A tale of two surveys: Improving biodiversity monitoring through rapid baseline assessments
Date
2025
Authors
Toma, Emily
Melchers, Grace
Dudas, Sarah E.
Hunt, Brian
Hessing-Lewis, Margot
Juanes, Francis
Cox, Kieran
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University Of Victoria
Abstract
Biodiversity monitoring is critical for understanding ecosystem condition and guiding conservation efforts. While the scale and scope of biodiversity data collection have expanded through novel techniques and citizen science initiatives, methods for integrating diverse datasets remain poorly developed. This has hindered our ability to leverage the full potential of modern biodiversity monitoring approaches. I address this gap by producing a framework for synthesizing data across multiple techniques, comparing rapid baseline assessments that emphasize expert identification with systematic surveys that prioritize replication over space and time. I use a multi-ecosystem approach, examining 3 distinct marine communities: soft-sediment bivalves, temperate kelp forests, and tropical coral reefs to test the broad applicability of this framework. Using species lists to develop a standardized framework for data integration, I address a fundamental challenge in biodiversity monitoring: how to effectively combine data from diverse sources to create more comprehensive and accurate biodiversity assessments. The results will inform the development of more efficient, ecosystem-specific monitoring.
Description
Keywords
biodiversity, conservation, monitoring, species lists, environmental DNA, eDNA