Evaluation and recommendations for greater accessibility of colour figures in ornithology

Abstract

People who are colour‐blind or have some form of colour vision deficiency form an invisible minority and scientists should strive to be as inclusive as possible. We reviewed 2873 figures published in 2019 from 1031 scientific papers in 27 ornithological journals to determine those that were colour‐blind compatible, and those that were black‐and‐white printer friendly. About 26% of the published figures were in colour, and while most were colour‐blind compatible, only ~ 60% of them were black‐and‐white printer friendly. Ensuring figures in all forms of scientific communication can be interpreted by readers who are colour‐blind, and can be printed in black‐and‐white will improve the accessibility of ornithological research.

Color Quest: An interactive tool for exploring color palettes and enhancing accessibility in data visualization

“…It serves as both a practical tool for data visualization enthusiasts and a platform for raising awareness about the significance of inclusive design. The app’s versatility is showcased through simulations that illustrate how various visualization types, including scatter plots and histograms, would appear to individuals with color vision deficiencies and in black and white [ 5 ], fully answering the call for inclusivity in scientific communication [ 4 ].…”

“…The app facilitates exploration across diverse visualization options housed under tabs like "Scatter Plot," "Line Plot," "Box Plot," "Histogram," and "Heatmap," each not only showcasing chosen colors but also offering simulations for various types of color blindness, including deuteranopia, protanopia, and desaturation. Although many color figures align well with individuals who have color blindness, there exists a limitation in terms of compatibility with black-and-white printers [ 5 ]. In light of this consideration, Color Quest takes a practical step by including a black and white (desaturation) option, to ensure visuals remain comprehensible even in grayscale print, enhancing inclusivity and accessibility across various modes of presentation.…”

“…This significance gains further weight when considering the prevalence of color vision deficiencies that impact a substantial portion of the population [ 2 , 3 ]. The complications arising from certain color selections, such as the rainbow or jet color map, can inadvertently misrepresent data, with those affected by color vision deficiencies often bearing the unintended repercussions of such choices in scientific communication [ 4 , 5 ], which, in turn, highlights the critical need for innovative solutions to bridge this comprehension gap.…”