Natural History Collections at the Crossroads: Shifting Priorities and Data-Driven Opportunities.

ABSTRACT: Natural history collections face a critical juncture as environmental change and biodiversity crises accelerate. While collections data are key components of eco-evolutionary and environmental research in both fundamental and applied contexts, collecting strategies remain primarily taxonomically motivated. We argue that sampling strategies must evolve to better address broader ecological challenges, through emerging applications enabled by advances in data science and digital technology. Here, we propose a flexible framework using modern statistical approaches to optimise sampling design and research prioritisation. By considering biodiversity, environmental, spatial and temporal dimensions, we demonstrate how information theory and decision science tools can support strategic collecting,

SUBMITTER: Forbes O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12315612 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature