Sampling biases shape our view of the natural world

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.05926
• Publication Date: 2021-06-21T08:02:29Z
• Authors: Alice C. Hughes; Michael C. Orr; Keping Ma; Mark J. Costello; John Waller; Pieter Provoost; Qinmin Yang; Chaodong Zhu; Huijie Qiao
• Keywords: Sampling bias

Spatial patterns of biodiversity are inextricably linked to their collection methods, yet no synthesis bias or consequences exists. As such, views organismal distribution and the ecosystems they make up may be incorrect, undermining countless ecological evolutionary studies. Using 742 million records 374 900 species, we explore global impacts biases related taxonomy, accessibility, ecotype data type across terrestrial marine systems. Pervasive sampling observation exist animals, with only 6.74% globe sampled, disproportionately poor tropical sampling. High elevations deep seas particularly unknown. Over 50% in most groups account for under 2% species citizen‐science exacerbates biases. Additional will needed overcome many these biases, but must increasingly value publication bridge this gap better represent species' distributions from more distant inaccessible areas, provide necessary basis conservation management.