Designing optimal biodiversity observation networks
Abstract
Meeting the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) requires a substantial increase in biodiversity monitoring effort, motivating the development of a Global Biodiversity Observing System (GBiOS). However, GBiOS cannot be built without a practical framework for designing effective biodiversity monitoring networks that balances budgetary constraints with competing policy objectives, which we currently lack. Here we provide the foundations for a theory of optimal biodiversity monitoring design based on: (1) a hierarchical, multi-layer architecture for monitoring networks that matches the multi-scale nature of ecological processes and environmental policymaking, (2) a simulation-based framework for evaluating the efficacy of monitoring network design against the variety of plausible “ecological worlds”, and (3) an integrative toolbox for monitoring design, drawing on methods from spatial sampling theory, environmental monitoring design, and optimal decision theory. Together, these form a basis for building the most effective GBiOS possible to best inform policymaking and meet the goals and targets of the GBF.
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BibTeX
@misc{catchen2026designing,
title = {{Designing optimal biodiversity observation networks}},
author = {Michael D. Catchen and Francis Banville and Penelope Blyth and Chris Brimacombe and Gabriel Dansereau and Gracielle Higino and Thomas Malpas and Hana Mayall and Kari Norman and Tanya Strydom and Laura J. Pollock and Andrew Gonzalez and Timothée Poisot},
howpublished = {EcoEvoRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.32942/x22t28},
url = {https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/14980/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Designing optimal biodiversity observation networks
AU - Michael D. Catchen
AU - Francis Banville
AU - Penelope Blyth
AU - Chris Brimacombe
AU - Gabriel Dansereau
AU - Gracielle Higino
AU - Thomas Malpas
AU - Hana Mayall
AU - Kari Norman
AU - Tanya Strydom
AU - Laura J. Pollock
AU - Andrew Gonzalez
AU - Timothée Poisot
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/15
PB - EcoEvoRxiv
DO - 10.32942/x22t28
UR - https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/14980/
AB - Meeting the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) requires a substantial increase in biodiversity monitoring effort, motivating the development of a Global Biodiversity Observing System (GBiOS). However, GBiOS cannot be built without a practical framework for designing effective biodiversity monitoring networks that balances budgetary constraints with competing policy objectives, which we currently lack. Here we provide the foundations for a theory of optimal biodiversity monitoring design based on: (1) a hierarchical, multi-layer architecture for monitoring networks that matches the multi-scale nature of ecological processes and environmental policymaking, (2) a simulation-based framework for evaluating the efficacy of monitoring network design against the variety of plausible “ecological worlds”, and (3) an integrative toolbox for monitoring design, drawing on methods from spatial sampling theory, environmental monitoring design, and optimal decision theory. Together, these form a basis for building the most effective GBiOS possible to best inform policymaking and meet the goals and targets of the GBF.
ER -