Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Kissling, W.D.; Walls, R.; Bowser, A.; Jones, M.O.; Kattge, J.; Agosti, D.; ... ; Skidmore, A. (2018)

Towards global data products of Essential Biodiversity Variables on species traits.

Article / Letter to editor

Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) allow observation and reporting of global biodiversity change, but a detailed framework for the empirical derivation of specific EBVs has yet to be developed. Here, we re-examine and refine the previous candidate set of species traits EBVs and show how traits related to phenology, morphology, reproduction, physiology and movement can contribute to EBV operationalization. The selected EBVs express intra-specific trait variation and allow monitoring of how organisms respond to global change. We evaluate the societal relevance of species traits EBVs for policy targets and demonstrate how open, interoperable and machine-readable trait data enable the building of EBV data products. We outline collection methods, meta(data) standardization, reproducible workflows, semantic tools and licence requirements for producing species traits EBVs. An operationalization is critical for assessing progress towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable...Show moreEssential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) allow observation and reporting of global biodiversity change, but a detailed framework for the empirical derivation of specific EBVs has yet to be developed. Here, we re-examine and refine the previous candidate set of species traits EBVs and show how traits related to phenology, morphology, reproduction, physiology and movement can contribute to EBV operationalization. The selected EBVs express intra-specific trait variation and allow monitoring of how organisms respond to global change. We evaluate the societal relevance of species traits EBVs for policy targets and demonstrate how open, interoperable and machine-readable trait data enable the building of EBV data products. We outline collection methods, meta(data) standardization, reproducible workflows, semantic tools and licence requirements for producing species traits EBVs. An operationalization is critical for assessing progress towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals and has wide implications for data-intensive science in ecology, biogeography, conservation and Earth observation.Show less

All authors

Kissling, W.D.; Walls, R.; Bowser, A.; Jones, M.O.; Kattge, J.; Agosti, D.; Amengual, J.; Basset, A.; Bodegom, P.M. van; Cornelissen, J.H.C.; Denny, E.G.; Deudero, S.; Egloff, W.; Elmendorf, S.C.; Alonso García, E.; Jones, O.R.; Jones, K.D.; Lear, D.; Lavorel, S.; Pawar, S.; Navarro, L.M.; Rüger, N.; Pirzl, R.; Salguero-Gómez, R.; Sal, S.; Schulz, K.S.; Schigel, D.; Guralnick, R.P.; Skidmore, A.

Date

2018-10-31

Journal

Nature ecology & evolution

Volume

2

Pages

1531 - 1540

DOI

doi:10.1038/s41559-018-0667-3