Article (Scientific journals)
Open access and digital morphology data in evolutionary biology: expanding frontiers of knowledge.
De Leo, Naomi; Michaud, Margot; Maiorano, Luigi et al.
2026In BMC Ecology and Evolution, 26 (45)
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Keywords :
3D morphometrics; Digital morphology; Evolutionary biology; FAIR principles; Open access; Machine Learning; Biological Evolution; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Access to Information; Information Dissemination; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Environmental Science (all)
Abstract :
[en] The recent integration of 3D imaging and digital methodologies has revolutionized evolutionary biology, offering unprecedented opportunities for analysing and sharing morphological data. However, the transition toward open access remains incomplete due to persistent technical, legal, and institutional barriers. Issues such as lack of standardization, massive file sizes, and unclear intellectual property rights continue to hinder data verification and reproducibility. These challenges have acquired new urgency with the rapid rise of machine learning and AI-based tools for automated segmentation, landmarking, and shape analysis, which require large, standardized, and openly accessible training datasets - making inaccessible 3D data not merely an inconvenience, but a source of systematic bias in the algorithms shaping the field's future. This review synthesizes technical, legal, and behavioural perspectives on open data in digital morphology, building on prior work to address the specific challenges of the current AI era. By advocating for the adoption of FAIR principles, the use of persistent digital identifiers, and the implementation of digital watermarking, we offer recommendations for establishing minimum standards in data publication. Ultimately, a shift toward responsible data stewardship is essential to ensuring that digital morphological resources remain accessible, reproducible, and scientifically valuable for both human and computational users.
Disciplines :
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Zoology
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
De Leo, Naomi;  Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. naomi.deleo@uniroma1.it
Michaud, Margot ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Evolution and diversity dynamics lab ; IDEALISS ULR 7519, Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, Université d'Artois, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France ; Département Formation et Recherche Sciences et Technologie, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
Maiorano, Luigi;  Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Meloro, Carlo;  Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. C.Meloro@ljmu.ac.uk
Chatar, Narimane  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Evolution and diversity dynamics lab ; Department of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA ; Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, 29071, Spain
Tamagnini, Davide;  Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Language :
English
Title :
Open access and digital morphology data in evolutionary biology: expanding frontiers of knowledge.
Publication date :
28 April 2026
Journal title :
BMC Ecology and Evolution
eISSN :
2730-7182
Publisher :
BioMed Central Ltd, England
Volume :
26
Issue :
45
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 03 June 2026

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