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Authors propose nine changes to biodiversity measurement

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Research area:ecology-biodiversityconservation

What the study found

The authors conclude that biodiversity measurement is undergoing rapid change and needs a radical transformation. They outline nine recommended changes for building more rigorous, resilient, and accessible biodiversity information systems.

Why the authors say this matters

The study suggests these changes matter because biodiversity measurement is fundamental for assessing environmental change, identifying priority areas for protection, judging whether actions are effective, and supporting decision-making for a sustainable planet. The authors also say new systems are needed to underpin policies and practices that maintain and restore ecological systems.

What the researchers tested

This is a perspective article, so it does not report a new experiment or dataset. The authors review recent advances in citizen science, image recognition, acoustic monitoring, environmental DNA, genomics, remote sensing, and AI, then use that overview to make recommendations.

What worked and what didn't

The authors say novel technologies offer exciting opportunities, especially for integrating data sources and filling data gaps. They also identify challenges, including the need for standard methods, calibration with existing data, safeguards against false or AI-hallucinated information, respect for Indigenous Knowledge, and resilience to technical and societal change.

What to keep in mind

This summary is based on a perspective article, not a report of original empirical results. The abstract does not provide evidence for the nine recommendations, and it does not describe specific limitations beyond the challenges the authors note.

Key points

  • The authors argue that biodiversity measurement needs a radical transformation.
  • They list nine recommended changes, including data integration, standard methods, and calibrated new technologies.
  • The abstract highlights citizen science, environmental DNA, genomics, remote sensing, and AI as important new tools.
  • The authors say trusted databases are needed to reduce the risk of false or AI-hallucinated information.
  • They also call for respectful incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge and more resilient global datasets.

Disclosure

Research title:
Authors propose nine changes to biodiversity measurement
Authors:
William J. Sutherland, Neil D. Burgess, Scott V. Edwards, Julia P. G. Jones, Pamela S. Soltis, David G. Tilman, Julie M. Allen, Herizo T. Andrianandrasana, Cathrine J. Armour, Tom August, Kamaljit S. Bawa, Sallie Bailey, Tanya Birch, Philipp H. Boersch‐Supan, Jeannine Cavender‐Bares, Mark Blaxter, Rebecca Chaplin‐Kramer, Barnabas H. Daru, Adriana De Palma, Cristina Eisenberg, Chris S. Elphick, Robert P. Freckleton, Winifred F. Frick, Andrew González, Scott J Goetz, Lior Greenspoon, Christina M. Grozingeree, Don L. Hankins, Jonny Hazell, Nick J. B. Isaac, Marco Lambertini, Harris A. Lewin, Oisin Mac Aodha, Anil Madhavapeddy, EJ Milner-Gulland, Ron Milo, James O’Dwyer, Andy Purvis, Nick Salafsky, Heather Tallis, Iroro Tanshi, V Vijay, Martin Wikelski, David Williams, S. Hollis Woodard, Gene E. Robinson
Institutions:
American Museum of Natural History, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangor University, Bat Conservation International, Biodiversity Research Institute, British Trust for Ornithology, California State University System, Carnegie Department of Plant Biology, Center for Climate and Resilience Research, Conservation Leadership Programme, Financial Research (Hungary), Futures Group (United States), Google (United States), Harvard University, Harvard University, InfoConsult (Germany), InfoConsult (Germany), Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, McGill University, Natural England, Northern Arizona University, Planta, Planta, Royal Society, Royal Society of South Australia, Stanford University, Sustainability Institute, Target (United States), U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, University of Connecticut, University of Copenhagen, University of Edinburgh, University of Helsinki, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Konstanz, University of Leeds, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Minnesota, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Washington, Utrecht University, Virginia Tech, Weizmann Institute of Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Wellcome Sanger Institute, WWF Colombia, WWF Tanzania
Publication date:
2026-03-04
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.2519345123
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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