This is the most comprehensive collection of ecological assemblage time-series ever created. While a population tracks individuals of a single species, an assemblage includes multiple species living together in the same place – such as all the different flocks of birds you see at your local park. Assemblage-level data is essential for calculating biodiversity metrics like species richness and diversity.
Dr Thomas Matthews from the University of Birmingham and a co-author of the study said:
“It has been a privilege to be part of a global collaborative project to bring together an unprecedented level of biodiversity data. With these updates, BioTIME 2.0 provides a hugely powerful dataset for researchers to further our collective understanding of ecological changes around the world.”
Prof Maria Dornelas from the University of St Andrews who leads the project said:
“Because we cannot travel in time, biodiversity data from the past is precious to help us understand where and how biodiversity is changing.
“Human eyes and ears are the main instruments behind this massive data resource. This database is the collective work of hundreds of people, both scientists and citizen scientists, who systematically record species and their abundances over time.”
The publication of BioTIME 2.0 brings together 485 co-authors from more than 400 institutions in 40 countries. “It’s a powerful example of how the scientific community can come together to build something bigger than any one person or team,” says BioTIME database manager, Dr Garrett Fundakowski from the University of St Andrews. “It serves as a testament to global scientific cooperation in the face of our rapidly changing planet.”
A Tool for a Changing Planet
The BioTIME database enables scientists to look beyond extinction headlines and explore deeper, more nuanced questions of ecosystem and community change in the context of land use, climate change and conservation efforts over time.
“Working on standardising data for BioTIME was like travelling around the world: we would learn about different places, ecosystems and communities on a daily basis, and how ecologists observe species abundances in different ways," says core group member Dr Viviana Brambilla from the University of Lisbon.
Since its initial release, BioTIME has already underpinned influential studies in biodiversity science and global policy. Researchers have used the database to challenge assumptions about how biodiversity is changing, uncovering more complex patterns of ecological change and also informing conservation strategies.
Cher Chow, a PhD student from the University of St Andrews and BioTIME database manager, adds, “The critical questions that we want to ask about the state of global biodiversity need to be powered by so much data. It’s been incredible to be a part of research that helps assemble these data.”
The BioTIME 2.0 database is freely available for use by researchers, conservationists, educators, and the general public at the project website.
