Valente-Neto, Francisco, Piovezan-Borges, Ana Claudia, Urbieta, Gustavo Lima, Samways, Michael J., and de Oliveira Roque, Fabio (2022) Research networks should improve connectivity for halting freshwater insect extinctions. Ecological Entomology, 47 (1). pp. 63-75.

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Abstract

1. Avoiding freshwater insect extinctions requires studies assessing causal links between a human pressure and biodiversity measures (threats), the state of biodiversity through time (status), and solutions to manage species loss. However, an imbalance between these different approaches on declines of freshwater insects and the distribution of the studies between countries may have implications for implementing conservation knowledge into practical conservation actions.

2. Here, we evaluate country co-authorship relationships through quantitative bibliometric analysis to identify networks of research collaboration on freshwater insects extinction, and how this overall network is modified by the type of studies (status, threats, and solutions).

3. We detected that authors from developed countries dominated the networks, and most studies assessed threats to freshwater insects, knowledge which is part of a research network involving multiple countries. The status network of research collaboration was clearly more disconnected in comparison with the network of all studies, whereas the solution network showed the greatest connectivity.

4. These results reveal that an increase in research collaboration is required for all approaches assessed here, because many megadiverse countries are not present in the networks. This is especially required for status and solution studies. Expansion of research collaboration should decrease inequalities between developed and developing countries, achieved by funding conservation studies in developing countries. Studies should also decrease classical inequalities, including those related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and ethnic minorities. These recommendations would benefit freshwater insect conservation science and practice.

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