An appeal to soil invertebrate collectors: don’t discard your [earthworm] samples, forward them!
Journal
Biodiversity
Start Page
1
End Page
7
ISSN
1488-8386
2160-0651
Date Issued
2024-10
Author(s)
George G. Brown
Marie L.C. Bartz
Samuel W. James
Csaba Csuzdi
Daniel F. Marchán
Carlos Fragoso
Thembeka Nxele
DOI
10.1080/14888386.2024.2402761
Abstract
KEY POLICY INSIGHTS: Knowledge on soil biodiversity is being lost due to inadequate infrastructure or capacity present in many academic and research institutions. There are few museums worldwide equipped to receive soil animal specimens and further support from governments is needed to adequately maintain and preserve soil biodiversity. Few taxonomists are available worldwide to identify earthworms, and additional capacity-building efforts are needed to describe the many new species being found globally. National and international legislation should aim to simplify bureaucratic procedures for shipment of specimens abroad for taxonomic identification to promote collaboration and improve our knowledge on soil biodiversity.
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Type
other