Ostracods in databases: State of the art, mobilization and future applications

Biodiversity databases are changing the longevity of data in era open science. They also represent a collaboration opportunity analyzing large-scale (paleo)biological patterns beyond local project or time scale. Ostracods, microscopic crustaceans, component many biodiversity databases. live most kinds aquatic environments today and their fossil record spans nearly whole Earth's metazoan biosphere history from Ordovician to Holocene. Thus, ostracods provide an ideal model system for understanding dynamics both space time. Thanks contributors, current future ostracodologists have access that gone through numerous improvements been populated by datasets. However, rapid growth has caused confusion among users regarding available data, technical terms database aims. We review key include ostracods, summarizing development, spatial temporal coverage, various types models intertwined relationships between present quantitative summary ostracod diversity based on Paleobiology Database. Our investigations show field is transitioning traditional single focus multipurpose, static dynamic display/download independent systems collaborative networks. compare ways several approach persistent challenges such as taxonomic harmonization, validation original sampling metadata paleolocality uncertainties. With increasing capability integration, continue require enormous efforts high-quality entry careful coordination scientists teams.