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The largest biodiversity time-series database on the planet—created by the University of St Andrews—has had a major new release. The database offers unprecedented insight into how biodiversity is changing through time across the globe, spanning nearly 150 years of ecological records from 1874—2023.

Published in the journal of the new version contains data from over 553,000 locations tracking species abundances from the Arctic to the Amazon, helping researchers, policymakers, and the public better understand the complex realities species face in a rapidly changing world.

The update to BioTIME 2.0 dramatically expands on the previous version of the database, specifically targeting increased geographic and taxonomic representation. With this update, the database now includes nearly 12 million records representing more than 56,000 species across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems.

This is the most comprehensive collection of ecological assemblage time-series ever created. An assemblage is a group of organisms of the same taxon (e.g. fish, plants or birds) that live in the same place. This is different from, say, a population which is focused only on one species.

It's possible to keep track of populations from assemblage level data (because it includes many populations) but not the other way around. Assemblage data is essential to calculate many biodiversity metrics, like species richness, diversity etc.

Prof Maria Dornelas from the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, who leads the project, said, "Because we cannot travel in time, biodiversity data from the past is precious to help us understand where and how biodiversity is changing."

"Human eyes and ears are the main instruments behind this massive data resource. This database is the collective work of hundreds of people, both scientists and citizen scientists, who systematically record species and their abundances over time."

The publication of BioTIME 2.0 brings together 485 co-authors from more than 400 institutions in 40 countries.

BioTIME database manager, Dr. Garrett Fundakowski from the University of St Andrews said, "It's a powerful example of how the scientific community can come together to build something bigger than any one person or team. It serves as a testament to global scientific cooperation in the face of our rapidly changing planet."

The BioTIME database enables scientists to look beyond extinction headlines and explore wider, deeper questions of ecosystem and population change in the context of land use, climate change and conservation efforts over time.

Since its initial release, BioTIME has already underpinned influential studies in biodiversity science and global policy. Researchers have used the database to challenge assumptions about biodiversity loss, uncover patterns of ecological change, and inform conservation strategies.

Co-collaborator Dr. Inês Martins from the University of York said, "The work is not over. BioTIME is very much a living database, and our team is committed to continuing its development, with more datasets being added in the future."

The BioTIME 2.0 database is freely available for use by researchers, conservationists, educators, and the general public.