Integrating citizen science and spatial ecology to inform management and conservation of the Italian seahorses

Ecological Informatics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 79, P. 102402 - 102402

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Citizen science and spatial ecology analyses can inform species distributions, habitat preferences, threats in elusive endangered such as seahorses. Through a dedicated citizen survey submitted to the Italian diving centers, we collected 115 presence records of two seahorses occurring along coasts: Hippocampus hippocampus H. guttulatus. From this dataset, used 85 seahorse valitaded identify ecological features these poorly known quantify effects human activities on their suitability through geographic information systems distribution modelling. Our results indicated continuous suitable area for both coasts, with single major gap central Adriatic Sea (Emilia-Romagna Marche regions). They co-occurred most range, particularly southern Tyrrhenian niches resulted be significantly similar, although not equivalent. The least-cost paths were concentrated Italy (Apulia, Calabria, Sicily), suggesting that more data is needed improve resolution available information, especially northern Italy. Human influenced 35% 41% guttulatus, respectively, while only 25% 30% potential are protected by Italy's existing conservation system, accordance global average In particular, represents critical where occurrence lower anthropic impact higher. Considering all regions, fishing effort main activity impacting species. These findings will support implementation efficient actions. We encourage application interaction facilitate assessment sustainable management organisms.

Language: Английский

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Top ten hazards to avoid when modeling species distributions: a didactic guide of assumptions, problems, and recommendations

Ecography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(4)

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Species distribution models, also known as ecological niche models or habitat suitability have become commonplace for addressing fundamental and applied biodiversity questions. Although the field has progressed rapidly regarding theory implementation, key assumptions are still frequently violated recommendations inadvertently overlooked. This leads to poor being published used in real‐world applications. In a structured, didactic treatment, we summarize what our view constitute ten most problematic issues, hazards, negatively affecting implementation of correlative approaches species modeling (specifically those that model by comparing environments species' occurrence records with background pseudoabsence sample). For each hazard, state relevant assumptions, detail problems arise when violating them, convey straightforward existing recommendations. We discuss five major outstanding questions active current research. hope this contribution will promote more rigorous these valuable stimulate further advancements.

Language: Английский

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Strengths and Challenges of Using iNaturalist in Plant Research with Focus on Data Quality

Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(1), P. 42 - 42

Published: Jan. 9, 2024

iNaturalist defines itself as an “online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature” and it is likely one the largest citizen science web portals in world, every year millions observations across thousands species are gathered collectively compiled by engaged community nearly 3 million users (November 2023). The strengths potentialities that explain success platform reviewed include, among others, its usability low technical requirements, immediacy, open-access, possibility interacting with users, artificial-intelligence-aided identification, versatility automatic incorporation validated records GBIF. has, however, features scientists need carefully consider when using for their research, making sure quality does not limit or hinder usefulness plant research. While these identified (e.g., lack representative photographs many relatively frequent identification errors), we provide some suggestions overcome them and, doing so, improve use add value

Language: Английский

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Identifying the identifiers: How iNaturalist facilitates collaborative, research-relevant data generation and why it matters for biodiversity science

BioScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 73(7), P. 533 - 541

Published: July 1, 2023

Abstract The iNaturalist platform generates millions of research-grade biodiversity records via a system in which users collectively reach consensus on taxonomic identification. In the present article, we examine how identifiers and their efforts, an understudied component platform, support data generation. Identification is keeping pace with rapid growth observations, assisted by small subset highly active who tend to be taxonomically specialized. Identifier experience primary determinant whether research grade, time it takes do so. Time grade has fallen rapidly growing identification effort use computer vision, identifications are generally stable. Most observations vetted experienced identifiers, although not free biases. We close providing suggestions for enhanced quality continuing steps enhance equitable credit trust across ecosystem observers, users.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying error in occurrence data: Comparing the data quality of iNaturalist and digitized herbarium specimen data in flowering plant families of the southeastern United States

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(12), P. e0295298 - e0295298

Published: Dec. 7, 2023

iNaturalist has the potential to be an extremely rich source of organismal occurrence data. Launched in 2008, it now contains over 150 million uploaded observations as May 2023. Based on findings a limited number past studies assessing taxonomic accuracy participatory science-driven sources data such iNaturalist, there been concern that some portion these records might misidentified certain groups. In this case study, we compare Research Grade with digitized herbarium specimens, both which are currently available for combined download from large aggregators and therefore primary large-scale biodiversity/biogeography studies. Our comparisons were confined regionally southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia). Occurrence ten plant families (Gentianaceae, Ericaceae, Melanthiaceae, Ulmaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Fagaceae, Cyperaceae, Juglandaceae, Apocynaceae) downloaded scored accuracy. We found comparable relatively low rate misidentification among specimens within study area. This finding illustrates utility high quality future research region, but also points key differences between types, giving each respective advantage, depending applications

Language: Английский

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Molecular Barcoding the Rare Plants of Tennessee

Castanea, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 89(2)

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Stacked machine learning models for predicting species richness and endemism for Mediterranean endemic plants in the Mareotis subsector in Egypt

Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 224(12), P. 1113 - 1126

Published: Nov. 14, 2023

Abstract An effective method for identifying species and evaluating the effects of changes caused by humans on specific is application distribution modelling (SDM) in desert environments. The fact that many dry lands deserts throughout world are situated inhospitable regions may be reason why such applications still infrequently used plant Egypt's Mediterranean region. Henceforth, current study aims to map richness weighted endemism endemics Mareotis subsector Egypt determine environmental variables influencing these taxa. We produced a range using Ensemble SDMs. Further, stacked machine learning ensemble models derived from Random Forest (RF) MaxEnt were applied 382 data estimate diversity two indices: (SR) index (WEI). best chosen based Kappa values Area Under Receiver Operator Curve (AUC). results showed had good predictive ability (Area (AUC) all SDMs was > 0.75), indicating high accuracy forecasting potential geographic endemics. main bioclimatic impacted distributions most wind speed, elevation minimum temperature coldest month. According our models, six hotspots determined present study. highest recorded Sallum, Matrouh wadis Omayed, followed Burg El-Arab, Ras El-Hekma Lake Mariut. Indeed, promising areas conservation planning. This can help shape policy mitigation efforts protect preserve coastal Egypt. These should focused makers stakeholders declared as protectorates largest number per area would protected focusing primarily with richness.

Language: Английский

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The Endangered Sardinian Grass Snake: Distribution Update, Bioclimatic Niche Modelling, Dorsal Pattern Characterisation, and Literature Review

Life, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(9), P. 1867 - 1867

Published: Sept. 4, 2023

The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an endangered endemic snake subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented geographic distribution. Information on its ecology detailed distribution are scarce may negatively impact conservation status. Therefore, literature review taxonomy, morphology, ecology, presented here. Moreover, field records from the authors, citizen science existing provide updated highlighting presence within 13 new 7 historic 10 × km cells. Bioclimatic niche modelling was then applied to explore patterns of habitat suitability phenotypic variation N. h. cetti. species found be positively correlated altitude precipitation values, whereas temperature showed negative correlation. Taken together, these outcomes explain snake’s presence, particularly in eastern Sardinia. In addition, analysis overlap competing viperine (N. maura) urodeles as possible overlooked trophic resources (Speleomantes spp. Euproctus platycephalus) overlaps 66% 79%, respectively. Finally, geographical or bioclimatic correlations did not observed this polymorphic taxon. Perspectives future research investigate cetti’s decline support effective measures discussed.

Language: Английский

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Reconstructing 120 years of climate change impacts on Joshua tree flowering

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Abstract Quantifying how global change impacts wild populations remains challenging, especially for species poorly represented by systematic datasets. Here, we infer climate effects on masting Joshua trees ( Yucca brevifolia and Y. jaegeriana ), keystone perennials of the Mojave Desert, from 15 years crowdsourced observations. We annotated phenophase in 10,212 geo‐referenced images iNaturalist crowdsourcing platform, used them to train machine learning models predicting flowering annual weather records. Hindcasting 1900 with a trained model successfully recovers events independent historical records reveals slightly rising frequency conditions supporting since early 20th Century. This reflects increased variation precipitation, which drives wet years—but also increasing temperatures drought stress, may have net negative recruitment. Our findings reaffirm value understanding biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Functional morphology of the praying mantis male genitalia (Insecta: Mantodea)

Arthropod Structure & Development, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 74, P. 101267 - 101267

Published: April 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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