Butterfly citizen scientists in the United States increase their engagement in conservation

Lewandowski, Eva; Oberhauser, Karen S.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.07.029

Cited by 95 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The degree to which the public are informed about the ecological and/or economic value of biodiversity has a strong influence on their attitude and engagement with the environment (Novacek, 2008;Lewandowski & Oberhauser, 2017;Loyau & Schmeller, 2017). This is especially concerning at a time when human-nature interactions are rapidly declining -the 'extinction of experience' (Soga & Gaston, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why we love bees and hate wasps

Sumner

Law

Cini

2018

Ecological Entomology

111

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1. Bees and wasps are important facets of natural capital to be valued by human societies: bees pollinate wild flowers and agricultural crops; wasps regulate arthropod populations, including insect vectors of human diseases and crop pests. Despite the importance of both taxa, bees are universally loved whilst wasps are universally despised. This study explores some of the reasons behind this.2. Here data are presented from almost 750 members of the public on their perceptions of insects, including bees and wasps. In addition, an analysis is conducted of researcher effort on bees and wasps, using publication numbers of peer-reviewed papers over the last 37 years, and unpublished conference proceedings at specialist international conferences over the last 16 years.3. The results show that wasps are indeed universally disliked by the public and moreover are unpopular research taxa among researchers. Words used to describe wasps are emotive and negative, whilst those describing bees are functional and positive. A low level of interest in nature and a lack of knowledge (among the public) and research effort (among scientists) regarding the ecosystem services of wasps are likely to be at the root of the negative perception. Whilst the ecosystem services of bees are well understood by the public, those provided by wasps are poorly understood.4. Positive action to promote research on wasps and to overhaul the public image of wasps via outreach and the media could help to reset the imbalance in appreciation of two of the world's most ecologically important taxa. Cultural shifts to a more positive attitude towards wasps could be pivotal in working with these facets of natural capital, rather than against them.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why we love bees and hate wasps

Sumner

Law

Cini

2018

Ecological Entomology

111

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“…Volunteers can bring many improvements to research, and they have the potential to benefit as well. Participation in citizen science has the potential to increase volunteers' knowledge of the field of study, such as ecology and conservation (e.g., Brossard et al 2005;Jordan et al 2011); to increase science literacy (Crall et al 2013) and engagement in conservation actions (Lewandowski and Oberhauser 2017); and to promote positive attitudes toward nature (Evans et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Perceptions of Citizen Science

Lewandowski

Caldwell

Elmquist

et al. 2017

CSTP

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Members of the public are the foundation and the backbone of citizen science, but much remains unknown about how the public views citizen science. We conducted a survey of public familiarity with, and perceptions of, citizen science. We found that less than half of respondents were familiar with the term "citizen science," but over 70% were familiar with the concept by another name. Most respondents were more confident in hypothetical citizen science findings when professional scientists were involved to some degree, compared to situations in which only citizen scientists were involved. Confidence in citizen science findings tended to increase with age, despite the fact that self-confidence in respondents' own abilities to perform citizen science tasks decreased with age. Fewer than half of respondents (31-47%), and more men than women, were confident in their own ability to perform science process tasks, with the exception of collecting data (53% confident), and only slightly more predicted they would enjoy such activities. Based on our findings, we suggest ways in which leaders of citizen science projects can better promote recruitment, retention, and engagement on the part of volunteers and the public as a whole.

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“…Citizen science also can lead to participant advocacy in promoting environmental action (Cornwell and Campbell 2012) that may foster greater accountability and industrial compliance with regulatory agencies (Overdevest and Mayer 2008). With regard to outcomes for conservation of natural resources, findings have been equivocal: some studies reported minimal or no changes in conservation behaviors (Jordan et al 2011) while others suggested that citizen scientists may be more likely than other individuals to undertake conservation actions (Domroese and Johnson 2017;Lewandowski and Oberhauser 2017;Cooper et al 2015;Toomey and Domroese 2013;Tulloch et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Effects of citizen science on conservation behavior, in particular, remain hazy (Lewandowski and Oberhauser 2017;Toomey and Domroese 2013). For example, Larson et al (2015) described different domains of pro-environmental behavior including conservation lifestyle behaviors (consumer actions such as recycling and water conservation), social environmentalism (social interactions leading to action), environmental citizenship (political activism and policy support), and land stewardship (actions that improve the ecological features of a particular place).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting the Views and Actions of Data Collectors and Data Consumers in a Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Project: Implications for Project Design and Management

Cooper

Larson

Holland

et al. 2017

CSTP

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Data collection or generation is the primary way that the majority of volunteers advance the scientific goals of citizen science projects, but other activities such as data consumption also may influence learning, civic, and conservation outcomes. Project designers and managers balance goals for multiple outcomes and thus need to consider the influence of all project-related activities on outcomes. In a study of the kayak-based Citizen's Water Quality Testing (CWQT) Program in New York City, we compared the characteristics, perceptions, and behaviors of those collecting and using CWQT data (data collectors) and those solely using the data (data consumers). Data collectors (n = 40) and consumers (n = 24) were similar in gender and political orientation, but collectors were younger, devoted more time to the project, and experienced far more face-to-face interactions related to the project. Data collectors and consumers had similar motivations for participation, except that collectors were more likely motivated by recognition for their efforts. Lack of free time was the largest barrier to participation for both types of participants, and a significantly greater barrier for consumers. Data collectors and consumers trusted volunteer-collected data more than government-collected data. Collectors and consumers both recognized multiple scientific, environmental, and social benefits associated with the project, and both were equally likely to use volunteer-collected data for a variety of purposes, such as informing decisions about conservation and recreation. Importantly, both groups were equally likely to undertake a suite of conservation behaviors. We synthesize and expand current conceptual frameworks of citizen science participation and outcomes, highlighting the need for further study to understand mechanisms and linkages between the varied activities of citizen science projects and broader social and ecological impacts. To achieve conservation goals, project managers should broaden the definition of participant to include those carrying out activities other than data collection (such as data use) and explicitly manage for potential benefits derived by consumers of citizen science.Keywords: water quality monitoring; community-based research; Pareto principle; NYC kayakers; Enterococci bacteria; conservation; citizen science Introduction Citizen science is newly recognized as a distinct discipline with a rapidly emerging theoretical base Bonney et al. 2014;Jordan et al. 2015;Cooper 2016).New studies provide insights on the structure, processes, function, and outcomes of citizen science. The primary products of citizen science activities are typically scientific publications or datasets, but additional outcomes are To better understand these outcomes and how they might be derived, it is important to explore the many different ways that citizen scientists engage with research projects. Typically they take on the role of volunteer data collectors, but often they engage by using the data as well. In most projects, contri...

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Butterfly citizen scientists in the United States increase their engagement in conservation

Cited by 95 publications

References 25 publications

Why we love bees and hate wasps

Why we love bees and hate wasps

Public Perceptions of Citizen Science

Contrasting the Views and Actions of Data Collectors and Data Consumers in a Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Project: Implications for Project Design and Management

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