A scientific article authored by researchers from over 30 international research institutes has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. The article introduces an innovative model to standardize bio-logging data—data collected using sensors attached to animals, enabling the monitoring of their behaviors and interactions with the environment. These data are essential for documenting and protecting biodiversity on a global scale.
Francesca Cagnacci, Head of the Animal Ecology Research Unit at FEM’s Research and Innovation Centre and President of the International Bio-Logging Society (IBLS), is the lead corresponding author alongside Sarah Davidson from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior.
Bio-logging technology involves equipping animals with electronic devices that record physical and/or physiological parameters over time. This enables scientists to reconstruct the animals’ activities, the characteristics of their environments, and their interactions. Consequently, large volumes of bio-logging data are generated. The article emphasizes the adoption of FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), which are central to European projects and scientific collaborations, to improve the accessibility, integration, and long-term use of this information.
“The proposal is to treat these ‘traces’ as true ‘life archives,’ much like museum collections. In this sense, they can be considered a shared heritage that must not be lost. This is only achievable through standardized and shared management,” explains Cagnacci.
The work concludes by highlighting the importance of global governance to ensure the preservation and secure sharing of bio-logging data. FEM has made a significant contribution in this direction through the activities of its Animal Ecology Research Unit, promoting the definition of shared standards and involving institutional and academic partners to benefit ecological research and biodiversity conservation.
Link to the publication:
https://rdcu.be/d6coY
