Use of large web-based data to identify public interest and trends related to endangered species

Kim, Ji Yoon; Do, Yuno; Im, Ran-Young; Kim, Gu-Yeon; Joo, Gea‐Jae

doi:10.1007/s10531-014-0757-8

“…On the one hand, this can be interpreted as a positive outcome, since scientists are apparently well aligned with societal attention, which is what the general society, as providers of public funding, and consequently the funding agencies, would request. On the other hand, if research focus and societal attention are both considered to be biased (Clark and May, 2002;Sitas et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2014;Roberge, 2014;Donaldson et al, 2016;Wilson et al, 2016;Troudet et al, 2017), it is of special importance to understand the mechanisms that produce such biases. They are likely represented by a similar set of drivers that are influencing societal and scientific attention, as well as by the interaction between the two groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the main drivers of societal and scientific taxonomic attention identified so far in the literature, we suggest that there are at least three general categories of drivers of societal and scientific taxonomic attention: 1) intrinsic, species-related factors, which can also be considered as elements of species charisma, 2) population-level or spatial factors, and 3) socio-economic factors. Major intrinsic factors include body size, unique morphology, distinctive coloration patterns, anthropomorphism, behavior, social structure and neotenic features (Moustakas and Karakassis, 2005;Stokes, 2007;Wilson et al, 2007;Martín-Fóres et al, 2013;Żmihorski et al, 2013;Kim et al, 2014). Other recognized proxies for scientific and societal taxonomic preferences are phylogenetic distance from humans and structural complexity (Proenca et al, 2008;Martín-López et al, 2011;Martín-Fóres et al, 2013), although both are associated with already listed factors such as anthropomorphism and body size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attentions — Insights for conservation

Jarić

¹

,

Correia

²

,

Roberts

³

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

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Attention directed at different species by society and science is particularly relevant within the field of conservation, as societal preferences will strongly impact support for conservation initiatives and their success. Here, we assess the association between societal and research interests in four charismatic and threatened species groups, derived from a range of different online sources and social media platforms as well as scientific publications. We found a high level of concordance between scientific and societal taxonomic attention, which was consistent among assessed species groups and media sources. Results indicate that research is apparently not as disconnected from the interests of society as it is often reproached, and that societal support for current research objectives should be adequate. While the high degree of similarity between scientific and societal interest is both striking and satisfying, the dissimilarities are also interesting, as new scientific findings may constitute a constant source of novel interest for the society. In that respect, additional efforts will be necessary to draw scientific and societal focus towards less charismatic species that are in urgent need of research and conservation attention.

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“…V. CONCLUSIONS Societal interest in the fate of endangered species is a crucial prerequisite for effective conservation programs, given that the general society is likely to protect only what it recognizes as important (Stokes 2007;Kim et al 2014). Societal awareness and societal values will largely determine whether conservation initiatives will receive necessary support and lead to adequate policy change (Papworth et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attention - insights for conservation

Jarić

¹

,

Correia

²

,

Roberts

³

et al. 2018

Preprint

1

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Attention directed at different species by society and science is particularly relevant within the field of conservation, as societal preferences will strongly impact support for conservation initiatives and their success. Here, we assess the association between societal and research interests in four charismatic and threatened species groups, derived from a range of different online sources and social media platforms as well as scientific publications. We found a high level of concordance between scientific and societal taxonomic attention, which was consistent among assessed species groups and media sources. Results indicate that research is apparently not as disconnected from the interests of society as it is often reproached, and that societal support for current research objectives should be adequate. While the high degree of similarity between scientific and societal interest is both striking and satisfying, the dissimilarities are also interesting, as new scientific findings may constitute a constant source of novel interest for the society.

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“…Recent capabilities of assessing large data sets to illuminate general and global trends have enabled tools like ionomics [21], metabolomics [22], and web-based data analysis [23]. The Red List has been used for decades as a tool for cataloguing conservation status, for monitoring species, and for making decisions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Red List Data for the Cycadales

Marler¹,

Marler

²

2015

Tropical Conservation Science

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We compiled Red List data from all listed cycad taxa to determine the current status of the world's most threatened plant group. Each Red List threat category had different proportions of genera, and the genera comprised different proportions of threat categories. Each Red List threat category consisted of different proportions of Red List criteria. Each genus was composed of different proportions of Red List criteria, and every genus was represented by different proportions of listed versus non-listed species. Differences among the genera and categories were substantial, revealing no canonical characteristics that define the members of this plant group. Species that are missing from the Red List or Data Deficient deserve high priority for completion of assessment and listing. Cycas is the genus that may change the most as taxonomy and Red List threat assessments continue to be modified. Distinctive overviews of the Red List data such as this one provide a unique snapshot of the conservation status of the world's cycads, and should be repeated as trends evolve.

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Use of large web-based data to identify public interest and trends related to endangered species

Cited by 47 publications

References 39 publications

On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attentions — Insights for conservation

On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attentions — Insights for conservation

On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attention - insights for conservation

An Assessment of Red List Data for the Cycadales

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