Global effort allocation in marine mammal research indicates geographical, taxonomic and extinction risk‐related biases

Abstract

1.Although marine mammals are considered to be disproportionately threatened compared with terrestrial mammals, and research data on marine mammals are limited, few attempts have been undertaken to analyse overall marine mammal research effort. 2. We applied the bibliometric approach to evaluate global trends in research on pinnipeds and cetaceans and attempted to evaluate the distribution of publication output with respect to spatial, taxonomic and conservation status-related patterns. 3. Results show that global marine mammal research is disproportionately directed towards less endangered species. There is an uneven scientific focus among different cetacean and pinniped groups. A spatial asymmetry in research effort was also observed: a negative relationship exists between research allocation and regional marine mammal species richness. Cetacean species with larger ranges and pinniped species with larger population abundances tend to be better studied than others. 4. The observed patterns may exist because researchers have limited access to specimens of highly endangered species and to species found in less accessible habitats. Researchers from high-income countries may also focus their research on species geographically close to them, and other economic considerations may lead to research bias. The observed unevenness of research allocation may result in a lack of information needed by policy-makers and resource managers for the development of sound conservation and restoration measures, and thus in reduced effectiveness of policies and management practices.

The biodiversity of the United Kingdom’s Overseas Territories: a stock take of species occurrence and assessment of key knowledge gaps

“…Although our analysis did not identify strong relationships between knowledge and possible determinants other than geographic variation, a number of recognised factors might explain why some islands have received more attention than others including logistical constraints, such as ease of access due to geographic location (Hendriks and Duarte 2008;Jarić et al 2015), as well as financial ones such as island wealth (e.g. Fisher et al 2011).…”

Insular bats and research effort: a review of global patterns and priorities

“…For example, cetacean species with larger ranges and pinniped species with larger population abundances tend to be better studied (Jaric´ et al. ). Rare or cryptic species require a higher budget for research and might entail a greater risk of failure, so they are less attractive than more common species when fund‐raising (de Lima et al.…”

“…Scientific interest seems to be biased towards species that are widespread and locally abundant, and hence unlikely to be subject to legal restrictions for scientific research (Jaric´ et al. , Murray et al. ).…”

“…The IUCN Red List category is one of the major determinants influencing priority setting for conservation efforts (Wilson et al 2006, Isaac et al 2007, Joseph et al 2009, Wallace et al 2011. Nevertheless, various social and logistic constraints have affected the allocation of research effort to areas and species of the highest conservation concern (Brodie 2009, de Lima et al 2011, Jaric´ et al 2015, Murray et al 2015, and both negative (Fisher et al 2011, Jacobson et al 2016) and positive (Brooks et al 2008, de Lima et al 2011) associations between species' risk of extinction and research effort have been identified. Scientific 4.…”

“…Insular bats and global research effort I. Conenna et al interest seems to be biased towards species that are widespread and locally abundant, and hence unlikely to be subject to legal restrictions for scientific research (Jaric´ et al 2015, Murray et al 2015. Research has also frequently been targeted towards species of commercial interest or particular public appeal (Brodie 2009, Arregotia 2016.…”