A unique role for citizen science in ecological restoration: a case study in streams

Abstract

Citizen science has the potential to generate valuable biologic data for use in restoration monitoring, while also providing a unique opportunity for public participation in local restoration projects. In this article, we describe and evaluate a citizen science program designed to monitor the effect of stream restoration construction disturbance on the macroinvertebrate community. We present the results of a 7‐year stream restoration study conducted by citizen scientists utilizing a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact (BACI) design. Trait‐based macroinvertebrate data showed a strong response to restoration construction disturbance and return to pre‐restoration conditions within 2 years. The findings of this study suggest that citizen science can generate meaningful BACI‐oriented data about ecological restoration; however, until more research is conducted, citizen data should only be used to augment professional data intended to demonstrate restoration success.

The benefits and negative impacts of citizen science applications to water as experienced by participants and communities

“…Many of the listed potential benefits may be less appropriate for citizen scientists in low‐income areas, both in the Global North and South, unless they lead to improved health or livelihood, or decreased risk. For example, raising awareness is a commonly stated aim and potential benefit of Global North citizen science projects in order to encourage behavior change, such as environmental stewardship (Edwards et al, 2018; Middleton, 2001). Yet raising awareness may be less appropriate for some communities who are well‐aware of an environmental hazard they live under but are powerless to change behavior.…”

Using diatoms to assess river restoration: A pilot study in Whychus Creek, Oregon, USA

“…In many restoration projects, most of the funds are used for the restoration construction and few funds are dedicated for post‐restoration monitoring and bioassessment (Rumps et al 2007). Collection and identification of biotic data can be cost prohibitive for many restoration projects and one way to reduce monitoring costs is to use volunteers to collect field samples (Edwards, Shaloum & Bedell, 2018) and/or use taxonomically coarse biotic data. In the case of diatom‐based stream bioassessments, there are several studies that show genus and species‐level diatoms provide similar information about stream condition (e.g., Rimet & Bouchez 2012).…”

Un diagnóstico para el monitoreo colaborativo en la restauración de paisajes forestales

“…El diagnóstico puede ser empleado solo como una herramienta de monitoreo para calificar el progreso hacia el logro de objetivos cruciales en varias etapas del monitoreo colaborativo. En otras palabras, puede servir para ayudar a Tanto el compromiso como el apoyo político e institucional a la restauración del paisaje forestal (RPF) han ganado impulso, y quienes toman las decisiones en la RPF a nivel global y local reconocen de manera creciente el papel central del monitoreo colaborativo (denominado también monitoreo participativo 1 ) para asegurar el éxito de la restauración (Edwards et al 2017;; USDA Forest Service 2017). El monitoreo colaborativo se refiere a un compromiso continuo entre investigadores y pobladores locales en la recopilación y el uso de información para la toma de decisiones a múltiples niveles ; Danielsen et al 2009; Newig et al 2010).…”