Patterns and biases in an Arctic herbarium specimen collection: Implications for phenological research.

ABSTRACT:

Premise of the study

Herbarium specimens are increasingly used in phenological studies. However, natural history collections can have biases that influence the analysis of phenological events. Arctic environments, where remoteness and cold climate govern collection logistics, may give rise to unique or pronounced biases.

Methods

We assessed the presence of biases in time, space, phenological events, collectors, taxonomy, and plant traits across Nunavut using herbarium specimens accessioned at the National Herbarium of Canada (CAN).

Results

We found periods of high and low collection that corresponded to societal and institutional events; greater collection density close to common points of air and sea access; and preferences to collect plants at the flowering phase an

SUBMITTER: Panchen ZA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6426279 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature