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Ramping up biodiversity discovery via online quantum contributions
David R Maddison1, Robert Guralnick, Andrew Hill
1Department of Zoology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|November 29, 2011
Summary
To accelerate species discovery during the extinction crisis, scientists should publish species hypotheses and data online as they are collected. This "quantum contributions" model allows for faster documentation of new species.
Area of Science:
- Taxonomy and Systematics
- Biodiversity Science
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- The current rate of species discovery is insufficient to document biodiversity in the face of a global extinction event.
- Conventional taxonomic workflows are too slow to keep pace with biodiversity loss.
- Human-altered environments necessitate urgent advancements in species documentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a paradigm shift in the field of systematics towards faster species discovery and documentation.
- To introduce the concept of "quantum contributions" for publishing species hypotheses and data.
- To address potential challenges and offer solutions for implementing a new model of scientific publishing.
Main Methods:
- Review of current practices in species discovery and documentation.
- Proposal of a new model integrating web-based repositories and content-management systems.
- Discussion of the implications and potential controversies of the proposed model.
Main Results:
- The proposed "quantum contributions" model allows for the rapid dissemination of species hypotheses and associated data.
- Species can be identified as candidate new species online before comprehensive documentation is finalized.
- This approach aims to significantly increase the pace of species discovery and documentation.
Conclusions:
- Adopting a "quantum contributions" model is crucial for accelerating species discovery in a rapidly changing world.
- Integrating digital data collection and online publishing can overcome the limitations of traditional workflows.
- Proactive discussion and problem-solving are necessary to navigate the challenges of this innovative approach to systematics.
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