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Ten (mostly) simple rules to future‐proof trait data in ecological and evolutionary sciences
Keller, A.; Ankenbrand, M.J.; Bruelheide, H.; Dekeyzer, S.; Enquist, B.J.; Erfanian, M.B.; Falster, D.S.; Gallagher, R.V.; Hammock, J.; Kattge, J.; Leonhardt, S.D.; Madin, J.S.; Maitner, B.; Neyret, M.; Onstein, R.E.; Pearse, W.D.; Poelen, J.H.; Salguero-Gómez, R.; Schneider, F.D.; Tóth, A.B.; Penone, C. (2023). Ten (mostly) simple rules to future‐proof trait data in ecological and evolutionary sciences. Methods Ecol. Evol. 14(2): 444-458. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.14033
In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. Wiley: Hoboken. ISSN 2041-2096; e-ISSN 2041-210X
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 386638 [ download pdf ]
Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    data life cycle, data science, FAIR principles, good practices, metadata, open science, phenotype, trait daata
Authors  Top 
  • Keller, A.
  • Ankenbrand, M.J.
  • Bruelheide, H.
  • Dekeyzer, S.
  • Enquist, B.J.
  • Erfanian, M.B.
  • Falster, D.S.
  • Gallagher, R.V.
  • Hammock, J.
  • Kattge, J.
  • Leonhardt, S.D.
  • Madin, J.S.
  • Maitner, B.
  • Neyret, M.
  • Onstein, R.E.
  • Pearse, W.D.
  • Poelen, J.H.
  • Salguero-Gómez, R.
  • Schneider, F.D.
  • Tóth, A.B.
  • Penone, C.
Abstract
  • Traits have become a crucial part of ecological and evolutionary sciences, helping researchers understand the function of an organism's morphology, physiology, growth and life history, with effects on fitness, behaviour, interactions with the environment and ecosystem processes. However, measuring, compiling and analysing trait data comes with data-scientific challenges.
  • We offer 10 (mostly) simple rules, with some detailed extensions, as a guide in making critical decisions that consider the entire life cycle of trait data.
  • This article is particularly motivated by its last rule, that is, to propagate good practice. It has the intention of bringing awareness of how data on the traits of organisms can be collected and managed for reuse by the research community.
  • Trait observations are relevant to a broad interdisciplinary community of field biologists, synthesis ecologists, evolutionary biologists, computer scientists and database managers. We hope these basic guidelines can be useful as a starter for active communication in disseminating such integrative knowledge and in how to make trait data future-proof. We invite the scientific community to participate in this effort at http://opentraits.org/best-practices.html.
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