Comparisons of open networks across space require established best practices: This is the way

Predicting networks across large spatial areas typically relies on data collected from multiple sources. Comparing networks from a single source can often help identify drivers of network structure, but due to unwanted structural heterogeneities, networks constructed by different authors may be as comparable as Wookies and Klingons. In the worst case, these unwanted heterogeneities arising from uncontrolled differences in sampling strategies, environmental factors, and biotic characteristics, can generate artificial structural differences between networks. Going forward, we must embrace the challenge of establishing best practices for using open networks as fear of doing so will only lead to the dark side.