INCOMPLETE DATA SETS IN COMMUNITY ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY - A CAUTIONARY TALE

Many basic and applied studies in ecology, biogeography, and conservat ion biology rely on data on the distribution of species and the compos ition of communities that are compiled from the literature or from unp ublished sources. Most of these data sets are incomplete, and some con tain serious biases. We examine two such data sets. New records of fis hes in Australian desert springs, which corrected sampling biases in t he original study, revealed different patterns of species distribution and community structure. New records of mammals on Great Basin mounta intops did not materially alter the results and interpretations of ear lier studies. In order to avoid serious errors of fact, interpretation , and application, there is no substitute for first-hand field experie nce with the organisms and habitats.