https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4931 Perceived and observed biases within scientific communities: a case study in movement ecology Shaw, Allison K. Allison K. Shaw 0000-0001-7969-8365 Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Kim, Dongmin Dongmin Kim 0000-0002-1508-1590 Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Chatterjee, Nilanjan Nilanjan Chatterjee 0000-0002-7932-0191 Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Wolfson, David David Wolfson 0000-0003-1098-9206 Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Abrahms, Briana Briana Abrahms 0000-0003-1987-5045 Department of Biology, University of Washington Attias, Nina Nina Attias 0000-0002-9472-6763 Instituto de Conservação de Animais SIlvestres Beardsworth, Christine E. Christine E. Beardsworth 0000-0003-1308-1455 School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University Beltran, Roxanne S. Roxanne S. Beltran 0000-0002-8520-1105 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz Binning, Sandra A. Sandra A. Binning 0000-0002-2804-9979 Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal Blincow, Kayla M. Kayla M. Blincow 0000-0003-3944-5317 College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Virgin Islands Chan, Ying-Chi Ying-Chi Chan 0000-0002-7183-4411 Swiss Ornithological Institute Fronhofer, Emanuel A. Emanuel A. Fronhofer 0000-0002-2219-784X ISEM, University of Montpellier-CNRS-IRD Hegemann, Arne Arne Hegemann 0000-0002-3309-9866 Department of Biology, Lund University Hurme, Edward R. Edward R. Hurme 0000-0002-2936-2449 Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Iannarilli, Fabiola Fabiola Iannarilli 0000-0002-7018-3557 Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University Kellner, Julie B. Julie B. Kellner 0000-0002-7134-2767 Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution McCoy, Karen D. Karen D. McCoy 0000-0002-8972-3808 MiVEGEC, University of Montpellier-CNRS-IRD Rafiq, Kasim Kasim Rafiq 0000-0003-1551-711X Department of Biology, University of Washington Saastamoinen, Marjo Marjo Saastamoinen 0000-0001-7009-2527 Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki Sequeira, Ana M. M. Ana M. M. Sequeira 0000-0001-6906-799X Division of Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University Serota, Mitchell W. Mitchell W. Serota 0000-0002-8885-5577 Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley Sumasgutner, Petra Petra Sumasgutner 0000-0001-7042-3461 Konrad Lorenz Research Center (KLF), University of Vienna Tao, Yun Yun Tao 0000-0001-5973-9422 Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia Torstenson, Martha Martha Torstenson 0000-0002-4028-5130 Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Yanco, Scott W. Scott W. Yanco 0000-0003-4717-9370 Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University Beck, Kristina B. Kristina B. Beck 0000-0002-5027-0207 Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Bertram, Michael G. Michael G. Bertram 0000-0001-5320-8444 Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Beumer, Larissa T. Larissa T. Beumer 0000-0002-5255-1889 Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Bradarić, Maja Maja Bradarić 0000-0003-2987-4855 Institute for biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics, University of Amsterdam Clermont, Jeanne Jeanne Clermont 0000-0002-8028-372X Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Ellis-Soto, Diego Diego Ellis-Soto 0000-0003-4766-021X Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University Faltusová, Monika Monika Faltusová 0000-0003-1847-2877 Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Fieberg, John John Fieberg 0000-0002-3180-7021 Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Hall, Richard J. Richard J. Hall 0000-0002-6102-4183 Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia Kölzsch, Andrea Andrea Kölzsch 0000-0003-0193-1563 Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Lai, Sandra Sandra Lai 0000-0003-0128-3738 Department of Biology, University of Oxford Lee-Cruz, Larisa Larisa Lee-Cruz 0000-0002-3753-9419 UMR TETIS, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development Loretto, Matthias-Claudio Matthias-Claudio Loretto 0000-0002-1940-3470 Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Loveridge, Alexandra Alexandra Loveridge 0000-0003-2651-4870 The Marine Biological Association Michelangeli, Marcus Marcus Michelangeli 0000-0002-0053-6759 Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Müller, Thomas Thomas Müller 0000-0001-9305-7716 Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Riotte-Lambert, Louise Louise Riotte-Lambert 0000-0002-6715-9898 CEFE, CNRS, University of Montpellier-EPHE-IRD Sapir, Nir Nir Sapir 0000-0002-2477-0515 Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa Scacco, Martina Martina Scacco 0000-0003-4821-4051 Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Teitelbaum, Claire S. Claire S. Teitelbaum 0000-0001-5646-3184 NASA Ames Research Center Cagnacci, Francesca Francesca Cagnacci 0000-0002-4954-9980 Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach Fouda, Leila Leila Fouda 0000-0002-0723-3697 Mezzini, Stefano Stefano Mezzini 0000-0001-8551-7436 Royal Society of London journal article open access eng Who conducts biological research, where they do it and how results are disseminated vary among geographies and identities. Identifying and documenting these forms of bias by research communities is a critical step towards addressing them. We documented perceived and observed biases in movement ecology, a rapidly expanding sub-discipline of biology, which is strongly underpinned by fieldwork and technology use. We surveyed attendees before an international conference to assess a baseline within-discipline perceived bias (uninformed perceived bias). We analysed geographic patterns in Movement Ecology articles, finding discrepancies between the country of the authors’ affiliation and study site location, related to national economics. We analysed race-gender identities of USA biology researchers (the closest to our sub-discipline with data available), finding that they differed from national demographics. Finally, we discussed the quantitatively observed bias at the conference, to assess within-discipline perceived bias informed with observational data (informed perceived bias). Although the survey indicated most conference participants as bias-aware, conversations only covered a subset of biases. We discuss potential causes of bias (parachute-science, fieldwork accessibility), solutions and the need to evaluate mitigatory action effectiveness. Undertaking data-driven analysis of bias within sub-disciplines can help identify specific barriers and move towards the inclusion of a greater diversity of participants in the scientific process. Academic Conference Diversity Equity Journal Authorship Parachute Science Representation http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4931/download 10.1098/rspb.2025.0679 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences issn:1471-2954 VoR Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292 2051 3.55 MB 2025