The cost-effectiveness of biodiversity surveys in tropical forests

Gardner, Toby A., Barlow, Jos, Araujo, Ivanei S., Avila-Pires, Teresa Cristina, Bonaldo, Alexandre B., Costa, Joana E., Esposito, Maria Cristina, Ferreira, Leandro V., Hawes, Joseph, Hernandez, Malva I. M., Hoogmoed, Marina S., Leite, Rafael N., Lo-Man-Hung, Nancy F., Malcolm, Jay R., Martins, Marlucia B., Mestre, Luiz A. M., Miranda-Santos, Ronildon, Overal, William L., Parry, Luke, Peters, Sandra L., Ribeiro Jr., Marco Antônio, Da Silva, Maria N. F., Da Silva Motta, Catarina and Peres, Carlos A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1588-8765 (2008) The cost-effectiveness of biodiversity surveys in tropical forests. Ecology Letters, 11 (2). pp. 139-150. ISSN 1461-0248

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Abstract

The identification of high-performance indicator taxa that combine practical feasibility and ecological value requires an understanding of the costs and benefits of surveying different taxa. We present a generic and novel framework for identifying such taxa, and illustrate our approach using a large-scale assessment of 14 different higher taxa across three forest types in the Brazilian Amazon, estimating both the standardized survey cost and the ecological and biodiversity indicator value for each taxon. Survey costs varied by three orders of magnitude, and dung beetles and birds were identified as especially suitable for evaluating and monitoring the ecological consequences of habitat change in our study region. However, an exclusive focus on such taxa occurs at the expense of understanding patterns of diversity in other groups. To improve the cost-effectiveness of biodiversity research we encourage a combination of clearer research goals and the use of an objective evidence-based approach to selecting study taxa.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018)
Depositing User:	Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited:	25 Feb 2011 11:01
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 14:33
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/24866
DOI:	10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01133.x

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