The study is more of a structured sampling methods development effort, rather than an outright documentation of missing species. It is part of a logical trend where methods and approaches are being developed to be able to state with more certainty and data what true patterns of species composition are evident through time. Conservation groups and public land management agencies are starting to use them as part of their long term ecosystem health and management work. It is definitely a more thorough and valid approach than saying "oops, species x, y, z are not there". The authors specifically state that the absence of the now rarer species in their sampling does not mean they were not there, just less likely to be found.
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