Researchers at the BIOMA Institute are expanding the map of threatened species in Spain using “unuseddata

Thousands of data biodiversity data collected during environmental assessments in Spain have remained out of reach of the scientific community for years, trapped in technical reports and administrative resolutions. A study by the Biodiversity and Environment Institute at the University of Navarra, published in Biodiversity Informatics, has shown that recovering this hidden information can significantly change knowledge of threatened species.

The research, authored by Ph.D. candidate Maite Telletxea, along with Rafael Miranda, Arturo H. Ariño, and David Galicia, researchers at the BIOMA Institute, analyzes data assessment processes and compares them with records already available on open platforms such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The result that incorporating thisdata significantly increases our knowledge species distribution: the range of occurrence increases by 23%, and the area occupancy (the actual area, within a species’ total range of occurrence, that is occupied by its populations) increases by 93% for threatened species recorded in the field.

“We need data and robustdata to address the current biodiversity crisis, yet a great deal of data hidden. In this context, we emphasize the importance of bringing to light the data during assessment fieldwork, as it can serve as a specific and complementary source information that is useful for understanding the current status of the most threatened species,” says Maite Telletxea.

The work on 43 threatened species in peninsular Spain and sample this additional information not only fills geographical gaps but also provides more recent records. For eight species, the authors found an average increase average 1.9 years in the temporal coverage of the data . Some of the most striking cases are those of the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula), which show increases of approximately 9% and 14%, respectively, in population parameters related to their area .

“In Navarre, we found 27 records of 17 different species (9 birds and 8 bats) at 4 locations (Lazagurría, Mendavia, Peralta, and Ujué). If we focus, for example, on species classified as endangered, we found records of three species: the red kite (Milvus milvus) in Lazagurría, Mendavia, Ujué, and Peralta; the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) in Peralta; and the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) in Peralta as well,” adds Telletxea.

The research that unearthing this information is an effective strategy for making better decisions regarding conservation and management . “We have a lot at knowledge our biodiversity, and this information—which is sometimes hidden—must adhere to the FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) so that we can take the most timely, efficient, and appropriate measures for the conservation of the most threatened species,” says researcher Miranda.

Spain is one of the most biologically diverse countries in Europe, with numerous endemic species, and a leader in the area . This biological diversity is particularly threatened due to the many changes nature is undergoing. The authors argue that this approach is especially valuable because it leverages information that has already been generated and funded, without the need to repeat field surveys. “Mobilizing data is a highly cost-effective strategy for improving the quantity and consistency of biodiversity records without requiring data sampling efforts,” says Maite.

·reference letter :
Telletxea, Maite, Arturo H. Ariño, Rafael Miranda, and David Galicia. 2026.“The Recovery of Stray Biodiversity Data in Environmental Assessment Reports”. Biodiversity Informatics 20 (1).