This is a Preprint and has not been peer reviewed. The published version of this Preprint is available: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2023.0105. This is version 3 of this Preprint.
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Abstract
Due to rapid technological innovations, the automated monitoring of insect assemblages comes within reach. However, this continuous innovation endangers the methodological continuity needed for calculating reliable biodiversity trends in the future.
Maintaining methodological continuity over prolonged periods of time is not trivial, since technology improves, reference libraries grow, and both the hard- and software used now may no longer be available in the future. Moreover, because data on many species are collected at the same time, there will be no simple way of calibrating the outputs of old and new devices.
To ensure that reliable long-term biodiversity trends can be calculated using the collected data, I make four recommendations: (1) Construct devices to last decades, and have a five-year overlap period when devices are replaced. (2) Construct new devices to resemble the old ones, especially when some kind of attractant (e.g. light) is used. Keep extremely detailed metadata on collection, detection and identification methods, including attractants, to enable this. (3) Store the raw data (sounds, images, DNA extracts, radar/lidar detections) for future reprocessing with updated classification systems. (4) Enable forward and backward compatibility of the processed data, for example by in-silico data 'degradation' to match the older data quality.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32942/X2PW3X
Subjects
Life Sciences
Keywords
DNA barcoding, bioacoustics, computer vision, radar, lidar, Monitoring, insects, arthropods, LTER
Dates
Published: 2023-10-26 16:03
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License
CC-By Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
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Language:
English
Conflict of interest statement:
none
Data and Code Availability Statement:
Not applicable
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