Mapping multiscale biodiversity dynamics in space and time

Massive, parallel projects to collect and share biodiversity data have been launched to assess, understand, and monitor global biodiversity dynamics. For the first time, an internationally agreed typology allows combining these efforts across national borders.

To support conservation decision-making and ecological research guided by testable hypotheses, this typology requires reliable, reproducible, and accurate ecoregions.

However, current ecoregion mapping approaches either rely on subjective expert-derived decisions and cannot be reproduced or are data-derived but unable to incorporate the climatic and phylogenetic information necessary to capture transition zones and abiotic gradients.In response to these challenges, we suggest a novel multiscale mapping framework that combines recent methodological innovations for biodiversity-related data, including climatic and phylogenetic information.

This project will be the first to offer fully data-derived, reliable, and refined ecoregions.

We will apply the new tools using increasingly available biodiversity data to enable the shift in conservation focus from individual species to encompassing ecosystems.

Our findings will provide critical insights into the mechanisms shaping biogeographical boundaries and contribute to effectively implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, promoting a more sustainable future for our planet.