B io ‐D em , a tool to explore the relationship between biodiversity data availability and socio‐political conditions in time and space

Journal of Biogeography, vol. 48, pp. 2715–2726

Abstract

Abstract Aim Geo‐referenced species occurrence records are a prime example of biodiversity data and a cornerstone of biodiversity research. Yet, their availability depends on non‐biological factors, including the political framework in the region of collection. Here we present Bio‐Dem ( www.bio‐dem.surge.sh ), an open‐source software to explore the relationship between the availability of species occurrence records and the political framework in countries worldwide and through time. Location Global. Taxon Any. Methods Bio‐Dem accesses the number of occurrence records available from countries worldwide from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility ( www.gbif.org ) and socio‐political information from these countries from the Varieties of Democracy database ( www.v‐dem.net ) as well as information on colonial history from the Issue Correlates of War Project. Results Bio‐Dem is available as a free graphical user interface web application at www.bio‐dem.surge.sh . Through three interactive graphs, Bio‐Dem enables users to explore the relationship between species occurrence records and countries’ regime type, freedom of movement, freedom of association, gross domestic product, education length, political corruption, armed conflict and colonial history. We describe possible links of these specific political indicators with the collection and mobilization of biodiversity data. Illustrative examples and video tutorials explaining the use of Bio‐Dem are available at www.bio‐dem.surge.sh . Main conclusions Bio‐Dem provides a user‐friendly way to explore the link between socio‐political variables and the availability of species occurrence records in user‐selected taxa and geographic regions, and to generate hypotheses on their connection. We envision Bio‐Dem as a useful tool for teachers communicating the caveats of available biodiversity data, for biodiversity scientists exploring potential spatial and temporal bias in their data, and for social scientists exploring the impact of political systems on scientific data collection and biodiversity conservation.

Authors 9

1. Alexander Zizka corresponding Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center · German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Leipzig University

   Affiliation as printed

   German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig (iDiv), sDiv University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig (iDiv), sDiv, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Oskar Rydén

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Collective Action Research University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Department of Political Science University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Varieties of Democracy Institute University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Centre for Collective Action Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Varieties of Democracy Institute, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

3. Daniel Edler

   University of Gothenburg · Umeå University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Integrated Science Lab Department of Physics Umeå University Umeå Sweden

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

4. Johannes T. Klein

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

5. Allison Perrigo

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

6. Daniele Silvestro

   SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics · University of Fribourg · University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Department of Biology University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics Fribourg Switzerland

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Fribourg, Switzerland

7. Sverker C. Jagers

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Collective Action Research University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Department of Political Science University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Centre for Collective Action Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

8. Staffan I. Lindberg

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Political Science University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Varieties of Democracy Institute University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Varieties of Democracy Institute, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

9. Alexandre Antonelli

   Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · University of Oxford · University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Department of Plant Sciences University of Oxford Oxford UK

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

   Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond UK

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, UK