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| The Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), established
in 2012 to counter the biodiversity crisis, requires the best scientific input available to function
as a successful science-policy interface that addresses the knowledge needs of governments
for safeguarding nature and its services. For the macroecological research community, IPBES
presents a great opportunity to contribute knowledge, data and methods, and to help identify and
address knowledge gaps and methodological impediments. Here, we outline our perspectives on
how macroecology may contribute to IPBES. We focus on three essential topics for the IPBES
process, where contributions by macroecologists will be invaluable: biodiversity data, biodiversity
modelling, and modelling of ecosystem services. For each topic, we discuss the potential
for contributions from the macroecological community, as well as limitations, challenges, and
knowledge gaps. Overall, engagement of the macroecological community with IPBES should lead
to mutual benefits. Macroecologists may profit as their contributions to IPBES may strengthen and
inspire them as a community to design and conduct research that provides society-relevant results.
Furthermore, macroecological contributions will help IPBES become a successful instrument of
knowledge exchange and uncover the linkages between biodiversity and human well-being | |
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