Citizen science reveals meteorological determinants of frog calling at a continental scale

Thompson, Maureen M.; Rowley, Jodi J. L.; Poore, Alistair G. B.; Callaghan, Corey T.

doi:10.1111/ddi.13634

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 92 publications

(116 reference statements)

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“…In the present study, four citizen scientists found almost always 100% of the dogs detected by the most proficient investigator using GSV and this percentage decreased with fewer citizen scientists. The low detection of free-roaming dogs when fewer citizen scientists performed the search in the same community could be due to different causes, such as variability in performing the virtual tour, low visual acuity, differences in attention span, or lack of motivation to carry out a full search, this has been observed in other studies (41,42).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Estimation of free-roaming dog populations using Google Street View: A Validation Study

Porras,

Diaz,

De la Puente

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Free-roaming dogs play a central role in carrying zoonotic pathogens such as rabies virus,Echinococcus granulosus, and Leishmania spp. The control and elimination of these pathogens require quantitative knowledge of dog populations. Thus, estimating the dog population is fundamental for planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs. However, dog population estimation is time-consuming, requires many field personnel, may be inaccurate and unreliable, and is not without danger. Our objective was to validate a remote methodology for estimating the population of free-roaming dogs using Google Street View (GSV). Our target populations were free-roaming dogs from Arequipa, Peru, a rabies-affected area. Adopting a citizen science approach, and using social media, we recruited online citizen scientists from Arequipa and other regions and trained them to use GSV to identify and count free-roaming dogs in 26 urban and periurban communities. We used correlation metrics and negative binomial models to compare the counts of dogs identified in the GSV imagery with accurate counts of free-roaming owned dogs estimated via door-to-door surveys. In total, citizen scientists detected 868 dogs using GSV and using door-to-door surveys we estimated 909 free-roaming dogs across those 26 communities (Pearson’s coefficient was r=0.73, p < 0.001). Our model predicted that for each free-roaming dog detected with GSV in urban areas, there were 1.03 owned dogs with free access to the street (p < 0.001). The type of community, urban versus periurban, did not have an important effect on the model, but fitting the models in periurban communities was difficult because of the sparsity of high-resolution GSV images in those areas. Using GSV imagery for estimating dog populations is a promising tool in urban areas. Citizen scientists can help to generate information for disease control programs in places with insufficient resources.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Estimation of free-roaming dog populations using Google Street View: A Validation Study

Porras,

Diaz,

De la Puente

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Although our surveys were widespread, they are unlikely to include all frog species present. Time of year and weather, in particular, influence frog calling activity (Thompson et al 2022), with some species only detectable under specific conditions (e.g. Litoria brevipalmata are rarely detected except after recent heavy rainfall).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fighting the flames: site-specific effects determine species richness of Australian frogs after fire

Mitchell,

Gorta,

Callaghan

et al. 2023

Wildlife Res.

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Context Fire has played an integral role in regulating patterns of biodiversity for millions of years. However, anthropogenic disturbance and climate change has altered fire activity – driving increases in both fire severity and scale. The effect fire now has on the persistence of biodiversity is poorly known, especially for frogs. Studies examining frog responses to fire usually have small sample sizes, focus upon small geographic areas and are based on low-severity fires, which can mean results are not applicable to high-severity fires, such as those expected under future climate change. Aims Our aims were to examine (1) persistence of frog species, measured by species richness, up to 18 months post-fire, and (2) the effects of varying fire severity on frog species richness and recovery, where we expected higher fire severity to lead to lower species richness after fire. Methods Using large-scale citizen science data from the Australian Museum’s FrogID project, coupled with remotely sensed fire data, we present a spatially and taxonomically broad analysis examining post-fire recovery responses for Australian frog species after the 2019/2020 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires. Key results We reveal no overall decrease in the species richness of Australian frogs both in the short- and long-term post-fire. Furthermore, species richness did not decline with increasing fire severity. Instead, species richness and its response to fire was highly site-specific. Conclusions We provide evidence that widespread and common Australian frog species have persisted post-fire in most sites and concluded that this is potentially due to their ability to shelter from fire adequately and/or La Niña-driven high rainfall offering conditions conducive to breeding activity and persistence. Implications We show how citizen science provides critical data for conservation, especially in response to unprecedented disturbance events, such as the 2019/2020 megafires. Our research also highlights the need for ongoing and targeted scientific monitoring, especially for less common or threatened species.

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“…Citizen science related to amphibian surveys is actively being conducted. Amphibians' distribution in specific regions is assessed through citizen science programs, and initiatives are undertaken to educate the public about the significance of amphibians [92][93][94]. Standardized procedures for amphibian conservation can be developed by holistically integrating these diverse methods.…”

Section: Methods For Studying Amphibians and Their Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current State of Conservation Physiology for Amphibians: Major Research Topics and Physiological Parameters

Park,

2023

Animals

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Analysis of physiological responses can be used to assess population health, identify threat factors, and understand mechanisms of stress. In addition to this, conservation physiologists have sought to establish potential management strategies for environmental change and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation efforts. From past to present, the field of conservation physiology is developing in an increasingly broader context. In this review, we aim to categorize the topics covered in conservation physiology research on amphibians and present the measured physiological parameters to provide directions for future research on conservation physiology. Physiological responses of amphibians to environmental stressors are the most studied topic, but conservation physiological studies on metamorphosis, habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, and conservation methods are relatively lacking. A number of physiological indices have been extracted to study amphibian conservation physiology, and the indices have varying strengths of correlation with each subject. Future research directions are suggested to develop a comprehensive monitoring method for amphibians, identify interactions among various stressors, establish physiological mechanisms for environmental factors, and quantify the effects of conservation activities on amphibian physiology.

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Citizen science reveals meteorological determinants of frog calling at a continental scale

Cited by 4 publications

References 92 publications

Estimation of free-roaming dog populations using Google Street View: A Validation Study

Estimation of free-roaming dog populations using Google Street View: A Validation Study

Fighting the flames: site-specific effects determine species richness of Australian frogs after fire

Current State of Conservation Physiology for Amphibians: Major Research Topics and Physiological Parameters

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