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Article Dans Une Revue (Article De Synthèse) Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics Année : 2017

Seven recommendations to make your invasive alien species data more useful

Quentin J. Groom
Ana Cristina Cardoso
  • Fonction : Auteur
Lucinda Charles
  • Fonction : Auteur
Gareth Richards
  • Fonction : Auteur
Alain Roques
Diemer Vercayie
  • Fonction : Auteur

Résumé

Science-based strategies to tackle biological invasions depend on recent, accurate, well-documented, standardized and openly accessible information on alien species. Currently and historically, biodiversity data are scattered in numerous disconnected data silos that lack interoperability. The situation is no different for alien species data, and this obstructs efficient retrieval, combination, and use of these kinds of information for research and policy-making. Standardization and interoperability are particularly important as many alien species related research and policy activities require pooling data. We describe seven ways that data on alien species can be made more accessible and useful, based on the results of a European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) workshop: (1) Create data management plans; (2) Increase interoperability of information sources; (3) Document data through metadata; (4) Format data using existing standards; (5) Adopt controlled vocabularies; (6) Increase data availability; and (7) Ensure long-term data preservation. We identify four properties specific and integral to alien species data (species status, introduction pathway, degree of establishment, and impact mechanism) that are either missing from existing data standards or lack a recommended controlled vocabulary. Improved access to accurate, real-time and historical data will repay the long-term investment in data management infrastructure, by providing more accurate, timely and realistic assessments and analyses. If we improve core biodiversity data standards by developing their relevance to alien species, it will allow the automation of common activities regarding data processing in support of environmental policy. Furthermore, we call for considerable effort to maintain, update, standardize, archive, and aggregate datasets, to ensure proper valorization of alien species data and information before they become obsolete or lost.

Dates et versions

hal-01607810 , version 1 (03-10-2017)

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Quentin J. Groom, Tim Adriaens, Peter Desmet, Annie Simpson, Aaike de Wever, et al.. Seven recommendations to make your invasive alien species data more useful. Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 2017, ⟨10.3389/fams.2017.00013⟩. ⟨hal-01607810⟩
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