From species descriptions to diversity patterns: the validation of taxonomic data as a keystone for ant diversity studies reproducibility and accuracy
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Research findings in natural sciences need to be comparable and reproducible to effectively improve our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns. In this sense, knowledge frontiers in biodiversity studies are directly tied to taxonomic research, especially in species-rich tropical regions. Here we analysed the taxonomic information available in 470 studies on Brazilian ant diversity published in the last 50 years. We aimed to quantify the proportion of studies that provide enough data to validate taxonomic identification, explore the frequency of studies that properly acknowledge their taxonomic background, and investigate the primary resources for ant identification in Brazil. We found that most studies on Brazilian ant diversity (73.6%) explicitly stated the methods used to identify their specimens. However, the proportion of papers that provide complete data for the repository institutions and vouchered specimens is vanishingly small (5.8%). Additionally, only 40.0% of the studies consistently presented taxon authorities and years of description, rarely referencing taxonomic publications correctly. In turn, the number of specialists and institutions consulted for ant identification in Brazil has increased in the last years, along with the number of studies that explicitly provide their taxonomic procedures for ant identification. Our findings highlight a shift between generations regarding the recognition of taxonomy as fundamental science, deepening our understanding of biodiversity.
Source: Royal Society Open Science
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221170
Authors: Rodrigo M. Feitosa, Thiago S. R. Silva, Gabriela P. Camacho, Mônica A. Ulysséa, Natalia Ladino, Aline M. Oliveira, Emília Z. de Albuquerque, Carla R. Ribas, Fernando A. Schmidt, Maria Santina de C. Morini, Rogério R. da Silva, Wesley Dáttilo, Antônio C. M. de Queiroz, Fabrício B. Baccaro, Jean C. Santos, Karine S. Carvalho, Tathiana G. Sobrinho, Yves P. Quinet, Aline B. Moraes, André B. Vargas, Helena Maura Torezan-Silingardi, Jorge Luiz P. Souza, Tatianne Marques, Thiago Izzo, Denise Lange, Iracenir A. dos Santos, Kleber Del-Claro, Larissa Nahas, Lucas Paolucci, Stela A. Soares, Ana Y. Harada, Ananza M. Rabello, Cinthia B. da Costa-Milanez, Eduardo Diehl-Fleig, Renata B. F. Campos, Ricardo Solar, Tiago Frizzo, Wesley DaRocha, Anselmo Nogueira
Institutions: Universidade Federal do Paraná, University of Hong Kong, Museum für Naturkunde, Universidade de São Paulo, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Arizona State University, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lancaster University, Universidade Federal do Acre, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Instituto de Ecología, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Southwest Bahia State University, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Centro Universitário de Volta Redonda, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica, Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Norte de Minas Gerais, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Universidade Vale do Rio Doce, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Universidade de Brasília, Universidade Federal do ABC
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,471
Awards: G1123859921, G1642029182, G2286822848, G247810146, G295657101, G3076741374, G3579324569, G405627438, G4402799499, G442640433, G59764125, G6033837252, G6253873072, Speciation patterns and evolutionary history of leaf-cutting ants and their obligate social parasites: an integrative phylogenomic approach, G8478080669, G85794377
OpenAlex ID: W4319600992