Citizen Science

Current Activity

 

Citizen science can broadly be defined as the involvement of volunteers in science.  BRC and the volunteer schemes have worked together to gather and analyse wildlife observations for 50 years providing evidence to underpin science, policy and practical conservation. During 2007, volunteer observers for biodiversity surveillance in the UK were estimated to contribute time in-kind worth more than £20 million. Combined with experience from other CEH-led citizen science environmental monitoring, CEH is becoming established as a leader in citizen science.

 

 

Key Outputs

 

A UK-Environmental Observation Framework project critically reviewed citizen science practice and highlighted lessons learnt, the requirements of data users, and also reviewed the potential benefits of new technologies. CEH acknowledged the importance of sharing good practice and produced a guide on the practical implementation of the review. More recently the “Choosing and Using Citizen Science” guide has been developed by CEH in collaboration with SEPA.

Conker tree science

Photo of scientist and children

Photo: Susie Pocock.

The Conker Tree Science project engaged over 8,000 people. People were invited to report the occurrence of the horse chestnut leafminer (Cameraria ohridella). The project enhanced understanding of the invasion dynamics of this moth, the associated parasitoids and the value of citizen science.

Guides to citizen science

Picture of the guides to citizen science

Picture: CEH.

‘Choosing and using citizen science’ and ‘Guide to citizen science’ are two documents produced from projects reviewing the breadth and utility of citizen science for environmental research and monitoring. Both recognize the value of citizen science as an approach for undertaking environmental studies and provide a critical framework for developing such initiatives.

 

Smartphone apps

Photo of mobile phone running ladybird app

Photo: Heather Lowther, CEH.

The development of a smartphone apps for recording ladybirds has enabled the UK Ladybird Survey to attract new recorders. More than 9,000 records have been submitted in its first year. The newly released iRecord Butterflies app received more than 4,000 records within a month of being available. Verification and validation methods within iRecord provide quality assurance and onwards flow of data.

 

Future Challenges

 

Data quality is often a major challenge for citizen science approaches.  To ensure the usefulness of data collected by volunteers, a variety of quality assurance methods are used. Automated checks, developed by schemes and societies, when coupled with expert verification play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy of biological records. iRecord provides an example of this approach.  Development of novel methods will undoubtedly encourage further interest in citizen science and help to recruit and train new generations of recorders.

 

 

 

References

RN378 Burns F., Eaton M. A., Hayhow D. B., Outhwaite C. L., Fulaij Al, August T.A., Boughey K. L., Brereton T., Brown A., Bullock D. J., Gent T., Haysom K. A., Isaac Nick J. B., Johns D. G., Macadam C. R., Mathews F., Noble D. G., Powney Gary D., Sims D. W., Smart S. M., Stroh P., Walker K. J., Webb J. R., Webb T. J., Gregory R. D. (2018) An assessment of the state of nature in the United Kingdom: A review of findings, methods and impact. ,
RN386 Mason Suzanna C., Hill Jane K., Thomas Chris D., Powney Gary D., Fox Richard, Brereton Tom, Oliver T. H. (2018) Population variability in species can be deduced from opportunistic citizen science records: a case study using British butterflies. ,
RN394 Matechou Eleni, Freeman Stephen N, Comont Richard (2018) Caste-Specific Demography and Phenology in Bumblebees: Modelling BeeWalk Data. ,
RN405 Seebens Hanno, Blackburn Tim M., Dyer Ellie E., Genovesi Piero, Hulme Philip E., Jeschke Jonathan M., Pagad Shyama, Pyšek Petr, van Kleunen Mark, Winter Marten, Ansong Michael, Arianoutsou Margarita, Bacher Sven, Blasius Bernd, Brockerhoff Eckehard G., Brundu Giuseppe, Capinha César, Causton Charlotte E., Celesti-Grapow Laura, Dawson Wayne, Dullinger Stefan, Economo Evan P., Fuentes Nicol, Guénard Benoit, Jäger Heinke, Kartesz John, Kenis Marc, Kühn Ingolf, Lenzner Bernd, Liebhold Andrew M., Mosena Alexander, Moser Dietmar, Nentwig Wolfgang, Nishino Misako, Pearman David, Pergl Jan, Rabitsch Wolfgang, Rojas-Sandoval Julissa, Roques Alain, Rorke Steph L., Rossinelli Silvia, Roy Helen E., Scalera Riccardo, Schindler Stefan, Štajerová Kateřina, Tokarska-Guzik Barbara, Walker Kevin, Ward Darren F., Yamanaka Takehiko, Essl Franz (2018) Global rise in emerging alien species results from increased accessibility of new source pools. ,
687 Long O. M., Warren R., Price J., Brereton Tom M., Botham M. S., Franco A. M. A. (2017) Sensitivity of UK butterflies to local climatic extremes: which life stages are most at risk?. ,
690 Pergl Jan, Pysek P., Bacher S., Essl Franz, Genovesi Piero, Harrower Colin A, Hulme Philip E, Jeschke Jonathan M, Kenis Marc, Kuhn I., Perglova I., Rabitsch W., Roques A., Roy D. B., Roy Helen E., Vilà Montserrat, Winter M., Nentwig Wolfgang (2017) Troubling travellers: are ecologically harmful alien species associated with particular introduction pathways?. ,
731 Pearce-Higgins James W., Beale Colin M., Oliver Tom H., August T.A., Carroll Matthew, Massimino Dario, Ockendon Nancy, Savage Joanna, Wheatley Christopher J., Ausden Malcolm A., Bradbury Richard B., Duffield Simon J., Macgregor Nicholas A., McClean Colin J., Morecroft Michael D., Thomas Chris D., Watts Olly, Beckmann B, Fox Richard, Roy Helen E., Sutton Peter G., Walker Kevin J., Crick Humphrey Q.P. (2017) A national-scale assessment of climate change impacts on species: Assessing the balance of risks and opportunities for multiple taxa. ,
733 Sutton Peter G., Beckmann B, Nelson Brian (2017) The current status of Orthopteroid insects in Britain and Ireland. ,
RN275 Dennis Emily B, Morgan Byron JT, Brereton Tom M, Roy D. B., Fox Richard (2017) Using citizen science butterfly counts to predict species population trends. ,
RN287 Pergl Jan, Pyšek Petr, Bacher Sven, Essl Franz, Genovesi Piero, Harrower Colin A, Hulme Philip E, Jeschke Jonathan M, Kenis Marc, Kühn Ingolf (2017) Troubling travellers: are ecologically harmful alien species associated with particular introduction pathways?. ,