The journal Herpetological Conservation and Biology has, since its inception, provided for authors to upload location data in a locked file. This file can only be accessed by people with a legit reason for downloading it, and permission must be obtained from the authors or if deceases, the editor of HCB. We did this for the very reason outlined in this article. it was a way to ensure location data was available for legit uses while protecting the locations from poachers and the like. I believe this is a more scientifically sound approach because it ensures studies can be replicated and that the study is actually real. Lets face it, some dishonest person could claim facts without evidence if the data is not available. Although their heart may be in the right place, if the data is not attached to the publication in some fashion, it is largely undependable. In fact, the NPS requires datapoints be collected with 99% CI on locations because of the questions involved with replicability. At least they did when I last did field studies with them. Scientists are not immune to bias or dishonesty. Many are, but it only takes one Conservation Scientist who falsifies locations to soil our entire pot. Location data is very important for QA/QC and validation. Simply dropping data in a museum or agency is potentially LESS protected from ill-doers and potentially less accessible for legit users than a locked file with permissions. Files can be held inside the deep web portion of the journal, protecting it from access by outsiders. However, data placed in museum collections or libraries are seriously at risk. University Museums across the country have suffered serious cuts and often closure. Then, consolidation or adoption by other entities. Often, they go untended for years as posts are left vacant. I personally recommend that every paper should have locked files AND the data be deposited in a secure collection environment. The locations of these data should be indicated ini the actual paper so that a paper trail to find them if required for legit purposes arises. Results without the full story are seriously susceptible to corruption within the discipline, but they are also subject to ridicule or discounting in a courtroom where such data can be deemed mandatory to pursue actions. Simply keeping it in a scientist's lab is not sufficient to protect future needs, demands, or crises. These data MUST be in multiple secure locations, and all manuscripts should without exception include locked documents that can be accessed following appropriate protective channels.
Malcolm L. McCallum On Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 11:59 AM, Erik Hoffner <erik.hoff...@gmail.com> wrote: > Interesting, in case you missed it in Science a couple weeks ago: > > http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/endangered- > species-scientists-urged-not-publish-location-poachers- > find-hunt-kill-animals-chinese-a7763156.html > > “Our research permits demand that location records be uploaded to > open-access government wildlife atlases. Soon after uploading records, > people seeking the rare worm-lizard were caught trespassing, upsetting > farmers, damaging important rocky outcrop habitats, and jeopardising > scientist-farmer relationships that have taken years to establish. The > scientists have called on others to follow the lead of publications such as > Zootaxa, which will publish taxonomic descriptions of new species but > without any location information." > > Mongabay published a nice interview about this issue a few years ago: > https://news.mongabay.com/2011/12/the-dark-side-of-new-species-discovery/ > ...good to see some scientists making more noise about this. > > Erik > > -- > > See my latest writing and photojournalism projects here > <http://www.erikhoffner.com/> > > *tw: @erikhoffner <https://twitter.com/ErikHoffner>* > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Aquaculture and Water Quality Research Scientist School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Langston University Langston, Oklahoma Link to online CV and portfolio : https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO Google Scholar citation page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lOHMjvYAAAAJ&hl=en Academia.edu: https://ui-springfield.academia.edu/MalcolmMcCallum/Analytics#/activity/overview?_k=wknchj Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malcolm_Mccallum/reputation?ev=prf_rep_tab <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malcolm_Mccallum/reputation?ev=prf_rep_tab> Ratemyprofessor: http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=706874 *Confidentiality Notice:* This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. “*Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.* ” *-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law.* "*Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive*" -* Allan Nation* *1880's: *"*There's lots of good fish in the sea*" W.S. Gilbert *1990's:* Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction *MAY* help restore populations. 2022: "Soylent Green is People!" Charleton Heston as Detective Thorn 2022: "People were always awful, but their was a world once, and it was beautiful.' Edward G. Robinson as Sol Roth. The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle
