Assessing the emergence of pro-biodiversity practices in citizen scientists of a backyard butterfly survey

Abstract

By monitoring biodiversity through citizen science programs, volunteers help scientists gather data at unprecedented temporal and geographical scales, and increase their knowledge and awareness of the surrounding biodiversity. While scientific outcomes of such programs may in the long run improve the state of biodiversity by informing environmental policies, direct benefits to biodiversity could arise locally if such experience of nature lead to biodiversity-friendly behaviors in volunteers. However, whether engagement into naturebased CS programs promotes individual behavioral changes remains poorly known. Here, we explored whether sustained participation in a nature-based citizen science program, called the French Butterfly citizen science project, is associated with changes in individual gardening practices. Specifically, using information provided by volunteers (n = 2362, from 2006 to 2013), we quantified gardening practices that directly affect butterflies, through two different indices: provision of nectar resources, and pesticide use. We found quantitative evidence that individual gardening practices shifted with multiyear participation, towards increased provision of nectar resources and decreased use of pesticides. However, the reduction in pesticide use was weakened if the backyard was used to grow fruits or vegetables. Other variables such as the size of the backyard affected gardening practices. This study reveals that participation in a nature-based citizen science program can prompt biodiversity-friendly behaviors, and highlights citizen science not only as a way to collect ecologically sound data but also as a direct conservation tool. Yet, future interdisciplinary research remains critical to overcome factors limiting firm adoption of probiodiversity behaviors.

Citizen science involving farmers as a means to document temporal trends in farmland biodiversity and relate them to agricultural practices

“…Improved fidelity can be achieved by developing more user‐friendly data entry interfaces, by promoting FBO in large professional networks, such as unions, or by providing more personalized feedback to participants, all of which is under way. We may also hope to see more changes in practices as a result of recent political will to reduce pesticides use or of awareness raising through participatory science (Deguines, Princé, Prévot, & Fontaine, 2020).…”

Biodiversity citizen science: Outcomes for the participating citizens

“…Through its practical, hands-on, and participatory nature, and by combining theory and practice, CS could be well suited to teaching a variety of scientific knowledge and skills and increasing self-efficacy for science. 2013, Lewandowski and Oberhauser (2017) and Deguines et al (2020).…”

“…through reducing consumption and waste and by influencing environmental policies) or directly (e.g. through installing bee hotels or planting native plants) to biodiversity conservation (Deguines et al., 2020; Richardson et al., 2020). CS projects focusing on biodiversity could have the potential to educate the public about biodiversity (Deguines et al., 2018; Peter et al., 2019) and to lead to changes in individual behaviour.…”

“…CS projects focusing on biodiversity could have the potential to educate the public about biodiversity (Deguines et al., 2018; Peter et al., 2019) and to lead to changes in individual behaviour. Such behaviour changes can be, for example, changed gardening practices such as decreased pesticide use and increased provision of nectar resources for insects, which can directly benefit biodiversity locally (Deguines et al., 2020), or changes in lifestyle such as reducing consumption, recycling more and picking up trash (Chase & Levine, 2017). CS in general is increasingly regarded as a promising format in environmental and sustainability education (Dickinson et al., 2012; Dunkley, 2017; Merenlender et al., 2016) as well as in science education (Wals et al., 2014).…”

“…Aivelo & Huovelin, 2020; Ballard et al., 2017; Brossard et al., 2005; Evans et al., 2005; Overdevest et al., 2004; Trumbull et al., 2000; see also Stepenuck & Green, 2015 and Schuttler et al., 2018 for reviews) or, more specifically, in a biodiversity‐related context (e.g. Branchini et al., 2015; Chase & Levine, 2017; Cosquer et al., 2012; Deguines et al., 2020; Jordan et al., 2011; Lewandowski & Oberhauser, 2017; Toomey & Domroese, 2013). A recent systematic review analysed peer‐reviewed scientific literature with an explicit focus on the individual participant outcomes of BDCS projects (Peter et al., 2019).…”