Perceived and observed biases within scientific communities: a case study in movement ecology
Title (eng)
Perceived and observed biases within scientific communities: a case study in movement ecology
Author
Nilanjan Chatterjee
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
David Wolfson
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Christine E. Beardsworth
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University
Marjo Saastamoinen
Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki
Martha Torstenson
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Michael G. Bertram
Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
John Fieberg
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Matthias-Claudio Loretto
Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Marcus Michelangeli
Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Nir Sapir
Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa
Abstract (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.
Keywords (eng)
Academic ConferenceDiversityEquityJournal AuthorshipParachute ScienceRepresentation
Type (eng)
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
Is in series
Title (eng)
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume
292
Issue
2051
ISSN
1471-2954
Issued
2025
Number of pages
12
Publication
Royal Society of London
Version type (eng)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
License
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 The Author(s)
- Cite as
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4931 - Other links and identifiers
- Content
- RightsLicenseRights statement© 2025 The Author(s)
- DetailsResource typeText (PDF)Formatapplication/pdfCreated18.02.2026 09:28:42 UTC
- Usage statistics--
- This object is in collection
- Metadata
- Export formats