With a little help from my friends: museum collections, animal behaviorists and
systematists united
Daniel S. Caetano and Anita Aisenberg
Bioinformatics and Computational BiologyUniversity of Idaho
Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable
Uruguay
Tarantula - Theraphosidae
Example: Tarantula web construction
Example: Tarantula web construction
Example: Tarantula web construction
Example: Tarantula web construction
Goal
- Comparative study of web structure
Example: Tarantula web construction
Goal
- Comparative study of web structure
Data not available
Example: Tarantula web construction
Goal
- Comparative study of web structure
Data not available
Theraphosidae
Thorell, 1869
Example: Tarantula web construction
Goal
- Comparative study of web structure
Theraphosidae
Thorell, 1869
Grant Museum of Zoology, London
Data not available
If you like arachnids you should check this amazing documentary on Arachnidsof Uruguay.
Where is the data stored?
Per
cent
age
(%)
Volume 85, Issue 6, 41 articlesVolume 86, Issue 1, 19 articles +
60
Where is the data stored?
Per
cent
age
(%)
Volume 85, Issue 6, 41 articlesVolume 86, Issue 1, 19 articles +
60
Appendix only
No information where the data is stored!
Is it safely stored?
Can it be reused?
Is it under some copyright?
Contrast between disciplinesSystematics vs. Animal Behavior
- Systematics originated by the desire to organize nature into categories.
- Linnaeus was the first bioinformaticist!
Contrast between disciplinesSystematics vs. Animal Behavior
- Systematics originated by the desire to organize nature into categories.
- Linnaeus was the first bioinformaticist!
- Systematists store results in reliable databases, make data available and assure reproducibility of publications.
Contrast between disciplinesSystematics vs. Animal Behavior
What is the relevance of these data?
- Reproducibility of studies is in check if data from publications are lost.
Publication Conclusion→
Reanalysis Same conclusion→
- Future studies need original data to add more information toa published work.
benn
iec a
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.co m
- Comparative studies and meta-analysis.
Studbooks
Data not safely storedmay be lost
in less thanone generation...
Earth is a dynamicand complex system...
What can we do about this?
… or little things to make a big change in science!
Record all data available
- Record data using video, audio and photos today is very ease.
- There is a camera everywhere and recordings can be instantlyuploaded to the internet.
Store data in databases
- Databases are a reliable way to store and share data.
- Databases and social media can promote collaborations and increasescientific production.
Summary
- Data is rarely made available in animal behavior studies andmay be lost.
- We should follow the example of the systematists.
- There are several tools and databases to store data safely.
- Both scientific funding agencies and journals are adoptingpolicies to guarantee data storage and availability.
- Databases and social media can promote collaborationsand increase scientific production.
