title: The cost-effectiveness of biodiversity surveys in tropical forests.
abstract: The identification of high-performance indicator taxa that combine practical feasibility and ecological value requires an understanding of the costs and benefits of surveying different taxa. We present a generic and novel framework for identifying such taxa, and illustrate our approach using a large-scale assessment of 14 different higher taxa across three forest types in the Brazilian Amazon, estimating both the standardized survey cost and the ecological and biodiversity indicator value for each taxon. Survey costs varied by three orders of magnitude, and dung beetles and birds were identified as especially suitable for evaluating and monitoring the ecological consequences of habitat change in our study region. However, an exclusive focus on such taxa occurs at the expense of understanding patterns of diversity in other groups. To improve the cost-effectiveness of biodiversity research we encourage a combination of clearer research goals and the use of an objective evidence-based approach to selecting study taxa.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. tobyagardner@gmail.com
authors.forename: Toby A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Ivanei S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Teresa Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Avila-Pires
authors.forename: Alexandre B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bonaldo
authors.forename: Joana E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Leandro V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawes
authors.forename: Malva I M
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Marinus S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hoogmoed
authors.forename: Rafael N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Nancy F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Lo-Man-Hung
authors.forename: Jay R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malcolm
authors.forename: Marlucia B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Luiz A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mestre
authors.forename: Ronildon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miranda-Santos
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Overal
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Marco Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-Junior
authors.forename: Maria N F
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: da Silva Motta
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Peres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001717:Birds; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection / Q000191:economics; D007313:Insecta; D008322:Mammals; D010944:Plants; D013997:Time Factors; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology*; D014329:Tropical Climate