Experimental evidence that behavioral nudges in citizen science projects can improve biodiversity data

Callaghan, Corey T.; Thompson, Maureen M.; Woods, Adam; Poore, Alistair G. B.; Bowler, Diana E.; Samonte, Fabrice; Rowley, Jodi J. L.; Roslan, Nadiah; Kingsford, Richard T.; Cornwell, William K.; Major, Richard E.

doi:10.1093/biosci/biad012

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results show that adaptive sampling improved the performance of SDMs, even at low levels of uptake. This supports the proposition that optimising data collection by citizen scientists could be a powerful mechanism to maximise the potential of these datasets (Callaghan et al, 2023;Kays et al, 2021;Xue et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…For example, many schemes try to maintain the same sampling design because they are interested in trends through time, as well as increasing spatial coverage of their data. We, and others, have shown that adaptive sampling can work for improving estimates of species' distributions (Callaghan et al, 2023;Camp et al, 2020;Kays et al, 2021;Shanahan et al, 2021) and trend detection Lindenmayer & Likens, 2009). However, further work needs to consider trade-offs between the intended and unintended outcomes of adaptive designs.…”

Section: Future Research Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The engagement of citizen science recorders in adaptive sampling schemes is likely to be an important determinant of its effectiveness (Callaghan et al, 2023) and will impact spatial coverage and representativeness (Pocock et al, 2023). Fortunately, studies have found that recorder motivations often align with the goal of sampling schemes (Thompson et al, 2023), suggesting that citizen scientist-based adaptive sampling could be a very powerful tool (Callaghan et al, 2023;Thompson et al, 2023).…”

Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Adaptive sampling by citizen scientists improves species distribution model performance: A simulation study

Mondain‐Monval,

Pocock,

Rolph

et al. 2024

Methods Ecol Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Volunteer recorders generate large amounts of biodiversity data through citizen science which is used in conservation planning and policy decision‐making. Unstructured sampling, where the volunteer can record what they want, where they want, leads to spatial unevenness in these data. While there are many statistical techniques to account for the resulting biases, it may be possible to improve datasets by directing a subset of recorders to sample in the most informative locations, known as adaptive sampling. We investigated the potential for adaptive sampling to improve the performance of species distribution models built on citizen science data using simulated ecological communities. We simulated ecological assemblages across Great Britain based on current butterfly data and modelled the distributions of each species. We then simulated the sampling of new data based on five adaptive sampling methods (one empirical method based simply on gap‐filling, and four model‐based methods using various measures from the model outputs) and one non‐adaptive method (a method in which recording continued in the current pattern), and re‐ran the species distribution models. In these, we also varied the rate of recording effort that was distributed according to adaptive sampling. The model predictions using the original and adaptively sampled data were compared to true species distributions to evaluate the performance of each method. We found that all adaptive sampling approaches improved model performance, with greatest improvement for model‐based approaches compared to the empirical sampling method (i.e. simple gap‐filling). All four model‐based adaptive sampling approaches provided similar benefits for model outputs. Improvements in model performance were greatest when the amount of adaptive sampling changed from no uptake to 1% uptake, indicating that only a small amount of change in recorder behaviour is needed to improve model performance. Directing volunteer recorders to places where records are most needed, based on information from model outputs, can improve species distribution models built on citizen science data, even with minimal uptake of suggested locations. Our results therefore suggest that adaptive sampling by recorders could be beneficial for real‐world citizen science datasets.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Future Research Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Adaptive sampling by citizen scientists improves species distribution model performance: A simulation study

Mondain‐Monval,

Pocock,

Rolph

et al. 2024

Methods Ecol Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Crinia sloanei in the Albury area of NSW by the Sloane’s Champions: Rowley et al . 2019) and communicating spatial and temporal priorities to participants could be used to further optimise data collection (Callaghan et al . 2023; Thompson et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking the spread of the eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) in Australia using citizen science

Rowley

Callaghan

2023

Aust. J. Zool.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An increasing number of species are establishing populations outside of their native ranges, often with negative ecological and economic impacts. The detection and surveillance of invasive species presents a huge logistical challenge, given the large spatial regions in which new populations can appear. However, data collected through citizen science projects are increasingly recognised as a valuable source for detection and monitoring of invasive species. We use data from a national citizen science project, FrogID, to quantify the spread of the eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) outside its historical native range in Australia. Of 48 012 records of L. fallax in the FrogID database, 485 were located far outside the historical native range of the species. L. fallax has established geographically large populations hundreds of kilometres away from its native range, and these appear to be spreading in extent over time. These populations have resulted in novel species co-occurrences, with L. fallax now co-occurring with at least two frog species not present in their native range. Although the impacts of the invasive populations of L. fallax remain unknown, our work highlights the value in leveraging citizen science projects to detect and monitor native species that can become invasive far outside their historical range.

show abstract

“…Technology can also be used to directly influence recorders. Existing recorders can be informed where best to record based on current data [ 103 ] (and see also the DECIDE tool in [ 104 ] ). There has also been exploration of the potential to implement chatbots in citizen science projects or on social media.…”

Section: Technology As An Enabler—opening Up New Research Avenuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging technologies in citizen science and potential for insect monitoring

Sheard,

Adriaens,

Bowler

et al. 2024

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Emerging technologies are increasingly employed in environmental citizen science projects. This integration offers benefits and opportunities for scientists and participants alike. Citizen science can support large-scale, long-term monitoring of species occurrences, behaviour and interactions. At the same time, technologies can foster participant engagement, regardless of pre-existing taxonomic expertise or experience, and permit new types of data to be collected. Yet, technologies may also create challenges by potentially increasing financial costs, necessitating technological expertise or demanding training of participants. Technology could also reduce people's direct involvement and engagement with nature. In this perspective, we discuss how current technologies have spurred an increase in citizen science projects and how the implementation of emerging technologies in citizen science may enhance scientific impact and public engagement. We show how technology can act as (i) a facilitator of current citizen science and monitoring efforts, (ii) an enabler of new research opportunities, and (iii) a transformer of science, policy and public participation, but could also become (iv) an inhibitor of participation, equity and scientific rigour. Technology is developing fast and promises to provide many exciting opportunities for citizen science and insect monitoring, but while we seize these opportunities, we must remain vigilant against potential risks. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring’.

show abstract

Experimental evidence that behavioral nudges in citizen science projects can improve biodiversity data

Cited by 8 publications

References 54 publications

Adaptive sampling by citizen scientists improves species distribution model performance: A simulation study

Adaptive sampling by citizen scientists improves species distribution model performance: A simulation study

Tracking the spread of the eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) in Australia using citizen science

Emerging technologies in citizen science and potential for insect monitoring

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About