The conference officially opened with a ceremony on the evening of October 18, where Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave the welcome address. He described the meeting as a chance to channel global efforts toward tangible results, speed up implementation of existing commitments, and create new opportunities for cooperation. He stressed that only four years remain to reach the 2030 biodiversity targets, and he called on the world to “move from words to action.”

The theme of taking action runs through the meeting program. The centerpiece of COP17 is the first Global Review of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Adopted in 2022, the framework is the world’s shared plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss; it sets 23 targets for 2030, including protecting 30% of lands and seas, ensuring wild species are used in a sustainable way, and reforming harmful economic subsidies. Unfortunately, the Global Review finds that the world is not on track to meet these targets.

Two related treaties are meeting alongside the CBD COP:

• The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which governs the safe handling and movement of living organisms
• The Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing, which deals with how the benefits of genetic resources are shared

Together, these three agreements – the KMGBF, the Cartagena Protocol, and the Nagoya Protocol – frame nearly everything here. Almost every session we’ve attended, from formal negotiations to side events, has touched on at least one of them.

In our next dispatch, we’ll share highlights from sessions our delegation has attended in the opening days of the COP17 meeting.

I arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, a few days early for the High-Level Policy Segment of COP17, expecting crowds of delegates and a buzzing conference atmosphere. Instead, I found myself in a surprisingly quiet city, accompanied mostly by journalists, security personnel, and the anticipation of a global gathering that had not yet fully arrived.

My first destination was Republic Square, the heart of Armenian government and civic life. There, I waited to board the official COP17 shuttle bus to the Blue Zone, the secured negotiation area where government delegations, observers, and accredited organizations gather to advance implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Five large shuttle buses lined the square. Police officers stood guard, and tourists milled about taking photos of the city’s iconic architecture. Yet among all those people, I could not spot a single conference attendee.

I tightly held my official “Priority Pass,” issued by the Secretariat and granting access to the shuttle and Blue Zone. Unsure where to wait, I approached a police officer and showed him my badge. He examined it carefully, exchanged puzzled looks with several colleagues, and soon the group was engaged in rapid Armenian conversation while studying the unfamiliar credential.

Then my COP angel appeared.

Her name was Lusine.

With a smile and calm confidence, she stepped forward and explained that the Priority Pass authorized my entry. Crisis averted, she boarded the shuttle with me and introduced herself as a member of the COP17 organizing team.

As we rode toward the venue, Lusine spoke proudly about Armenia’s role as host. She explained that for the previous eight months she and her colleagues had been planning, preparing, and now implementing one of the world’s most important biodiversity conferences. Armenia, she said, was honored and excited to welcome delegates from around the globe.

When we arrived, Lusine escorted me through registration and into the vast Blue Zone. Before we parted ways, she shared her WhatsApp number, which serves as the unofficial lifeline of every COP. With participants representing more than 150 countries, WhatsApp becomes the fastest way to coordinate meetings, solve problems, and stay connected.

Inside, the atmosphere was surreal.

The President of Armenia, several heads of state, ministers, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres were engaged in closed-door meetings. Security was exceptionally tight. The enormous conference venue felt almost empty, populated mainly by COP17 staff, world leaders, security personnel, and a small army of journalists.

COP17, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, marks a critical midpoint in the global effort to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030. The conference focuses on accelerating action to halt biodiversity loss, protect ecosystems, mobilize financing for conservation, and ensure that countries remain on track toward international biodiversity targets.

After saying goodbye to Lusine, I wandered through the Blue Zone and quickly located the Academic and Research area. It, too, was nearly empty.

Nearly.

A reporter named Diana Skaya from Polskie Radio was setting up equipment. Spotting one of the few attendees present, she immediately requested an interview. I agreed without hesitation.

Her first question was straightforward: What role does science play at COP17?

My answer was equally direct.

Science tells us whether our goals are being achieved. And when they are not, science helps us understand what actions, investments, and policies are needed to preserve nature and reverse biodiversity loss. Evidence allows policymakers to measure progress, identify gaps, and make informed decisions about protecting ecosystems and species.

That message seemed particularly relevant given the discussions taking place behind closed doors.

The High-Level Segment brought together heads of state, ministers, Indigenous leaders, youth representatives, international organizations, and conservation experts. Leaders describe COP17 as a moment of accountability, emphasizing the need to accelerate progress toward halting biodiversity loss by 2030, close biodiversity financing gaps, strengthen protections for vulnerable ecosystems, and turn previous commitments into measurable action.

As I finished the interview, I realized that although the halls felt empty, history was already underway. Before the thousands of delegates arrived, before the side events filled the meeting rooms, and before negotiations stretched late into the night, there was a brief moment when COP17 belonged to a handful of organizers, security officers, journalists, and one helpful Armenian named Lusine who made a stranger feel welcome in a conference of global significance.

Sometimes the quietest moments provide the clearest view of what is about to begin.

Over the next two days, however, the empty halls will begin to fill. The Ecological Society of America delegation will arrive, joined by colleagues from the British Ecological Society, the American Geophysical Union, and researchers from universities around the world. Alongside scientists, representatives from organizations such as IUCN, WWF, and many other non-governmental organizations will gather as official observers in the Blue Zone.

We will be a minority in terms of numbers. The conference is ultimately led by governments, ministers, and negotiators. Yet every scientist who attends will practice a form of science diplomacy, sharing expertise, evidence, and experience across borders. In many ways, scientists serve as the glue that holds the biodiversity framework together. We provide the data that measures progress, identifies gaps, and informs solutions. Without science, there is no reliable way to know whether the world’s biodiversity commitments are succeeding or falling short.

The goals of COP17 are ambitious. Protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, mobilizing conservation finance, and reversing decades of biodiversity loss will not be easy. At times, it may feel like an uphill battle. Yet what continues to inspire me is that scientists keep showing up.

Most ecologists are far more comfortable in forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, and laboratories than in negotiation halls. Nevertheless, ESA members and our colleagues from around the world have traveled thousands of miles to be here. They are volunteering their time, offering their expertise, and doing everything they can to help preserve the planet’s biological diversity for future generations.

There is an old proverb that captures the spirit of this work: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” COP17 is very much about going far. No single country, institution, or discipline can solve the biodiversity crisis alone. Progress depends on governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, NGOs, businesses, and scientists working together toward a common goal.

As I reflect on my first day in Yerevan, I realize that the nearly empty Blue Zone was only the calm before the storm. Soon the conference center will be buzzing with delegates, negotiations, side events, and difficult conversations about the future of nature. The work ahead is immense, but so is the collective commitment of the people gathering here.

For those unable to attend in person, many COP17 events and plenary sessions can be viewed live through UN broadcasting channels and official conference webcasts. ESA will also provide regular updates, observations, and highlights from the conference through our website and communication channels so that our members can follow the negotiations and outcomes as they unfold.

After all, biodiversity conservation is not just the responsibility of those inside the Blue Zone. It is a shared global effort, and COP17 is one chapter in that much larger story.

The award comes on the heels of a highly successful launch through the first NSF award for 4DEE between 2021-2026. “This project continues the significant momentum for ecology education by further defining how we teach not just science concepts, but how to meaningfully engage in and apply science to the big challenges we face globally,” said Amanda Sorensen of Michigan State University, co-PI of the grant and chair of the 4DEE subcommittee of ESA’s Education Committee.

“[In 2021] we had the framework, a handful of recordings, a couple of brochures describing 4DEE, and no published resources on what 4DEE looks like in the classroom,” noted Teresa Mourad, PI and ESA Director of Education and Diversity Programs. “Now we can continue our journey to strengthen four-dimensional integration in ecology education both at the lesson and the whole course levels.”

ESA enters this second NSF grant with: 

• 88 faculty who have participated in seven Faculty Mentoring Network (FMN) sessions
• 59 4DEE Education Scholars who have published 64 teaching resources
• 27 videos in the 4DEE YouTube playlist.

We also learned several lessons about providing professional development for our faculty. “Live events and FMNs are not enough,” said Justin St Juliana of Cornell University, a co-PI with more than 20 years of experience with online courses. “To greatly expand faculty access to 4DEE, offering brief, interactive and asynchronous online modules is a strong move! I am happy to bring my experience designing online resources into this project.” 

Funded activities

Over the next three years, the new NSF grant will support evidence-based instructional practices and the development of resources with emphasis on how instructors can integrate two or more dimensions in their teaching and assessment. Other activities and products include virtual and in-person community meetings to disseminate new resources, and a set of 10-15 online modules that begin with a basic understanding of 4DEE and move learners progressively towards designing more complex multidimensional lessons and assessments. We will also offer professional development for faculty teams interested in aligning whole courses to 4DEE.

Is 4DEE making an impact on student learning?

This is a question faculty have asked over the years. This project will give us the opportunity to collect data from course-based assessments as well as student performance on the EcoEvo-MAPS assessment, which has already been aligned to 4DEE (Smith et al. 2019). “Ultimately, the success of any education reform can be measured in student outcomes,” said Chris Beck of Emory University, a co-PI. “We are already hearing stories that 4DEE lessons are well-received by students. Student and faculty data will give us a picture of how 4DEE is effective and why.” 

In addition to the current 4DEE subcommittee of ESA’s Education Committee, the new project pulls together a team of education leaders on the project’s Advisory Board: Tom Langen of Clarkson University, Michelle Smith of Cornell University and Sam Donovan of BioQuest. They will provide expert input on the product design and delivery as well as plans to measure change in faculty adoption of evidence-based multidimensional teaching and student performance.

We take this opportunity to thank George Middendorf of Howard University, co-PI, and past Steering Committee members of the first NSF grant for the accomplishments achieved: Shamili Ajgaonkar, College of DuPage; Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Carmen Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University, Emeritus; Kaya DeerInWater, American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Ken Klemow, Wilkes University; Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida; Porché Spence, North Carolina A&T State University; Al Kuslikis, American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Anna Monfils, Central Michigan University; Amber Morseau, American Indian Higher Education Consortium

Fellow ecologists, you may recall that our annual reports cover our major stories, successes and highlights, in a celebration of our community and our science. Historically, the Past President has taken this opportunity to comment on items in the report that have been especially noteworthy.

As 2025 Past President Shahid Naeem noted in his message last year, this has been an especially challenging time for science and scientists in the United States, especially in the broader environmental field. These challenges include funding for our critical work and for programs that societies like ours foster to create opportunity for everyone who would want to work in the field.

At ESA, we have met those challenges head-on. And while I would have loved for my term as President to have had less existential challenges to address, these times really showed what ESA is made of. I’m proud of the work that we accomplished during my term. We are a creative, strong, resilient and committed group of people. I think this report shows just how committed we remained to our mission.

Supporting All Ecologists in Our Membership

Supporting the professional aspirations of all ecologists has been a key pillar at ESA for years, and this commitment is reflected in our strategic plans. Programs we initiated or sustained in the areas of ensuring equitable pathways in ecology careers only grew despite challenging circumstances.

Together, these initiatives reflect a strategic approach to equity and inclusion that integrates workforce support, student engagement, and professional recognition into the core functions of the Society rather than treating them as standalone efforts.

Highlights:

• More than 150 members applied for certification as professional ecologists, helping us near 1,000 total professionals in the program. We further reached out to practitioners by initiating an organizational membership category that allows companies, agencies, departments or other nonprofits to join the Society to enjoy bulk benefits and directly engage with our leadership.
  
  
• We provided more than $60,000 in assistance to students, early career scientists and professionals at under-resourced institutions to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
  
  
• For U.S. federal scientists who lost their jobs as well as researchers (including students) whose funding was terminated, we created free and low-cost ways to remain engaged with the Society. A series of virtual events in the spring that were designed to help ecologists in need of new career opportunities culminated in a career fair in Baltimore, with employers openly recruiting as part of Career Central.
  
  
• Our award-winning SEEDS program (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) flourished, growing to more than 50 active chapters in good standing across the United States. In addition to programs they self-managed at their own campuses, SEEDS students joined a nationwide BioBlitz competition to apply more of their knowledge; were able to participate in field trips to the University of Virginia’s Coastal Research Center and University of Colorado Boulder’s Mountain Research Station; and leaders were invited to the annual SEEDS Leadership Meeting at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, where they were introduced to carbon credits and economic futures in the field.
  
  
• Our work with the National Ecological Observatory Network added a new dimension as we engaged with employers across industries to identify training opportunities for the entry-level ecological workforce.
  
  
• The ESA community stepped up in a big way, raising more than $40,000 to inaugurate the Bazzaz-Pickett Award for mentoring, and nearly $200,000 to complete the initial funding goal for the Equity & Excellence in Ecology Endowment.

A Vibrant Community of Knowledge and Practice

We strengthen the science of ecology by supporting the ability of people to do the science of ecology, whether in research, education or practice, and by sharing their work publicly through traditional publishing, conferences, educational activities and media engagement. These ESA activities support career growth, develop leaders and build community.

Building this way resulted in a banner year: Submissions and published papers increased, manuscript turnaround times were reduced, regional meetings grew, and we officially launched the first collection in our newest journal, Earth Stewardship.

Highlights:

• In response to cuts by the U.S. federal government, we expanded programming around career development and funding for the 2,500 ecologists who joined us in Baltimore for the Annual Meeting.
  
  
• We held 24 virtual training events and 11 career exploration events, serving as many as 1,500 attendees. These included contributions from the membership, including a very popular workshop series on quantitative methods produced by the Black Ecologists Section, and regular research webinars by the Asian Ecology Section. The Statistical Ecology Section’s ongoing series with the Ecological Forecasting Initiative continued to support hundreds of scientists eager to work on their quantitative skills.

• Other events explored new areas of research and practice, like nature finance and biodiversity credit markets, through webinars and an in-person course. We also put focus on science communication and environmental humanities in addition to more traditional scientific and technical skills.
  
• Members responding to the needs of members and supporting the next generation of ecologists resulted in our largest Mid-Atlantic Chapter meeting in history (nearly 200 submitted abstracts).

• In response to new policy challenges, we held more advocacy-focused events than ever. For example, we welcomed the recipients of our 2025 Graduate Student Policy Award to ESA Headquarters in Washington DC to prep for a busy day on Capitol Hill, where they explained the importance of research funding and scientifically sound policy.

• Water cooler chats hosted by our education staff covered topics ranging from applications of the 4DEE Framework, to teaching at community colleges, to meeting the challenges posed by new government policies.
  
• We bolstered the publishing program through investments in infrastructure and open science. We implemented new data editor roles, launched an Editorial Fellows program, expanded our partnership with Dryad for data publication across the journal portfolio, and formalized policies on data availability and artificial intelligence in publishing. These actions strengthened editorial quality and ensured compliance with evolving standards while managing increased submission volume.

A Healthy, Stable Society

“Operational excellence” is an important priority for ESA, and you may have noticed the emphasis we have placed on sound governance and business management in recent years. In particular, one of the changes I have seen pay dividends is strengthening the voice of the sections and chapters through re-imagining of the ESA Council, and their inclusion in Governing Board meetings. This relatively new structure not only provides a more direct voice for members in Governing Board issues, but also provides a clearer pathway into a variety of ESA leadership positions. We seek to be responsible stewards through transparency, participatory leadership and relevant, meaningful engagement with our members.

Having initiated and nurtured many of these governance improvements, former ESA Executive Director Catherine O’Riordan also retired in 2025. Catherine joined us in 2018 and helped us navigate the challenges of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021 while keeping us oriented toward a desired future state where all ecologists could find professional satisfaction with ESA. Catherine left us in a sound financial position, with new, growing programs and refined processes that will continue to serve us into the future.

Highlights:

• Members now enjoy a more equitable experience across the Society; the ESA Council formalized processes that ensure every section and chapter meets minimum levels of activity every year, and is well-governed with clear roles for volunteer leaders. This change is important because the sections and chapters provide a gateway to the Society as a whole, and we want to ensure that any new (or long-time!) member has a welcoming home the moment they walk in the door.
  
  
• And to help the sections and chapters better serve their members, the Council requested and the Governing Board approved raising the dues of each regular member by $2 per group they join. This means more travel grants, more student awards, and better in-person events.
  
  
• The Governing Board approved a change to our Bylaws to permit officers of the Society to be elected by a single slate, which allows the Governing Board to seek and rigorously vet candidates who best align with ESA strategic priorities. This change reflects a growing trend in professional societies’ selection of officers.
  
  
• We completed the third year of our SPRINT program, which allows 4% of our unrestricted financial reserve to be spent on special projects, with an emphasis on revenue generation. SPRINT funding supported the EEE Scholars, our growing professional development portfolio, the editorial fellows and engagement with professionals in emerging professional sectors.
  
  
• And we have been able to keep programs healthy despite losses in grant dollars: 2025 broke every previously existing fundraising record, with more than $300,000 raised, providing critical support to our programs.

Click images to view full size

By Sageland Collaborative
July 14, 2026

Sageland Collaborative is a non-profit organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah that connects people, wildlife and landscapes through hands-on restoration activities.

As the landscapes that we know and love rapidly change in the face of human development, Sageland Collaborative works alongside volunteers, landowners, universities, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to turn science into on-the-ground action.

For over 30 years, Sageland has engaged volunteers and partners across the West through a variety of community science programs. Through these programs, we’re able to create landscape-level change for the wildlife that unite us.

Volunteers can get involved by counting shorebirds at Great Salt Lake, sharing photos of pollinating insects to iNaturalist, surveying wetlands for cryptic amphibians, building low-tech structures to improve stream health and restoring fences to improve migration pathways for deer and pronghorn.

Every dollar raised ensures that Sageland Collaborative’s restoration efforts are science-based and rooted in community.

To learn more about Sageland Collaborative and get involved, visit their website at sagelandcollaborative.org, and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Sep. 16, 2026 update: This expression-of-interest period has closed. ESA is no longer accepting names for COP17 observer badges.

ESA is accepting expressions of interest from members to receive an ESA “observer status” badge to attend the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will take place Oct. 19–30, 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia.

Learn more about the Convention on Biological Diversity

ESA may be able to issue a limited number of “observer status” badges to ESA members. Those receiving a badge would not be formally representing ESA. This summer, the UN will inform ESA about the number of observer badges it will provide.

Members would be responsible for all associated travel costs and expenses to attend COP17 if offered an ESA badge. Additionally, those selected to receive a badge would be required to meet all vaccine and other requirements set by the COP17 organizers and the host country and to submit any information that organizers request to register recipients, such as passport information.

Please complete this form to express your interest in receiving an ESA badge. (closed as of Sep. 16, 2026)

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) welcomes Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) as an organizational member of the Society.

“We launched our organizational membership to build better bridges with employers in the private and public sectors,” said ESA President Peter Groffman. “WEST’s staff and leadership have long been prominent in ESA, and the Society is glad to be able to deepen the relationship as we work together to support the science of ecology.”

“Many individual WEST Staff, from one of our Founders, Dr. Dale Strickland, to current junior and senior level staff, have grown through their engagement with ESA”, said WEST CEO, Clayton Derby.  “WEST is proud to expand this relationship beyond the individual to the corporate level and to be the first organizational member of the Society.”

ESA’s organizational memberships include memberships and certification applications for members of their staff; exhibits and recognition at our in-person events; promotional emails to the Society’s mailing list; direct interactions with ESA’s leadership; and recruitment benefits, among opportunities unique to organizational members.

WEST was founded in 1990 with the vision of combining ecology and statistics to solve natural resource challenges. What began as a small consultancy has grown into one of the most respected environmental and statistical consulting firms in North America, and many of the folks on the WEST team have been important members and leaders in ESA.

We sought out WEST as a member thanks to the long history of involvement between WEST’s founders and leadership—especially Dale Strickland—in the Society’s work. While the company emerged as a leader in environmental consulting, staff were also helping to guide ESA’s certification program and strategy for engaging with private sector scientists under the Extending the Tent initiative.

Thank you to WEST Co-Founder Dale Strickland and CEO Clayton Derby for bringing us together—we look forward to working with them and the many professional ecologists at WEST to support the science of ecology!

Your Organization Could Be Next!

We invite other companies, agencies and departments to join ESA as organizational members! Membership associates your identity with ours and shows that the science of ecology is foremost in your work. Clients, partners and stakeholders can trust that your staff are well-networked among their peers, and that they have access to the most cutting-edge research and applied methods in the field.Learn more and get started, or contact membership@esa.org with any questions.

From March 2 through May 31, anyone can review the draft assessment and share input through the public comment portal or by participating in virtual or in-person engagement events hosted across the country.

What is The Nature Record?

The Nature Record examines the status, trends and future of nature in the United States, and how changes in nature are shaping our lives, communities, and economy. Nature influences the air we breathe, the water we drink, the homes we build, the stability of our climate, the health of our brains and bodies, and the strength of our local economies. Even for those who don’t focus on  environmental issues every day, these connections are constant and deeply woven into daily life.

The Nature Record is an independent team of nearly 200 leading scientists, researchers, experts, and practitioners. Their work is rooted in science, guided by communities, and enriched by public participation. Together, they’re creating a clear, accessible picture of nature across the nation and the role it plays in everything from local economies to public health and community resilience.

How to participate

The Nature Record team invites individuals, organizations, and communities to review the draft Assessment and share their perspectives. You can engage in several ways:

• Submit comments through the online public comment portal
• Participate in virtual engagement events featuring Assessment authors
• Attend in‑person events hosted in communities across the United States

The draft assessment, event listings, and more information are available on The Nature Record website.

Attend an upcoming event or tune into a webinar to learn more from Nature Record authors about the Assessment contents:

April 1 | 12 – 1:30 PM PT

Webinar: How Do Changes in Nature Shape Our Lives (Part 1)?
Virtual
Learn more & register

April 15 | 12 – 1:30 PM PT

Webinar: How Do Changes in Nature Shape Our Lives (Part 2)?
Virtual
Learn more & register

April 22 | Dallas, TX

EarthX 2026
Hilton Anatole
Learn more

April 26 | Bismarck, ND

Public Engagement Event
North Dakota’s Gateway to Science
Learn more

April 29 | 12 – 1:30 PM PT

Webinar: Taking Action to Improve Nature for All
Virtual
Learn more & register

May 7 | Tupper Lake, NY

Public Engagement Event
The W!ld Center
Learn more

May 14 | San Diego, CA

Public Engagement Event
San Diego Natural History Museum
Learn more

July 12 | Milwaukee, WI

2026 North American Congress for Conservation & Restoration
The Baird Center
Learn more

Figures That Use Images From Other Sources

We strongly discourage using extraneous illustrations in figures. A label that consists of words conveys meaning more clearly than a stock picture. Any illustration that is used must allow licensing under the least restrictive license available for the journal publication (Open Access, including for commercial reuse). The journal publication licenses do not permit sublicensing of materials in the paper. If using images, documentation of the image’s source and license must be provided with the submission and confirmed by ESA staff. The use of public domain images is encouraged if images are necessary, and source and license information for these images must be provided for confirmation. More information is available in our author guidelines for each journal.

Data and Code Availability

At the initial submission and revised version stages, ESA’s open research policy requires that authors disclose their data and code availability plans. New code strings created by authors of the submission must be provided for peer review. Data must be provided on an approved data repository if the paper is accepted, with limited exceptions for sensitive species and human data. Data and code necessary to replicate the paper’s tables, figures and conclusions must be published when the paper is accepted (before the paper’s publication). Please review this policy and ensure compliance with the requirements for each submission stage.

Relatedly, we are pleased to announce that we have expanded our partnership with the Dryad data repository. Authors that publish in ESA journals can deposit their associated data and code packages in Dryad at no cost (up to 10 GB; materials must be curated by Dryad after January 1, 2026 to qualify for fee coverage under ESA sponsorship). Using Dryad will ensure compliance with ESA’s open research policies, and all datasets are curated by Dryad to ensure they are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). We encourage you to explore Dryad’s services and consider this option for data and code archiving purposes.