent of mainland OBSERVATIONS and dinosaurs. species were able to self-fertilize. DATA USED: 39,384 SPECIES OCCURRENCES a Ruete A, Pärt T, Berg Å and Knape J (2017) Exploiting A new study published in PNAS examines the role This significant difference, consistent across all opportunistic observations to estimate changes in of herbivory–eating plants–in the diversification three families, provides strong support for Baker’s seasonal site use: An example with wetland birds. Ecology of crustaceans, a diverse and important group of hypothesis. and Evolution. Wiley 7(15): 5632–5644. arthropods dominating aquatic environments. The Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14534 Author country/area: Sweden authors carry out a phylogenetic analysis of the Research funding: Vetenskapsrådet distribution of the trait followed by an examination of Species observations collected in a non-systematic shifts in species richness within each lineage. manner e.g. through citizen science programs like iNaturalist, eBird, etc. make up a large proportion of CICINDELA PUNCTULATA BY ROB VAN EPPS https://www.gbif.org/ occurrence data in GBIF. Providing wide coverage on occurrence/1584403234 CC BY-NC 4.0 24 25

The authors identify 31 independent lineages of The authors used GBIF-mediated occurrences of of Helotiaceae present in the Spanish archipelago. WALLACE: SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELLING plant-feeding crustaceans and find that these have all hummingbird species (Aves: Trochilidae) to Through field sampling and studies of literature and MADE EASY 21 times more species than their nearest predatory test the performance of stacked models–with or specimens available through GBIF.org, the researchers or scavenging relatives. Using GBIF-mediated without constraining accessible area. By statistical present detailed descriptions of species morphology Kass JM, Vilela B, Aiello-Lammens ME, Muscarella R, Merow occurrences of all species, the authors showed comparison, the constrained model had significantly (including images), distribution and ecology. C and Anderson RP (2018) Wallace: A flexible platform for reproducible modeling of species niches and distributions that these findings were not likely confounded by higher prediction success and also provided better Adding a new report of Cyathicula hysterioides built for community expansion. Methods in Ecology and distributional patterns, suggesting that the difficult estimates of richness and community composition. and three new genera (Durella, Pseudohelotium, Evolution. Wiley 9(4): 1151–1156. evolutionary path of shifting diets to plants indeed In conclusion, limiting theoretical distribution area– Velutarina), each with one species, the Canary promotes speciation among herbivorous crustaceans. Author countries/areas: Denmark, United States effectively incorporating dispersal limitations–can Island study also corrects a previous record of Research funding: Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1073/ improve efficacy of stacked species distributions species occurrence (Ascocoryne cylichnium). Due to CUNY, U.S. National Science Foundation pnas.1706399114 models. morphological characteristics, the latter, however, Increased access to open data and a rise in computing may represent a different species, and exact

LESS IS MORE: TRIMMING DISTRIBUTIONS USING Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12678 power have enabled advanced modelling approaches evolution... Ecology, identification will require further molecular studies. NATURAL BARRIERS TO IMPROVE MODELS in ecology. Researchers looking to model species DATA USED: 144,598 SPECIES OCCURRENCES WASTE BASKET FUNGI: REVIEW OF HELOTIACEAE Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.47.47310 IN THE CANARY ISLANDS distributions are often faced with either complicated Cooper JC and Soberón J (2017) Creating individual command line interface (CLI) programming tools with DATA USED: 6,780 SPECIES OCCURRENCES THE EVOLUTION OF FLOWERING PLANTS THROUGH accessible area hypotheses improves stacked species high flexibility, but low user-friendliness, or fancy distribution model performance. Global Ecology and a Quijada L, Ribes M, Negrín R and Beltrán-Tejera E (2017) POLLEN graphical user interfaces (GUI) that are easy to use, Biogeography. Wiley 27(1): 156–165. Lignicolous species of Helotiales associated with major DATA USED: 1,896,305 SPECIES OCCURRENCES vegetation types in the Canary Islands. Willdenowia. a Kriebel R, Khabbazian M and Sytsma KJ (2017) A but lack reproducibility and flexibility. Author country/area: United States Botanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem BGBM continuous morphological approach to study the evolution This paper introduces WALLACE–a new web-browser Research funding: National Science Foundation 47(3): 271–291. of pollen in a phylogenetic context: An example with the based, flexible platform for species distribution Species distributions models (SDMs) are an important Author country/area: Spain order Myrtales. PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science (PLoS) modelling built in R. Modular in structure, WALLACE Ecology, evolution... tool for predicting a species’ distributional extent Research funding: Canarian Government, Autonomous 12(12): e0187228. uses seperate components to guide the user through through use of e.g. climatic similarities. Stacking Agency of National Parks (Government of Spain) Author country/area: United States a series of simple steps–including obtaining species models of several taxa, moreover, can predict species The subject of contention since the 19th century, Research funding: National Science Foundation occurrences records, e.g. from GBIF, downloading richness and community composition, although the Helotiaceae is family of fungi comprising 177 genera The study of flowering plant evolution through relevant environmental layers, building the models, approach often leads to overpredictions. and 826 species (Kirk et al. 2008). Often placed as phylogeny has often included analyses of pollen. and finally visualizing the distributions. Exploring a novel approach for improving stacked the last step of identification keys to members of the Mostly limited to traditional morphometric methods, The lead author of the paper originally presented SDMs, this study suggests trimming the area used for parent order Helotiales, Helotiaceae has become a pollen studies often bin traits and treat features like the WALLACE concept as a finalist entry in the 2015 calibration to a hypothesized accessible area, before “waste basket” family, only arrived at after discarding shape and size using discrete categories. Ebbe Nielsen Challenge. Combining the strengths of the modelling is done. This involves visual inspection all other families. In this paper, authors present a novel approach to CLI and GUI tools, the WALLACE platform provides of the species occurrences and using natural breaks- In a study of Helotiaceae species in the Canary pollen evolution study based on quantitative size an innovative approach to flexible and easy-to-use e.g large rivers or mountain ranges–in habitats to limit Islands, authors review nine genera and 12 species and shape variables. They used images of Myrtales software for researchers in ecology and biodiversity theoretical distribution area. pollen grains from two different angles to measure sciences. length and width of the grains, while analysing Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041- outlines of the shape and converting these into elliptic 210X.12945 transformations used for comparisons. They analysed pollen size and shape in a phylogenetic context and found significant differences among Myrtales families when comparing both shape and size. To test for linkages betwen pollen features and climate, the authors used GBIF-mediated occurrences and found that pollen shape was correlated with the mean latitude of a species’ distribution. The novel morphometric approaches presented in the study prove useful for taxonomic identification and phylogenetic placement of as yet unknown pollen fossils. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0187228 CHAETOCERCUS ASTREANS BY KEN CHAMBERLAIN https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1838320084 CC BY-NC 4.0 See all Ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics citations at GBIF.org 26 27

In a collaborative study from institutions in Benin alien ornamentals and their native congeners, finding Impacts of climate change and South Africa, researchers modelled the current that mean geographical overlap is likely to decrease and future distributions of two candidate species under future climatic conditions. in Benin–Lonchocarpus sericeus and Anogeissus These surprising results show that while warming leiocarpa–using GBIF-mediated occurrences and climates may increase risk of naturalization of some environmental data from the WorldClim and AFRICLIM alien ornamentals, hybridization between future datasets. invaders and resident species appears less likely to Models for both species performed well with the most occur. essential contributors being temperature seasonality Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12578 for L. sericeus and annual precipitation for A. leiocarpa. The authors found suitable climate in 74 per cent of LOSERS AND BIGGER LOSERS: IMPACT OF CLIMATE Benin for L. sericeus and in 88 per cent of the country CHANGE ON EUROPEAN FOREST TREES for A. leiocarpa. DATA USED: 1,848,587 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Dyderski MK, Paz S, Frelich LE and Jagodzinski AM (2017) The authors found little, if any, reduction in potential How much does climate change threaten European forest distributions, suggesting that in terms of climate, both tree species distributions? Global Change Biology. Wiley species could be considered good pioneer candidates 24(3): 1150–1163. change climate for forest restorations now and in the future. Author countries/areas: Poland, United States Link to paper: http://bft.cirad.fr/cd/BFT_332_43-55.pdf Research funding: Polish Academy of Sciences Not just about temperature and precipitation, the WARMING CLIMATES AND THE RISK OF INVASIVE HYBRIDS effects of climate change can also be catastrophic storms, fires and pest outbreaks. Among European DATA USED: 5,928 SPECIES OCCURRENCES a Klonner G, Dullinger I, Wessely J, Bossdorf O, Carboni trees, a new study suggests that warming climates M, Dawson W, Essl F, Gattringer A, Haeuser E, van Kleunen will have varying effects, effectively making some BURSATELLA LEACHII BY MATT NIMBS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. M, Kreft H, Moser D, Pergl J, Pyšek P, Thuiller W, Weigelt species “winners” and other “losers”. PORT STEPHENS, AUSTRALIA - A SEA HARE and distributions of 16 species found in the region, P, Winter M and Dullinger S (2017) Will climate change Based on occurrence data from GBIF.org and other HAVEN? including the first observation of Petalifera sp. in increase hybridization risk between potential plant sources, researchers built species distribution models invaders and their congeners in Europe? Diversity and DATA USED: 154 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Australian waters. Highlighting the global significance for 12 European forest tree species using bioclimatic Distributions. Wiley 23(8): 934–943. Nimbs MJ, Willan RC and Smith SDA (2016) Is Port of Port Stephens for Aplysiidae and an obvious target variables now and in three future projections. Stephens, eastern Australia, a global hotspot for for further sea hare studies, this study forms a Author countries/areas: Austria, China, Czechia, France, biodiversity of Aplysiidae (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia)? baseline for detecting changes to aplysiid diversity in Germany, United Kingdom Molluscan Research. Informa UK Limited 37(1): 45–65. future, changing climates. Research funding: ERA-Net BiodivERsA, Austrian Science Author country/area: Australia Fund, German Research Foundation, French National Research funding: Southern Cross University, Linnean Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.201 Research Agency, Czech Science Foundation, Czech Society of NSW, Joyce W. Vickery Research Fund 6.1207280 Academy of Sciences Sea hares are heterobranch sea slugs of the Aplysiidae Certain plant traits are known to facilitate invasions, family with large ear-like rhinophores, responsible for PIONEERING BENIN FOREST RESTORATIONS including early reproduction and rapid growth rate, the vernacular name of the group. Members of this UNDER FUTURE CLIMATE CONDITIONS while the general risk of invasion has been shown globally distributed family usually only live up to one DATA USED: 2,732 SPECIES OCCURRENCES to increase with changing climates. Interspecies year, while producing up to 180 million eggs, and some a Gbètoho AJ, Aoudji AKN, Roxburgh L, Ganglo JC (2017) hybridization may also pose a threat, and as 16,000 species grow to a size of up to two kilograms. Assessing the suitability of pioneer species for secondary plant species- many of which alien- are cultivated for forest restoration in Benin in the context of global climate ornamental purposes in Europe alone, knowing how In a recent study, researchers investigated and change. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques. N° 332 (2), 43-55. future climates affect this risk is crucial. documented aplysiid diversity in Port Stephens, Author countries/areas: Benin, South Africa By studying a large group of alien ornamentals LARIX DECIDUA BY NICOLAS ZWAHLEN https://www.gbif.org/ NSW, Australia, home to more species than anywhere Research funding: JRS Biodiversity Foundation occurrence/1850970038 CC BY-NC 4.0 else in the world. With the most diverse algal flora in not naturalized in Europe, but established outside the world, the waters of southern Australia provide Able to outcompete exotic weeds and attract their native range somewhere else in the world, The species showed quite different responses to the ideal living conditions for sea hares whose diets important dispersers, fast-growing pioneer species researchers created species distribution models climate change, however, roughly dividing into two consist of marine plants- mostly algae. are important for successful rehabilition of degraded using GBIF-mediated occurrences for both non-native groups according to fraction of current distribution forests in areas such as West Africa. For long- ornamentals and native/naturalized congeners (i.e. threatened under future climates: less than 50 per While reviewing the taxonomy and nomenclature term restoration projects, however, knowing the belonging to same genus). Projecting these into future cent–mainly mid-to-late-successional species (e.g. of the group, the authors describe the morphology vulnerability of such species to future climates is key. climates, the authors compared the distributions of beech, ash and oak)–and more than 50 per cent– 28 29

mainly pioneer and coniferous species (e.g. larch, silver birch and Norway spruce). Invasive alien species Faced with changing climate conditions, most studied species, however, are likely to experience significant net losses in suitable habitat, especially for the species with the northern-most distributions. In conclusion, the future for European forest trees appears to have no winners–only losers. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13925 COMPARING EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ON NEOTROPICAL DRY FORESTS DATA USED: 1,140 SPECIES OCCURRENCES a Manchego CE, Hildebrandt P, Cueva J, Espinosa CI, Stimm B and Günter S (2017) Climate change versus deforestation: Implications for tree species distribution Some examples in the dry forests of southern Ecuador. PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science (PLoS) 12(12): e0190092. Author countries/areas: Ecuador, Germany Research funding: Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer- Dienst Affected by human activities as well as climate change, neotropical dry forests are the most climate change threatened tropical forest ecosystem in the world. The effects of deforestation, land use change and warming climates all pose serious threats to these VULPES VULPES BY PER HANSEN https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1824044693 CC BY 4.0 ecosystems, however, to prioritize conservation efforts a scientific frame for comparing threats is PREDICTING ANTARCTIC SUITABILITY OF THE continent unsuitable for all tested species under necessary. WORLD’S WORST TERRESTRIAL INVADERS current conditions, however, within the next century In an attempt to identify the relative important of two DATA USED: 2,329,509 SPECIES OCCURRENCES the Antarctic peninsula may become suitable for six Duffy GA, Coetzee BWT, Latombe G, Akerman AH, McGeoch species. evils, authors of this study examined the effects of MA and Chown SL (2017) Barriers to globally invasive climate change and deforestation on 17 tree species species are weakening across the Antarctic. Diversity and While the continent may still be protected, the in southern Ecuador. Using GBIF-mediated species Distributions. Wiley 23(9): 982–996. models showed that all but one of the Southern Ocean occurrences combined with WorldClim bioclimatic islands are currently suitable to multiple species. The Author country/area: Australia data, they modelled the distribution of all species and islands of Auckland and Campbell, in particular, show Research funding: Australian Antarctic Division used governmental land-use data to estimate areas suitability for a high number of species, but for all lost by deforestation. Due to its geographic isolation and climate, the islands suitability is predicted to increase by 2100. Antarctic region has been somewhat protected from Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12593 Consistent for all but one species, the results of their biological invasions, however, with warming climates analysis showed that losses in distribution area from and increased human traffic, the protection afforded deforestation were significantly greater than those the region may be diminishing. MASSIVE DIVERSION PROJECT CREATES CONDUIT resulting from climate change. While the effects of FOR POTABLE WATER—AND POSSIBLE INVADERS the latter were more severe for some species, the In a new study, researchers used species distribution DATA USED: 6,500 SPECIES OCCURRENCES study clearly suggests that deforestation is the more modelling to assess the likelihood of establishment Liu D, Wang R, Gordon DR, Sun X, Chen L and Wang Y imminent threat to neotropical dry forests. of the world’s worst–according to IUCN–terrestrial (2017) Predicting Plant Invasions Following China’s Water invaders supplemented by cold-tolerant non-native Diversion Project. Environmental Science & Technology. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. species already known to occur in the Antarctic region. American Chemical Society (ACS) 51(3): 1450–1457. pone.0190092 Using ten different modelling methodologies, the Author countries/areas: China, United States authors created robust ensemble models based on Research funding: Shandong Science and Technology GBIF-mediated occurrences and current climate data Program, China Water Project, National Nature Science with projections for 2050 and 2100. They created a Foundation of China, National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China summed map from which they found the Antarctic See all Impacts of climate change citations at GBIF.org 30 31

China’s South to North Water Diversion (SNWD) aims invasion, however, the opposite, in which invasions Overall, the combined models predicted substantially to improve access to potable water for 110 million are mitigated by changing climates, is also plausible smaller risk areas than models based on either people by transferring water from the Yangtze River although harder to observe. dataset alone. While RS-only models didn’t perform in the south to regions with groundwater deficits in This study attacks the problem with a mechanistic well, the combined models showed that adding the north. But despite best intentions, human-built case study of establishment risk for two invasive RS-based biotic and abiotic parameters to climate infrastructure like the SNWD frequently provides plants, Alliaria petiolata and Berberis thunbergii, in data, clearly refined the spatial patterns of predicted highly efficient pathways for biological invasion. This the northeastern United States compared with native distributions. study offers the first risk assessment of the world’s analogue species. The study identified shrub species as having the largest and longest water diversion project’s potential highest potential invasion risk in South East Asia, to spread invasive species. By transplanting the invasive species into various locations across the region and thus environmental and also revealed that native invaders may pose as Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), water gradients, the authors created demographic models serious a threat as alien invasive species. hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce based on vitality in the given environment, and Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3389/ (Pistia stratiotes) are aquatic plants whose ranges validated these by comparing the output with fpls.2017.00770 have strayed far beyond their South American origins traditional ecological niche models based on GBIF- ASSESSING INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS OF SOUTH to become notorious non-native aliens in China and PONOMETIA CANDEFACTA BY MARK D. READ https://www.gbif.org/ mediated occurrences. elsewhere around the globe. Each produces dense occurrence/1586107230 CC BY-NC 4.0 AMERICA For mid-century climate projections, the models DATA USED: 10,735 SPECIES OCCURRENCES mats of vegetation that have the potential to impair Stavropol regions of the former USSR, the moth navigation and water flow, spawn floods, impact predict increased suitability for B. thunbergii across a Lozano V, Chapman D and Brundu G (2017) Native and has since migrated and increased its range both in non-native aquatic plants of South America: comparing and water quality and quantity, and imperil native and the region. Surprisingly, however, future warming is eastward and westward directions. integrating GBIF records with literature data. Management species invasive agricultural biodiversity. likely to render the region unsuitable for A. petiolata. A recent study by researchers from Serbia The study confirms how climate change may alter of Biological Invasions. Regional Euro-Asian Biological Using occurrence data from each species’ native and investigates the expansion of A. candefacta in invasion patterns, but highlights that mechanistic Invasions Centre Oy (REABIC) 8(3): 443–454. introduced ranges accessed via GBIF.org and other southeastern Europe. Since its introduction, it has studies are required to understand drivers and Author countries/areas: Italy, United Kingdom sources, the authors constructed ecological niche been recorded in Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania, and forecast potential invasions in novel environments. Research funding: None listed models underlining their suitability in nearly the entire reported for the first time in Serbia in 2009. GBIF.org is a unique source of primary distribution diversion area. Alligator weed shows the greatest Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1073/ data used in a multitude of studies worldwide. Derived potential for expansion, having already reduced yields Through a combination of years of intense sampling pnas.1609633114 by light trapping across all of Serbia and modelling of from museums, herbaria, field researchers and citizen

invasive species of sweet potato and rice by 63 and 45 per cent in the REFINING PREDICTIONS OF INVASIVE SPECIES scientists, this data–as with any major source of country’s south. So as the northerly flow of water the host species using GBIF-mediated occurrences, USING REMOTE SENSING DATA biodiversity information–is prone to gaps and biases from the diversion increases, these models can help the team present results indicating the moth is likely DATA USED: 2,011 SPECIES OCCURRENCES in taxonomic, geographical and temporal coverage. prioritize and direct management actions toward the to spread to all areas where the weed is present. a Truong TTA, Hardy GESJ and Andrew ME (2017) most vulnerable areas where early detection and As the radiation of ragweed is expanding with Contemporary Remotely Sensed Data Products Refine In a study of invasions among South American aquatic rapid response could mitigate or avoid the most costly changing climates, so may the range of A. candefacta. Invasive Plants Risk Mapping in Data Poor Regions. plants, researchers assessed the state of data Frontiers in Plant Science. Frontiers Media SA 8. impacts of any invasion. Unfortunately, however, current populations appear availability in GBIF and in literature. Based on a list Author countries/areas: Australia, Viet Nam of 40 native and 40 non-native species, the authors Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs. incapable of controlling the spread of the harmful Research funding: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade compile three datasets based on occurrences in GBIF. est.6b05577 weed. org, data manually extracted from literature, and Link to paper: http://www.bulletinofinsectology.org/ Given the potentially catastrophic consequences TRACKING THE SPREAD OF THE FIRST the two combined, respectively. Initial comparisons pdfarticles/vol70-2017-111-120stojanovic.pdf of invasive species, prediction, early detection and INTRODUCED BIOLOGICAL AGENT IN EUROPE prevention are priorities in conservation policies. showed significant differences between the two DATA USED: 10,664 SPECIES OCCURRENCES CLIMATE CHANGE–A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR Relying primarily on climatic factors, species sources, and the combined dataset was deemed most Stojanovic DV, Vajgand D, Radovic D, Curcic N, Curcic S INVASIVE SPECIES? distribution models can aid in the prediction of reliable. (2017) Expansion of the range of the introduced moth DATA USED: 66,960 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Acontia candefacta in southeastern Europe. Bulletin of Merow C, Bois ST, Allen JM, Xie Y and Silander JA (2017) invasiveness at a regional scale, but for finer scale Based on this, the researchers generated maps of Insectology. Climate change both facilitates and inhibits invasive models, biotic parameters and local abiotic conditions species distributions across 16 South American plant ranges in New England. Proceedings of the National should be considered also. regions, finding the highest number of alien species Author country/area: Serbia Academy of Sciences. Proceedings of the National Academy in Argentina and Brazil. Adding a Human Influence Research funding: Ministry of Education, Science and In this study of invasive weeds in South East Asia, of Sciences 114(16): E3276–E3284. Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia researchers used remote sensing (RS) data and Index layer, they further demonstrate that high risk Author country/area: United States species appear to cluster in areas of higher levels of A natural agent against the highly allergenic common climate data- separately and combined- to evaluate Research funding: National Science Foundation, United the potential distribution of 14 priority species based anthropization, especially in coastal regions close to ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Acontia candefacta States Department of Agriculture main ports. was the first insect species intentionally introduced on occurrence data from GBIF.org. While the climate to Europe for biological control of an invasive weed The interaction between climate change and data included temperature and precipitation metrics, Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3391/ species. Released in 1969 in the Krasnodar and biological invasions is complex. Several studies have the RS data provided information on soil, elevation, mbi.2017.8.3.18 shown that climate change may lead to increased land cover and productivity. 32 33

ILLEGAL ALIENS: PREDICTING RISK OF PET SNAKE Alien invasive species can disrupt ecosystems A study from Germany investigated what factors GLOBAL BANS ON BIRD TRADE NEEDED TO STOP INVASIONS IN BRAZIL directly by outcompeting native species for might lead to a successful local naturalization of INVASIONS DATA USED: 2,723 SPECIES OCCURRENCES resources. Effects of invasions, however, can be also garden plants by surveying planted flora in 111 public DATA USED: OCCURRENCES OF 14 BIRD SPECIES a Fonseca É, Solé M, Rödder D and de Marco P (2017) Pet indirect and less predictable. Among animals that rely and private gardens in the small city of Radolfzell in a Reino L, Figueira R, Beja P, Araújo MB, Capinha C and snakes illegally marketed in Brazil: Climatic viability and on sound for attracting mates, alien intruders may southern Germany. The researchers recorded species, Strubbe D (2017) Networks of global bird invasion altered establishment risk. PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science by regional trade ban. Science Advances. American cause noise and reduce mating success. abundance, lifeform and whether the plant was native (PLoS) 12(8): e0183143. Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 3(11): In a study of invasive amphibians in Brazil, or not. For alien plants, the authors also assessed the e1700783. Author countries/areas: Brazil, Germany current naturalization status worldwide. Research funding: CAPES researchers used a combination of field studies, Author countries/areas: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, literature and GBIF-mediated species occurrences In total, the authors identified 1,268 species of Portugal, Spain The introduction of non-native species can be of six species with invasive populations to analyse which 75 per cent were alien. Using GBIF-mediated Research funding: H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, detrimental to both the environment and wildlife. current habitats and future distributions. The occurrences, the authors modelled the distribution Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, Fundação para a Ciência e a Exotic pets living far away from their natural habitats generated models revealed large increases in of the alien species, not surprisingly finding that Tecnologia, Universidade do Porto may escape and cause havoc if allowed to naturalize. potential ranges for two species–E. johnstonei and R. local naturalization success was linked to climatic Wildlife trade can lead to species going extinct in their Prevention of alien invasion requires identifying jimi. suitability. potential invaders before it’s too late. native ranges, but also to invasions in non-native Through spectral analysis, the researchers compared By projecting models into future climatic scenarios, habitats. Intended to protect endangered species, Focusing on pet snakes in Brazil, a new study vocalizations and found high overlaps between calls they identified 45 species not currently naturalized in trade bans, however, may also limit the spread of evaluates the invasion risk of five exotic species of invader P. luteolus and native Ischnocnema sp. For Germany but widely naturalized in other parts of the invasive species, but the extent of this is unknown. known to be traded illegally in the country– domestic invader L. labyrinthicus, they found spectral world–and thus likely to become naturalized in the Lampropeltis getula, Lampropeltis triangulum, This study set out to assess how wildlife trade–and overlaps with locals L. knudseni and–even more future through increased climatic suitability. banning it–affects invasion risk globally. Using trade species invasive Pantherophis guttatus, Python regius, and Python pronounced–L. pentadactylus. bivittatus–all with records of being invasive in other Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017- data from the Convention on International Trade in countries. Determining whether these overlaps cause actual 1594-y Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) acoustic interference–or even mistaken recognition database combined with avian invasion data including Using GBIF-mediated occurrences and WorldClim and potential hybridization– will require further GBIF-mediated occurrences, researchers analysed environmental variables, authors modelled the studies, however, this paper highlights the potential the global trade network and how it relates to the potential distribution of each of the five species. effects of invasions, which, combined with projected establishment of non-native species. From a generated consensus map, the authors range expansions, suggest a need for increased Not surprisingly, their analysis showed that countries invasive species identified the most suitable areas in Northern and monitoring and control. Midwestern regions of Brazil–including the Cerrado that import more birds are more likely to be invaded. and the Amazon–both areas important to Brazilian Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. In the global network, a high number of import sources biodiversity. pone.0184703 and a more central position also correlated with a higher invasion risk. Combining this with a herpetofaunal model scoring FROM CULTIVATION TO INVASION - establishment risks and specific attributes required NATURALIZATION OF GARDEN ORNAMENTALS In the European Union, the 2005 ban on importing wild for successful invasion, the author point to P. DATA USED: 1,124,139 SPECIES OCCURRENCES birds reduced trade to about 10 per cent of pre-ban guttatus and P. bivittatus as having the highest risk of Mayer K, Haeuser E, Dawson W, Essl F, Kreft H, Pergl J, levels, and global avian invasion risk decreased– Pyšek P, Weigelt P, Winter M, Lenzner B and van Kleunen M establishment, concluding that these should the be particularly in the EU. New trade routes, however, (2017) Naturalization of ornamental plant species in public focus of control and monitoring. might overturn this development, suggesting a need green spaces and private gardens. Biological Invasions. for global bans. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. Springer Nature 19(12): 3613–3627. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1126/ pone.0183143 Author countries/areas: Austria, China, Czechia, Germany, sciadv.1700783 NOISY NEIGHBOURS: ACOUSTIC INTERFERENCE South Africa, United Kingdom AMONG INVASIVE AMPHIBIANS Research funding: Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen DATA USED: 33,901 SPECIES OCCURRENCES und Naturschutz, Baden-Württemberg, German Research a Forti LR, Becker CG, Tacioli L, Pereira VR, Santos ACFA, Foundation, ERA-Net BiodivERsA, French National Research Oliveira I, Haddad CFB and Toledo LF (2017) Perspectives Agency, DFG, Austrian Science Fund, Czech Science on invasive amphibians in Brazil. PLOS ONE. Public Library Foundation, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Czech of Science (PLoS) 12(9): e0184703. Academy of Sciences Author countries/areas: Brazil, United States Not only having important aesthetic value, private Research funding: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do gardens and public parks also provide important Estado de São Paulo, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento ecosystem services in urban areas. Ornamental Científico e Tecnológico, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento plants, however, are also the most important pathway de Pessoal de Nível Superior for alien plant introductions worldwide. PHYLLODYTES LUTEOLUS BY OMAR ROJAS-PADILLA https://www.gbif.org/ occurrence/1883498578 CC BY-NC 4.0 See all Invasive alien species citations at GBIF.org 34 35

numbers pale in comparison to the multitudes of based on Maxent and SVM (Support Vector Machines) On the distribution of species images shared on generic social media platforms, were best at distiguishing between suitable and like Flickr. Although the majority of such images have unsuitable distributional potential. little relevance to biodiversity, being able to extract Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1825 the few that do, could be a cheap and easy way of complementing existing biodiversity information. EXPLORING UNCERTAINTIES OF MARINE SPECIES Following this idea, researchers searched Flickr MODELLING for geotagged images of two species of bees and DATA USED: 4,877 SPECIES OCCURRENCES flowering plants in Australia and used Google’s reverse Chefaoui RM and Serrão EA (2017) Accounting for image search to validate the images and exclude false uncertainty in predictions of a marine species: Integrating positives. The locations of the images were overlaid on population genetics to verify past distributions. Ecological a map with occurrences of the same species obtained Modelling. Elsevier BV 359: 229–239. via GBIF and the Atlas of Living Australia. Author country/area: Portugal The produced maps showed a general overlap Research funding: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia between Flickr-derived images and the range of the An efficient approach to answering ecological and GBIF-mediated occurrences, and if used properly, this biogeographical questions, species distribution big-data methodology could provide an inexpensive modelling depends on reliable occurrence data and and abundant source of occurrence data. suitable model algorithms. In models of terrestrial Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. species, geographical bias can be ameliorated ecoinf.2017.02.006 through filtering, however, less is known about the uncertainties affecting models of marine species, STUDYING GLOBAL OLIVE DISTRIBUTION TO which are also influenced by a scarcity of predictor

COMPARE ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELS variables. species of distribution LAETIPORUS CINCINNATUS BY GREG LASLEY https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1453398428 CC BY-NC 4.0 DATA USED: 37,533 SPECIES OCCURRENCES In a study of the common seagrass Cymodocea a Ashraf U, Peterson AT, Chaudhry MN, Ashraf I, Saqib Z, nodosa, researchers used GBIF-mediated occurrences rarefaction curve, the authors estimate that doubling Rashid Ahmad S and Ali H (2017) Ecological niche model CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF FUNGI to explore how a number of factors may affect the the sampling effort would increase number of species comparison under different climate scenarios: a case study DATA USED: 7,067 SPECIES OCCURRENCES performance of models. First, researchers limited by 42 per cent. of Olea spp. in Asia. Ecosphere. Wiley 8(5): e01825. Del Olmo-Ruiz M, García-Sandoval R, Alcántara-Ayala O, the number of predictors to only half of the available Author countries/areas: Pakistan, United States Véliz M and Luna-Vega I (2017) Current knowledge of fungi Providing a thorough perpective on diversity and variables, which led to an expected and significant from Neotropical montane cloud forests: distributional Research funding: None listed distribution of fungi in NMCF, the study concludes that reduction in performance. patterns and composition. Biodiversity and Conservation. Mesoamerica, particularly Mexico and Costa Rica, Modelling ecological niches and species distributions Springer Nature 26(8): 1919–1942. To alleviate effects of observed sampling bias, the has the highest species richness, and compared to can be useful when predicting the potential spread of authors constructed a weighted filter taking into Author countries/areas: Guatemala, Mexico NMCF in the Caribbean and South America, the fungal invasive species and species’ response to changing account general marine sampling efforts, national Research funding: Dirección General de Asuntos del assemblages are significantly different with very little climates. Numerous methods for modelling are used, GBIF-publishing activity and level of country Personal Académico overlap. but the choice of modelling approach depends on development. Surprisingly, however, the filters did not Persistently immersed in clouds, neotropical montane many factors, and no single method is likely to excel in Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017- improve the performance of any model. cloud forests (NMCF) represent distinct biological 1337-5 all cases. The authors finally verified the models by confirming communities, different from other tropical forests. Relying on the near-global distribution of Olea europea, USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMPLEMENT hindcasted predictions of so-called glacial refugia Exhibiting an abundance of plants and usually high researchers used primarily GBIF-mediated occurrence TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF BIODIVERSITY DATA with regions where the highest genetic diversity of C. endemism, NMCF are unique sites of biodiversity. data to compare performance of seven modelling Despite ecological importance and ubiquity of fungi, DATA USED: 25,905 SPECIES OCCURRENCES nodosa is found today. ElQadi MM, Dorin A, Dyer A, Burd M, Bukovac Z and Shrestha approaches across a broad and varied landscape. very little is known about the NMCF distribution of this M (2017) Mapping species distributions with social media First, the authors calibrated the models using global Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. massive group of organisms. geo-tagged images: Case studies of bees and flowering climate and occurrence data, and then narrowed in on ecolmodel.2017.06.006 In a comprehensive data mining exercise, researchers plants in Australia. Ecological Informatics. Elsevier BV 39: a smaller study area in Asia to test the transferability set out to describe in detail the distributional patterns 23–31. of models into future climate scenarios. and composition of microfungi, macrofungi and Author country/area: Australia The overall results of the comparative study showed lichens in NMCF. Relying on published literature, GBIF- Research funding: Australian Research Council very different predictions in future climates depending mediated occurrences as well as other online sources, While enthusiastic citizen scientists record great on the modelling approach. While six out of seven the authors compile 6,349 records representing numbers of observations and photographic evidence tested models yielded predictions significantly better 2,962 fungal species. Based on a computed species of species in networks such as iNaturalist, their than random, the authors concluded that models 36 37

NOT JUST A NUMBERS GAME: SMALL COLLECTIONS habitats having a disproportionately high number of problems in fact hinders a robust conclusion. While WITH BIG IMPACT species, is largely unexplored and thus in urgent need the original paper represents the largest-scale DATA USED: 15,967 SPECIES OCCURRENCES of assessment. analysis of species spatial abundance patterns, the Glon HE, Heumann BW, Carter JR, Bartek JM and Monfils jury on abundant centres still appears hung. AK (2017) The contribution of small collections to species Through compilation of all available freshwater distribution modelling: A case study from Fuireneae fish records from GBIF, the Multi-State Aquatic Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12860 (Cyperaceae). Ecological Informatics. Elsevier BV 42: Resources Information Facility (MARIS) and federally administered fish survey (FFS), authors of this paper 67–78. DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF AMPHIBIANS IN Author country/area: United States set out to assess the completeness of freshwater fish ALBANIA Research funding: None listed data in the contiguous United States. DATA USED: 8 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Natural history collections of many sizes contribute Having standardized taxonomic nomenclature Szabolcs M, Mizsei E, Jablonski D, Vági B, Mester B, data to GBIF.org–used extensively to model the across the entire dataset of 1.5 million occurrences Végvári Z and Lengyel S (2017) Distribution and diversity of amphibians in Albania: new data and foundations of a distribution of species for a variety of purposes. of 21 million individuals across 892 species, their analysis revealed spatial and temporal differences comprehensive database. Amphibia-Reptilia. Brill Academic Every record counts, however, small collections may Publishers 38(4): 435–448. be more regional in scope with a specific taxomic or between the three sources. FFS data was sparse but ecological focus compared to larger collections. widespread, whereas GBIF data was dense in coastal Author countries/areas: Hungary, Slovakia RAFINESQUIA NEOMEXICANA BY DFONG16 https://www.gbif.org/ regions, however, spanned more years than FFS or Research funding: None listed To quantify the impact of small collections, authors of occurrence/1880487003 CC BY 4.0 MARIS data. Due to long political isolation, Albania and its this study built distribution models of five test case biodiversity–part of the Mediterranean hotspot– species relying on GBIF-mediated data partitioned Overall, more than 95 per cent of data originated from IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE INTERACTIONS ON flowing waters such as springs and rivers, suggesting is poorly explored and little is known about the SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELS by size of source collection. Despite having fewer that while data on freshwater fish is plentiful, future amphibian fauna of the country. DATA USED: 4,269 SPECIES OCCURRENCES records, the dataset based on small collections Filazzola A, Sotomayor DA and Lortie CJ (2017) Modelling contributed unique information that when combined surveys should focus on still waters–like lakes and A new study aimed to describe the distribution of the niche space of desert annuals needs to include positive with the data from the large collections led to more reservoirs–to improve completeness. Albanian amphibians by combining GBIF-mediated interactions. Oikos. Wiley 127(2): 264–273. refined and robust predictions of habitat suitability– Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12637 occurrences with data from field studies of remote species of distribution Author country/area: Canada compared to the large collections alone–across all and less known areas. Pooling a total of 1,097 records Research funding: York University, Government of Canada test species. ARE SPECIES MOST ABUNDANT IN THE CENTRE OF of 16 species, the authors analysed the amphibian THEIR CLIMATIC NICHES? richness patterns and found 1.8 species per 10 Facilitation through positive interactions between While using high numbers of species occurrences DATA USED: 20,210,035 SPECIES OCCURRENCES square km cell. Almost 70 per cent of all cells had at as input for distribution models can improve species can affect the range of a beneficiary by Dallas T, Decker RR and Hastings A (2017) Species are not least one species present. changing the microclimate to match its fundamental performance and reliability, the present study most abundant in the centre of their geographic range or niche in an otherwise unsuitable and high-stress suggests that the nature of data source can be climatic niche. Ecology Letters. Wiley 20(12): 1526–1533. Modelling the distribution of known species revealed important too. This potentional of small, regional that land cover and precipitation were the most environment such as a desert. When modelling Author country/area: United States collections should be considered when planning important predictors of diversity. The authors ecological niches, these interactions may affect Research funding: National Science Foundation models. digitization and data publication efforts. identified amphibian hotspots in several regions, The abundant centre hypothesis represents the including the Prokletije, Grammos, Çikës and Korab distribution of species Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. In an attempt to quantify the effects of such phenomenon that a species is most abundant at the Mountains, near lakes Ohrid and Prespa, and the ecoinf.2017.09.009 microclimate ameliorations, authors used GBIF- centre of its geographical range or climatic niche. coastal regions near Vlorë. mediated occurrences to model the distribution of 20 However intuitive this may sound, the empirical While representing the largest study of amphibian annual plant species–10 known beneficiaries and 10 support for this claim is rather weak. ASSESSING COVERAGE OF FRESHWATER FISH diversity in Albania so far, the authors acknowledge unreported–in the Mojave Desert while examining the DATA IN THE UNITED STATES results of including benefactor shrub species. In a large data analysis, researchers from UC Davis that sampling is scarce and uneven. To evaluate DATA USED: 557,680 SPECIES OCCURRENCES tested the hypothesis by examining the relationships efficiency of protected areas, they call for increased For known beneficiary species, the performance of Troia MJ and McManamay RA (2017) Completeness and between abundance and distance to centre of range or sampling and a detailed assessment of amphibian coverage of open-access freshwater fish distribution data models improved significantly when taking shrub niche for more than 1,600 species of birds, mammals, diversity in Albania. in the United States. Diversity and Distributions. Wiley co-occurrences into consideration, but they were fish and trees. Relying on GBIF-mediated species 23(12): 1482–1498. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381- not different for unreported species. These results occurrences to define the range and niche centroids, 00003126 highlight the importance of positive interactions and Author country/area: United States the authors’ analyses found only slight correlations other biotic interactions in modelling, and suggest Research funding: Oak Ridge National Laboratory for some species–both positive and negative–while that co-occurrence of benefactor species can be used The work of researchers testing ecological and the majority of tested species showed no relationship as a proxy for facilitation. evolutionary hypotheses using primary biodiversity at all. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.04688 data, like species occurrences in GBIF.org, depend on Contrasting previous findings, the results of the the even distribution of ecological surveys in both study, however, have since been questioned by other space and time. The ecological coverage of freshwater researchers, arguing that a number of methodological 38 39

MOTHS OF FACEBOOK: ENHANCING Author countries/areas: Colombia, Spain PROFESSIONAL COLLECTIONS WITH OPTIMIZED Research funding: None listed CITIZEN SCIENCE DATA The distribution of a species is controlled by a number DATA USED: 393 SPECIES OCCURRENCES of biotic and abiotic factors–but also access to a Lin Y-P, Lin W-C, Lien W-Y, Anthony J and Petway J (2017) Identifying Reliable Opportunistic Data for Species suitable areas for dispersal and/or evolutionary ability Distribution Modeling: A Benchmark Data Optimization to adapt to new conditions. The relative contribution Approach. Environments. MDPI AG 4(4): 81. of these vary by species, but their importance may be related to geography. Author country/area: Taiwan Research funding: None listed To be able to assess the spatial variability of abiotic factors, researchers studied the distribution of the Preferred for species distribution modelling, world’s freshwater fishes, using a novel approach– occurrence data derived from well-defined, controlled an instability index–to examine and visualize the surveys is expensive and as a consequence, often varying importance of different predictors. Using in short supply compared to the vast amounts of GBIF-mediated occurrences combined with several opportunistic data gathered by citizen science bioclimatic and topograhic variables, the authors initiatives. Although the latter may be more prone modelled the distribution of each species in three to misidentification and biases, citizen science progressively widening extents. data–used correctly–can be a good supplement to professional surveys. In their results, they find temperature and altitude to be the most important predictors at the river basin In a new study, researchers in Taiwan used GBIF- level. Expanding to the regional level, altitude is mediated occurrences from professionally curated replaced by precipitation, which finally becomes the datasets to test a novel optimization procedure for single most important predictor at the global level. opportunistic data from a citizen science project on Facebook called EnjoyMoths. Using four different Suggesting that predictors depend on geographical AGAMA AGAMA BY DAVID GUNN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS (PUBLIC DOMAIN) species of distribution approaches, the authors modelled the distributions scope, this study presents an important implication to of nine moth species based on GBIF and EnjoyMoths be considered in species distribution modelling. georeference. Describing three marine turtles, three Compiling all available biodiversity data records from datasets–both raw and optimized, separate and Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zox063 terrestrial chelonians, 39 lizards and 21 snakes, the books, academic dissertations, research articles and combined–while comparing the performance of the atlas provides full taxonomic details, descriptions and open databases–OBIS and GBIF–authors from Tehran generated models. ATLAS OF THE REPTILES OF LIBYA images of each species with information on known review the current knowledge of marine taxa in Iranian distributions including maps of occurrences in Libya. Their results showed that the optimization procedure DATA USED: 3,350 SPECIES OCCURRENCES southern seas. They extract a total of almost 60,000 Bauer AM, DeBoer JC and Taylor DJ (2017) Atlas of the significantly improved the performance of models Link to paper: http://bit.ly/2NhWhzg records, which after rigorous quality control turn Reptiles of Libya. Proceedings of the California Academy of based on opportunistic data. Furthermore, the out to cover more than 3,300 species–ranging from Sciences. Series 4, volume 64, no. 8, pp. 155-318. phytoplankton to whales–more than twice previously highest performing models were found among those THE SPECIES RICHNESS OF THE SOUTHERN SEAS Author country/area: United States predicted. More than 60 per cent of the records belong distribution of species based on GBIF data in combination with optimized OF IRAN Research funding: National Science Foundation to Animalia, while Chromista and Plantae are also well- opportunistic data. These findings suggest that the DATA USED: 30,423 SPECIES OCCURRENCEES optimization approach is able to increase quality of Limited by authoritarian restrictions and civil war, Maghsoudlou A, Momtazi F, Nasiri K, Pazooki S, Molavi- represented. Fungi, Protozoa and Bacteria together, such data, and highlights the value and potential of access to Libya has been hindered and herpetological Arabshahi M, Sepahvand V, Hekmatara M and Khaledi H represent less than one per cent. citizen science in biodiversity. research curbed since World War II. This combined with (2017) A review on the state of the biodiversity knowledge Concluding that long-term availability of data is a perceived low reptilian diversity means that very on Iran’s southern seas: introducing a methodology Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3390/ important for conservation, the authors call for little is known about reptiles in Libya. to evaluate the validity of the reported cases. Marine increased training in marine research and for the environments4040081 Biodiversity. Springer Nature. Originally intended to survey and collect reptiles in establishment of a national marine biodiversity Author country/area: Iran RAIN OR SHINE: RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF Libya, this study was impeded by the events of the facility with international partnerships. ABIOTIC FACTORS ON SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS Research funding: Iranian National Institute for “Arab Spring” in 2011, and as a result continued as Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-017- DATA USED: 1,045,514 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Oceanography and Atmospheric Science a museum-based programme. Entitled “Atlas of the 0835-8 a Manjarrés-Hernández AM, Guisande C, García-Roselló Scattered, sparse and often only available on dusty E, Pelayo-Villamil P, González-Dacosta J, Heine J, González Reptiles of Libya”, the study gathers all available library shelves, information about biodiversity in Vilas L, Granado-Lorencio C, Duque SR and Lobo JM data from museums records via GBIF, scientific (2017) A procedure to assess the spatial variability in the publications and other publicly available sources. Iran–especially on marine taxa–is challenging to discover and access. With very high maritime traffic importance of abiotic factors affecting distributions: the The produced atlas contains records from 2061 case of world freshwater fishes. Current Zoology. Oxford in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, standardized and occurrences of 66 reptile species in 683 localities, University Press (OUP). easy to access data about marine diversity in these many of which unfortunately, are too imprecise to waters is needed.

See all On the distribution of species citations at GBIF.org 40 41

STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION OF CROP WILD researchers employed an ensemble-based approach Species conservation and protected areas RELATIVES to predict the distribution of long-horned beetles (the DATA USED: 86 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Cerambycidae family) in the Fiji islands. Taylor NG, Kell SP, Holubec V, Parra-Quijano M, Chobot K and Maxted N (2017) A systematic conservation strategy Despite an inherent scarcity of Cerambycidae for crop wild relatives in the Czech Republic. Diversity and occurrence records, the researchers were able to Distributions. Wiley-Blackwell 23(4): 448–462. produce a predictive map based on an ensemble Author countries/areas: Czechia, Italy, United Kingdom model of the best-performing modelling algorithms, Research funding: European Union, Crop Research Institute including machine learning-based SVM, randomForest and MaxEnt. Ensuring increasing crop yields is a priority as climates change and the world’s population continues The resulting distribution map pointed to highest to grow. This be achieved by using crop wild relatives taxon suitability on the middle slopes of the central (CWR) as the source of new material to the genetic mountains of the islands Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and base of current crop cultivars. But as CWRs face the Taveuni. same threats as other wild plants, targeted strategies Link to paper: http://bit.ly/2NklE3I for conservation are needed. MODELLING SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS TO PROTECT In this study, researchers used a checklist of CWRs BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA in Czechia to identify priority species based on DATA USED: 300,000 SPECIES OCCURRENCES criteria related to vulnerability and relation to crops Hughes AC (2017) Mapping priorities for conservation in of high socioeconomic importance. The shortlist Southeast Asia. Biological Conservation. Elsevier BV 209: contained 204 species for which the researchers did 395–405. in situ conservation analyses revealing that all but Author country/area: China one species occurs in at least one protected area. Research funding: None listed One hundred and sixty species occur in five or more Southeast Asia is a global biodiversity super-hub, TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA SUBSP. ELEGANS BY AMALIBRAHIM https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1269537010 CC BY-NC 4.0 protected areas. home to four of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. ASSESSMENT OF THE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF Consisting of researchers from 13 countries, the However, the study also identifed eight species Unfortunately, the region is also a hotspot of threat species conservation REPTILES Global Assesment of Reptile Distributions group occurring in only one PA in which they are endemic, due to hunting and deforestation, and a lack of DATA USED: 14,680 SPECIES OCCURRENCES published a large study analysing 10,000 reptile making them particularly vulnerable. In addition, ex baseline data makes assessing efficacy of protected Roll U, Feldman A, Novosolov M, Allison A, Bauer AM, species, thus updating the knowledge on global situ analyses found huge gaps, pointing to a need for areas highly challenging. Bernard R, Böhm M, Castro-Herrera F, Chirio L, Collen B, targeted collection of germplasm for gene banks. patterns. Based on literature, field studies and online In this study, a researcher from the Xishuangbanna Colli GR, Dabool L, Das I, Doan TM, Grismer LL, Hoogmoed databases including GBIF.org, the authors produced M, Itescu Y, Kraus F, LeBreton M, Lewin A, Martins M, Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12539 Tropical Botanical Garden uses GBIF-mediated distribution maps of all species, and from those Maza E, Meirte D, Nagy ZT, de C. Nogueira C, Pauwels OSG, occurrences of birds, mammals, reptiles and derived important knowledge on reptile species MODELLING TAXON DISTRIBUTIONS TO PROTECT Pincheira-Donoso D, Powney GD, Sindaco R, Tallowin OJS, LONG-HORNED BEETLES IN FIJI ISLANDS amphibians in mainland Southeast Asia combined with Torres-Carvajal O, Trape J-F, Vidan E, Uetz P, Wagner P, richness. DATA USED: 24 SPECIES OCCURRENCES environmental data to create distribution models of all Wang Y, Orme CDL, Grenyer R and Meiri S (2017) The global Their results revealed that reptile richness patterns– a Aguilar GD, Waqa-Sakiti H, W. L. (2017). Using predicted species. Based on the models, the author shows that distribution of tetrapods reveals a need for targeted reptile largely dominated by snakes–correspond well to locations and an ensemble approach to address sparse about half of the most diverse areas for mammals and conservation. Nature Ecology & Evolution. Springer Nature those of other tetrapod vertebrates, with lizards and data sets forspecies distribution modelling: Long-horned amphibians fall within existing protected areas. For 1(11): 1677–1682. turtles being less congruent. The same is evident for beetles (Cerambycidae) of the Fiji islands. birds, however, the number is around only 20 per cent, Author countries/areas: Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, China, hotspots of richness. Analysing coverage of protected Author country/area: New Zealand and for reptiles even lower, about 10 per cent. Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Senegal, areas, the authors show that only 3.5 per cent of Research funding: None listed Comparing the models to expert-drawn IUCN range United Kingdom, United States reptile species ranges are protected. Research funding: Gerald M. Lemole, CAPES, CNPq, In biodiversity conservation, species distribution maps, the author find large disparities, as the models FAPDF, Niche Research Grant Scheme, FAPESP, SENESCYT, The paper shows that reptile conservation as a modelling can provide initial guidance on the potential predict areas of maximum richness that are only University of Oxford, BSF whole falls behind that of other vertebrates and distribution of a taxon of interest and help identify a fraction of those indicated by the IUCN maps, identifies novel reptilian hotspots, such as the Arabian Comprising about one third of terrestrial vertebrate areas worth prioritizing. A low number of species suggesting that including modelling approaches could peninsula, Lake Chad and the Brazilian Caatinga, as species, reptiles–including lizards, snakes and occurrences, however, may result in inconsistent improve effectiveness of conservation planning. future priorities for conservation efforts. crocodiles–are surprisingly poorly described in predictions for some modelling algorithms. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. terms of global distributions, and present knowledge Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017- In this study, researchers set out to inform biocon.2017.03.007 is scattered, at best. This gap prevents proper 0332-2 conservation planning to protect rare insect incorporation into conservation planning, and as a species in Fiji. Using GBIF-mediated occurences result, reptiles may be underrepresented. and five environmental variables for the region, the 42 43

PICKING THE BEST SPOT FOR RELEASING Covering nearly a quarter of Brazil, the Cerrado is REHABILITATED PRIMATES the largest neotropical savanna in the world, home DATA USED: 427 SPECIES OCCURRENCES to more than 12,000 plant species including a large Stone OML and Guy AJ (2017) Predicting Optimal Release herb-shrub flora widely neglected in scientific studies Sites for Rehabilitated Monkeys: a Vervet Monkey and conservation policy. (Chlorocebus aethiops) Case Study. International Journal of Primatology. Springer Nature 38(3): 485–499. In a recent study published in the Journal of Author country/area: Australia Vegetation Science, researchers used nearly a million Research funding: None listed primarily GBIF-mediated occurrences combined with bioclimatic predictors and soil variables to model When primate rescue centres take in injured or distributions of more than 5,000 herb-shrub species. orphaned animals of unthreatened species, the By stacking the predicted distributions, the authors motivation is animal welfare and the goal is successful derived a species richness map of the Cerrado, rehabilitation and eventual release into the wild. revealing the highest levels of richness in the central- Choosing appropriate sites for releasing rehabilitated south and western parts of the region. The study animals can be highly challenging due to limited also identifies two floristically distinct clusters of resources. phytogeographic regions. PANTHERA ONCA BY JONATHAN CAMPBELL https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1880558846 CC BY-NC 4.0 In this study, focused on finding optimum release Plotting protected areas over the species richness sites for rehabilitated vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus map indicated that only 18 per cent of areas with USING PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY TO ASSESS Based on their analysis, the paper concludes that EFFICACY OF PROTECTIVE AREAS aethiops) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, researchers predicted high species richness are found in priority the current network of protected areas targeting create an environmental model based on own DATA USED: 1,695,781 SPECIES OCCURRENCES species richness appears to protect phylogenetic areas, showing that current Cerrado conservation Quan Q, Che X, Wu Y, Wu Y, Zhang Q, Zhang M and Zou F sightings, literature, and GBIF-mediated occurrences plans do not reflect the actual biological importance of diversity fairly well. However, highlighting the lack of of wild monkeys. They refine the output by excluding (2018) Effectiveness of protected areas for vertebrates protection of severely threatened birds in the coastal herb-shrub flora. based on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. urban areas and roads, while ensuring proximity areas of eastern China, the authors suggest room for Conservation Biology. Wiley 32(2): 355–365. to fresh water sources, considered to be the most Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12541 improvement in the distribution of protected areas. important factor for successful release. Author countries/areas: China, United States Research funding: National Nature Science Foundation Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12986 Initially, the authors identify 80 per cent of KwaZulu-

of China, Environment Construction & Capacity Building species conservation Natal to be suitable habitat, but applying refinements ASSESSING GAPS IN PROTECTED AREAS OF of GDAS, Nanling Wildlife Survey and Monitoring Program, BRAZIL reduce this to 298 areas of a combined 6,225 km2, Fasheng Zou, National Natural Science Foundation of China equivalent to about six per cent of the total area. DATA USED: 659,062 SPECIES OCCURRENCES Shielded from serious human disturbances, protected a Oliveira U, Soares-Filho BS, Paglia AP, Brescovit AD, de Unfortunately, a large proportion of these areas are areas play a key role in preventing irreversible Carvalho CJB, Silva DP, Rezende DT, Leite FSF, Batista JAN, found within protected land with non-release policies. biodiversity loss in a world of increased rates of Barbosa JPPP, Stehmann JR, Ascher JS, de Vasconcelos While using modelling for choosing release sites environmental disruption. Often based on taxonomic MF, De Marco P, Löwenberg-Neto P, Ferro VG and Santos doesn’t guarantee success, the approach identifies diversity, the locations of protected areas seldom AJ (2017) Biodiversity conservation gaps in the Brazilian the best candidate sites for pre-release surveys, a consider the unique evolutionary status and protected areas. Scientific Reports. Springer Nature 7(1). critical aspect of successful rehabilitation in the wild. functional traits of species although phylogenetic Author countries/areas: Argentina, Brazil, Singapore Research funding: Climate and Land Use Alliance, Conselho Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-017- diversity may be crucial for sustaining an ecosystem. species conservation species Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, 9956-y To assess the current conservation efficacy of Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, protected areas in China, the authors of this paper Humboldt Foundation, CNPq, FAPEMIG, Instituto Nacional PROTECTING THE HERB-SHRUB FLORA OF THE used IUCN range maps supplemented by GBIF- de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Parasitóides da CERRADO mediated occurrences of terrestrial vertebrates Região Sudeste Brasileira, FAPESP DATA USED: ~1 MILLION SPECIES OCCURRENCES combined with previously published phylogenies Amaral AG, Munhoz CBR, Walter BMT, Aguirre-Gutiérrez J Brazil is among the countries that hold the largest and Raes N (2017) Richness pattern and phytogeography of clades to estimate and identify hotspots share of Earth’s species: the megadiverse countries. of the Cerrado herb-shrub flora and implications for of phylogenetic diversity and evolutionary Protecting ecosystems is a priority and the country conservation. Journal of Vegetation Science. Wiley 28(4): distinctiveness. Mapping these against existing has invested significantly in expanding its network of 848–858. protected areas, the authors were able to reveal gaps protected areas. However, the extent to which these Author countries/areas: Brazil, Netherlands in coverage. areas help protect biodiversity is unknown. Research funding: National Council for Scientific In a study of gaps in protected areas in Brazil, and Technological Development, Coordination for the CHLOROCEBUS PYGERYTHRUS BY BERNARD DUPONT Improvement of Higher Education Personnel https://flic.kr/p/r3z5Pt CC BY-NC 2.0 researchers built a database of vertebrate, arthropod and angiosperm species occurrences mainly from GBIF.org, mapping these against protected areas to 44 45

quantity sampling effort. They also reconstructed of these overlapped with areas currently protected, countries falling behind targets, plans for expansions land conversion to modern agriculture, effectively phylogenetic trees of Brazilian taxa in order to identify the study highlights a need to consolidate protection based on biodiversity and conservation science are leading to wildland loss of more than two and a half per patterns of evolutionary lineages. within centres of endemism. needed. cent per year. If allowed to continue at current rates, The study found that fewer than one per cent of Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12582 This study present an example of a systematic pitaya habitat shrinking presents a major threat to the protected areas are well sampled, and as many national-scale conservation planning process in cultural practices and livelihoods of the Yoreme. as 50 per cent are not sampled at all. For Brazilian Guyana, in which only 8.5 per cent of the land area is Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017- biodiversity, more than 50 per cent of species and 40 currently protected. Using published range maps and 0940-8 per cent of evolutionary lineages are found outside GBIF-mediated occurrences for species distribution protected areas. Modelling distributions showed that models, the study focuses on 329 vertebrate species CONSERVATION OF PLANT DIVERSITY BY BOTANIC less than 40 per cent of median species distributions as well as 17 vegetation types. GARDENS WORLDWIDE overlap with protected areas. In the current Guyanan network of protected DATA USED: 8,246,424 SPECIES OCCURRENCES These findings combined suggest a need for areas, their results showed that only 48 per cent of Mounce R, Smith P and Brockington S (2017) Ex situ increased sampling and protection priorities based on vertebrates and 29 per cent of vegetation types are conservation of plant diversity in the world’s botanic inventories and biodiversity analyses. represented, and among threatened species eight are gardens. Nature Plants. Springer Nature 3(10): 795–802. Author country/area: United Kingdom Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017- completely absent. To meet all targets, the authors Research funding: Cambridge University Botanic Garden, 08707-2 identify new priority areas for conservation, bringing the combined protected area up to 22.5 per cent, National Environmental Research Council AMPHIBIAN REFUGIA IN THE COASTAL FORESTS OF however, 17 per cent coverage could be reached by Plants are the foundation for life on the planet and EASTERN AFRICA focusing effort on just two areas–the protection of botanic gardens serve an important purpose in DATA USED: 30,000 SPECIES OCCURRENCES which would mean complete representation. conserving plant diversity and preventing species Barratt CD, Bwong BA, Onstein RE, Rosauer DF, Menegon Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. extinction. Widely distributed worldwide, these M, Doggart N, Nagel P, Kissling WD and Loader SP (2017) biocon.2017.08.024 gardens habour thousands of species, but combined Environmental correlates of phylogenetic endemism in knowledge of their content and coverage is unclear. amphibians and the conservation of refugia in the Coastal CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TRADITIONS Forests of Eastern Africa. Diversity and Distributions. THREATENED BY LAND USE CHANGES In an analysis of world’s botanic gardens, UK Wiley 23(8): 875–887. DATA USED: 161 SPECIES OCCURRENCES researchers identified 3,269 collections in 180

countries with known holdings of more than 105,000 species conservation Author countries/areas: Australia, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, Semotiuk AJ, Colunga-GarcíaMarín P, Valenzuela Maldonado Switzerland, United Kingdom D and Ezcurra E (2017) Pillar of strength: Columnar plant species combined–corresponding to about 30 Research funding: Humer Foundation, cactus as a key factor in Yoreme heritage and wildland per cent of accepted species in The Plant List covering Stipendienkommission für Nachwuchskräfte, Freiwilligen preservation. Ambio. Springer Nature 47(1): 86–96. 93 per cent of all vascular plant families. Akademischen Gesellschaft Basel Author countries/areas: Mexico, United States Based on GBIF-mediated occurrences, the authors Africa is home to more than a quarter of the Research funding: University of California Institute for determined the latitudinal ranges of held species and world’s biodiversity hotspots, yet knowledge and Mexico and the United States found a remarkable bias towards temperate species, PICUMNUS SPILOGASTER BY JOSH_VANDERMEULEN understanding of the factors leading to such biological https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1890708111 CC BY-NC 4.0 Often connected with local flora and fauna, cultures counter to the natural gradient where most diversity richness–key to prioritizing conservation efforts–is TRANSLATING INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION and traditions of indigenous peoples are affected by is found in the tropics. Mapping combined collections still mostly lacking. COMMITMENTS INTO NATIONAL PLANNING ACTION land use changes associated with rapidly altering against a phylogenetic tree of all accepted land plant globalized societies. In Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico– genera revealed another striking bias as non-vascular species conservation species Working with molecular data combined with spatial DATA USED: 6,402 SPECIES OCCURRENCES lineages are almost completely undocumented. occurrence data from GBIF.org, researchers studied a Bicknell JE, Collins MB, Pickles RSA, McCann NP, ancestral territory of the Yoreme people–mechanized, the entire amphibian assemblage in a focus area Bernard CR, Fernandes DJ, Miller MGR, James SM, Williams large-scale farming co-exists with traditional practices These findings combined suggest a remarkable containing parts of the Coastal Forests of Eastern AU, Struebig MJ, Davies ZG and Smith RJ (2017) Designing and knowledge, exemplified by the organ pipe cactus– degree of worldwide coverage, but also points to gaps protected area networks that translate international Stenocereus thurberi Africa hotspot and the Eastern Afromontane region. also known as the pitaya ( ). to be addressed for conservation in botanic garden conservation commitments into national action. Biological In this paper, authors carried out interviews with collections. Deriving a phylogeny of the assemblage and modelling Conservation. Elsevier BV 214: 168–175. the distribution of each species, the authors created harvesters and sellers of pitaya products, showing Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-017- a map of phylogenetic endemism from which they Author countries/areas: Australia, Canada, Guyana, United usage in a variety of goods from marmalade and dried Kingdom 0019-3 identified environmental correlates to predict fruit rolls to flavoured water and sorbet, providing Research funding: NERC potential refugia. economic benefits to community members while Through Aichi Target 11, signatories to the Convention The study confirmed known centres of amphibian preserving Yoreme heritage. on Biological Convention (CBD) have committed to endemism, but also identified new potential refugia. Unfortunately, based on vegetation surveys and protection of 17 per cent of terrestial areas by 2020, In total, conservation analyses showed ten hotpots GBIF-mediated occurrences, the authors showed that but in 2017 less than 15 per cent was protected–a accounting for more than 25 per cent of phylogenetic the distribution of pitaya–particularly in the Yoreme shortfall of more than 3 million square km. For endemism in the region. As only a very small fraction territory–converged with the the highest rates of 46 47

PROTECTING ENDEMIC PALMS OF THE AMAZON CONR: LARGE-SCALE, MULTISPECIES DATA USED: 17,310 SPECIES OCCURRENCES CONSERVATION ASSESSMENTS USING SPECIES Alvez-Valles CM, Balslev H, Carvalho FA, Garcia-Villacorta OCCURRENCE DATA R, Grandez C and Menini Neto L (2017) Endemism DATA USED: 74,352 SPECIES OCCURRENCES and conservation of Amazon palms. Biodiversity and a Dauby G, Stévart T, Droissart V, Cosiaux A, Deblauwe Conservation. Springer Nature 27(3): 765–784. V, Simo-Droissart M, Sosef MSM, Lowry PP, Schatz GE, Author countries/areas: Brazil, Denmark, Peru, United Gereau RE and Couvreur TLP (2017) ConR: An R package to States assist large-scale multispecies preliminary conservation Research funding: PGECOL/UFJF, CAPES, OEA, GCUB assessments using distribution data. Ecology and Evolution. Wiley 7(24): 11292–11303. What’s next Widespread and abundant in the tropics and Author countries/areas: Belgium, Cameroon, France, United nearly absent in temperate regions, palms play States important ecological roles as a food source, but Research funding: Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Explore all papers using GBIF-mediated data also in supporting local communities with cultural Biodiversite, Agropolis Fondation, Agence Nationale de la and economic significance. The Amazon region is Recherche, Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS www.gbif.org/resource/ home to more than 120 endemic palm species, and The IUCN Red List provides an authorative and recognizing the areas of palm endemism is important search?contentType=literature comprehensive methodology for assessing the for conservation planning. conservation status of a species. As yet, only a By plotting GBIF-mediated occurrences of palm tiny fraction of known species have been assessed species in the Amazon region, authors of a new study according to the Red List criteria, and tools for identified one and three-degree squares containing at accelerating preliminary assessments are needed. Read the latest data use summaries least two distinct species–defining these as endemic This paper introduces a new R package–ConR–for areas–based on two different analytic approaches. gbif.org/resource/search?contentType=dataUse conducting large-scale, preliminary multispecies The highest level of palm endemicity appeared in the conservation assessments based on sets of species Peruvian Amazon with seven species, followed by distribution data from e.g. GBIF. Using four functions the Andean sub-region with six species. Combining operating on datasets of species occurrences, ConR the results of the two analyses revealed two main returns estimates for extent of occurence (EOO), endemic areas–a large one in Western Amazon and a area of occupancy (AOO), number of locations–all smaller one in the Andean sub-region. main parameters of Red List criterion B–as well as Explore the data available at GBIF.org Among the species supporting the identified endemic a preliminary threat category with details of the gbif.org/occurrence/search areas, five species are endangered according to IUCN, subcriteria this is based on. If desired, ConR will return however, the known distributions of these all fall images visualizing the results graphically, useful for outside current protected areas in the region. including in a formal submission to the IUCN. Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017- Providing means of carrying out preliminary Red List 1463-0 assessments simulatanously for hundreds or even thousands of spieces, ConR is novel, timely tool for conservation communities. Subscribe to news and updates from GBIF species conservation species Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3704 gbif.org/newsletters

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