Human bias and the biodiversity knowledge base: An examination of the published literature on vertebrates

Abstract

A thorough and accurate understanding of biodiversity can come only from objective inquiry. Libraries provide the foundation for academic and research institutions. Holdings generally reflect the state of knowledge but they can also reveal information gaps or anthropocentric bias. To determine if taxonomic bias exists in the published literature, I reviewed the holdings of Canadian university libraries and global sources and compared them with relative species richness of vertebrate classes. Proportionately, the holdings of libraries are significantly different than ranked species richness of vertebrates. Publications on endothermic vertebrates (birds, mammals) are vastly over-represented, while those on ectothermic vertebrates (especially amphibians and reptiles) are drastically under-represented. The ranked holdings are consistent with the idea that humans are more interested in similar than dissimilar organisms and economically important species, and that a strong taxonomic bias exists in academic libraries and our knowledge base. Geographic bias because of study locations and the suitability of vertebrates for study models may also play a role in explaining the preponderance of publications involving birds and mammals. If biologists are to achieve a balanced view and understanding of biological diversity, it is important that gaps in knowledge be filled and bias reduced or acknowledged and accounted for in future research