A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Archiving Primary Data: Solutions for Long-Term Studies
Authors: Mills JA, Teplitsky C, Arroyo B, Charmantier A, Becker PH, Birkhead TR, Bize P, Blumstein DT, Bonenfant C, Boutin S, Bushuev A, Cam E, Cockburn A, Cote SD, Coulson JC, Daunt F, Dingemanse NJ, Doligez B, Drummond H, Espie RHM, Festa-Bianchet M, Frentiu F, Fitzpatrick JW, Furness RW, Garant D, Gauthier G, Grant PR, Griesser M, Gustafsson L, Hansson B, Harris MP, Jiguet F, Kjellander P, Korpimaki E, Krebs CJ, Lens L, Linne JDC, Low M, McAdam A, Margalida A, Merila J, Moller AP, Nakagawa S, Nilsson JA, Nisbet ICT, van Noordwijk AJ, Oro D, Part T, Pelletier F, Potti J, Pujol B, Reale D, Rockwel RF, Ropert-Coudert Y, Roulin A, Sedinger JS, Swenson JE, Thebaud C, Visser ME, Wanless S, Westneat DF, Wilson AJ, Zedrosser A
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON
Publication year: 2015
Journal: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Journal name in source: TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
Journal acronym: TRENDS ECOL EVOL
Volume: 30
Issue: 10
First page : 581
Last page: 589
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0169-5347
eISSN: 1872-8383
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2015.07.006
The recent trend for journals to require open access to primary data included in publications has been embraced by many biologists, but has caused apprehension amongst researchers engaged in long-term ecological and evolutionary studies. A worldwide survey of 73 principal investigators (PIs) with long-term studies revealed positive attitudes towards sharing data with the agreement or involvement of the PI, and 93% of PIs have historically shared data. Only 8% were in favor of uncontrolled, open access to primary data while 63% expressed serious concern. We present here their viewpoint on an issue that can have non-trivial scientific consequences. We discuss potential costs of public data archiving and provide possible solutions to meet the needs of journals and researchers.
