Towards a macroscope: leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data

Maria Dornelas; Elizabeth M. P. Madin; Michael Bunce; Joseph D. DiBattista; Mark Johnson; Joshua S. Madin; Anne E. Magurran; Brian J. McGill; Nathalie Pettorelli; Oscar Pizarro; Stefan B. Williams; Marten Winter; Amanda E. Bates

doi:10.1111/geb.13025

Towards a macroscope: leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data

Maria Dornelas, Elizabeth M. P. Madin, Michael Bunce, Joseph D. DiBattista, Mark Johnson, Joshua S. Madin, Anne E. Magurran, Brian J. McGill, Nathalie Pettorelli, Oscar Pizarro, Stefan B. Williams, Marten Winter, Amanda E. Bates

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The problem

Earth‐based observations of the biosphere are spatially biased in ways that can limit our ability to detect macroecological patterns and changes in biodiversity. To resolve this problem, we need to supplement the ad hoc data currently collected with planned biodiversity monitoring, in order to approximate global stratified random sampling of the planet. We call this all‐encompassing observational system ‘the macroscope’.

The solution

With a focus on the marine realm, we identify seven main biosphere observation tools that compose the macroscope: satellites, drones, camera traps, passive acoustic samplers, biologgers, environmental DNA and human observations. By deploying a nested array of these tools that fills current gaps in monitoring, we can achieve a macroscope fit for purpose and turn these existing powerful tools into more than the sum of their parts.

An appeal

Building a macroscope requires commitment from many fields, together with coordinated actions to attract the level of funding required for such a venture. We call on macroecologists to become advocates for the macroscope and to engage with existing global observation networks.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1937-1948
Number of pages	12
Journal	Global Ecology and Biogeography
Volume	28
Issue number	12
Early online date	12 Nov 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13025
Publication status	Published - 15 Nov 2019

Keywords

Biodiversity
Monitoring
Sampling design

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/geb.13025

Dornelas_2019_GEB_Macroscope_AAM
Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13025
Accepted author manuscript, 768 KB

Extended Evolutionary Synthesis: Putting the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis to the test
Dornelas, M. (PI)
1/09/16 → 31/05/19
Project: Standard

Cite this

Dornelas, M., Madin, E. M. P., Bunce, M., DiBattista, J. D., Johnson, M., Madin, J. S., Magurran, A. E., McGill, B. J., Pettorelli, N., Pizarro, O., Williams, S. B., Winter, M., & Bates, A. E. (2019). Towards a macroscope: leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 28(12), 1937-1948. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13025

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title = "Towards a macroscope: leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data",

abstract = " The problem Earth‐based observations of the biosphere are spatially biased in ways that can limit our ability to detect macroecological patterns and changes in biodiversity. To resolve this problem, we need to supplement the ad hoc data currently collected with planned biodiversity monitoring, in order to approximate global stratified random sampling of the planet. We call this all‐encompassing observational system {\textquoteleft}the macroscope{\textquoteright}. The solution With a focus on the marine realm, we identify seven main biosphere observation tools that compose the macroscope: satellites, drones, camera traps, passive acoustic samplers, biologgers, environmental DNA and human observations. By deploying a nested array of these tools that fills current gaps in monitoring, we can achieve a macroscope fit for purpose and turn these existing powerful tools into more than the sum of their parts. An appeal Building a macroscope requires commitment from many fields, together with coordinated actions to attract the level of funding required for such a venture. We call on macroecologists to become advocates for the macroscope and to engage with existing global observation networks. ",

keywords = "Biodiversity, Monitoring, Sampling design",

author = "Maria Dornelas and Madin, {Elizabeth M. P.} and Michael Bunce and DiBattista, {Joseph D.} and Mark Johnson and Madin, {Joshua S.} and Magurran, {Anne E.} and McGill, {Brian J.} and Nathalie Pettorelli and Oscar Pizarro and Williams, {Stefan B.} and Marten Winter and Bates, {Amanda E.}",

note = "M.D. is grateful for support from the Templeton Foundation (grant #60501, “Putting the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis to the Test”) and from a Leverhulme Trust Fellowship.",

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month = nov,

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doi = "10.1111/geb.13025",

language = "English",

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journal = "Global Ecology and Biogeography",

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Dornelas, M, Madin, EMP, Bunce, M, DiBattista, JD, Johnson, M, Madin, JS, Magurran, AE, McGill, BJ, Pettorelli, N, Pizarro, O, Williams, SB, Winter, M & Bates, AE 2019, 'Towards a macroscope: leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 28, no. 12, pp. 1937-1948. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13025

TY - JOUR

T1 - Towards a macroscope

T2 - leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data

AU - Dornelas, Maria

AU - Madin, Elizabeth M. P.

AU - Bunce, Michael

AU - DiBattista, Joseph D.

AU - Johnson, Mark

AU - Madin, Joshua S.

AU - Magurran, Anne E.

AU - McGill, Brian J.

AU - Pettorelli, Nathalie

AU - Pizarro, Oscar

AU - Williams, Stefan B.

AU - Winter, Marten

AU - Bates, Amanda E.

N1 - M.D. is grateful for support from the Templeton Foundation (grant #60501, “Putting the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis to the Test”) and from a Leverhulme Trust Fellowship.

PY - 2019/11/15

Y1 - 2019/11/15

N2 - The problem Earth‐based observations of the biosphere are spatially biased in ways that can limit our ability to detect macroecological patterns and changes in biodiversity. To resolve this problem, we need to supplement the ad hoc data currently collected with planned biodiversity monitoring, in order to approximate global stratified random sampling of the planet. We call this all‐encompassing observational system ‘the macroscope’. The solution With a focus on the marine realm, we identify seven main biosphere observation tools that compose the macroscope: satellites, drones, camera traps, passive acoustic samplers, biologgers, environmental DNA and human observations. By deploying a nested array of these tools that fills current gaps in monitoring, we can achieve a macroscope fit for purpose and turn these existing powerful tools into more than the sum of their parts. An appeal Building a macroscope requires commitment from many fields, together with coordinated actions to attract the level of funding required for such a venture. We call on macroecologists to become advocates for the macroscope and to engage with existing global observation networks.

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KW - Monitoring

KW - Sampling design

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DO - 10.1111/geb.13025

M3 - Article

SN - 1466-822X

VL - 28

SP - 1937

EP - 1948

JO - Global Ecology and Biogeography

JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography

IS - 12

ER -

Towards a macroscope: leveraging technology to transform the breadth, scale and resolution of macroecological data

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Projects

Extended Evolutionary Synthesis: Putting the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis to the test

Cite this