A framework for contextualizing social‐ecological biases in contributory science data

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(2), P. 377 - 390

Published: March 3, 2024

Abstract Contributory science—including citizen and community science—allows scientists to leverage participant‐generated data while providing an opportunity for engaging with local members. Data yielded by biodiversity platforms allow professional answer ecological evolutionary questions across both geographic temporal scales, which is incredibly valuable conservation efforts. The reported contributory platforms, such as eBird iNaturalist, can be driven social variables, leading biased data. Though empirical work has highlighted the biases in data, little articulated how arise societal consequences of these biases. We present a conceptual framework illustrating variables create bias science In this framework, we four filters— participation , detectability sampling preference —that ultimately shape type location examine from largest platforms—eBird iNaturalist—in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, discuss potential Lastly, conclude several recommendations researchers institutions move towards more inclusive field. With recommendations, provide opportunities ameliorate practice equitable conservation. Read free Plain Language Summary article on Journal blog.

Language: Английский

---

Understanding the sentiment associated with cultural ecosystem services using images and text from social media

Ecosystem Services, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 65, P. 101581 - 101581

Published: Dec. 12, 2023

Social media is increasingly being employed to develop Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) indicators. The image-sharing platform Flickr has been one of the most popular sources data. Most large-scale studies, however, tend only use number images as a proxy for CES due challenges associated with processing large amounts this data but does not fully represent benefit generated by ecosystems in terms positive experiences expressed users text. To address gap, we apply several Computer Vision (CV) and natural language (NLP) models link estimates Great Britain based on content sentiment measures using accompanying text, compare our results national, geo-referenced survey recreational well-being England. We find that aesthetic quality landscape presence particular wildlife more sentiment. However, also different physical settings correlate sometimes strongly related social activities than many factors. Still, significant associations between these measures, Our findings illustrate integrating analysis measurement can capture some benefits media. additional detail provided novel techniques help meaningful indicators land management.

Language: Английский

---

Crowdsourced Indicators of Flora and Fauna Species: Comparisons Between iNaturalist Records and Field Observations

Land, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(1), P. 169 - 169

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Cultural ecosystem services provide intangible benefits such as recreation and aesthetic enjoyment but are difficult to quantify compared provisioning or regulating services. Recent technologies offer alternative indicators, social media data, identify popular locations their features. This study demonstrates how large volumes of citizen science data can be analyzed reveal patterns human interactions with nature through unconventional, scalable methods. By applying spatial statistical methods, from the platform iNaturalist ground-truth visitation data. To minimize bias, records grouped by taxonomic information applied metropolitan area Seoul, South Korea (2005–2022). The included in were investigated using a standard global biodiversity database. results show effectively public preferences for scenic locations, offering novel approach mapping cultural when traditional unavailable. method highlights potential large-scale citizen-generated conservation, urban planning, policy development. However, challenges like bias user-generated content, uneven coverage, over- under-representation remain. Addressing these issues integrating additional metadata—such time visit, demographics, seasonal trends—could deeper insights into human–nature interactions. Overall, proposed opens up new possibilities non-traditional sources assess map services, providing valuable conservation efforts, environmental

Language: Английский

---

Assessing recreationists’ preferences of the landscape and species using crowdsourced images and machine learning

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 257, P. 105315 - 105315

Published: Feb. 9, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Powerful flowers: Public perception of grassland aesthetics is strongly related to management and biodiversity

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

Abstract Temperate grasslands provide various cultural ecosystem services that are appreciated in diverse ways. Capturing these appreciations requires different methodological approaches, such as questionnaire surveys and social media analyses. In this study, we combined the potential of both approaches to capture two aspects what people appreciate agricultural grasslands, i.e., aesthetic quality differently managed plant communities objects frequently found grassland-based images. The complementary showed preferred colourful flower- species-rich over grass-dominated fertilised swards. Social analysis highlighted mainly photographed flowers, followed by livestock and/or wildlife, but depended also on platform used. conclusion, people’s appreciation was clearly related intensity grassland management level biodiversity, with a preference for extensively flowers wildlife. Yet, significant differences between (i) conservationists professionals communities, (ii) common visitors naturalists their content. Our results suggest extensive ecological restoration can be used increase enhancing richness forbs, other attractive Thus, targeted is necessary maintain enhance attractiveness landscapes subsequently health benefits associated human-nature contacts.

Language: Английский

---

Sacred Heritage and Environmental Sustainability: Carbon and Biodiversity Insights from Taiwan’s Fo Guang Shan Monastery and Buddha Museum

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 6, 2025

Religious landscapes provide underexplored contributions to carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. This study uses remote sensing spatial analysis evaluate the storage potential ecological resilience of Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Between 2016 2022, increased by 17.8%, with tree canopy contributing over 1,300 tons carbon. Despite a recent decline rate, habitat connectivity remains high, while indices indicate growing species richness evenness. Economic valuation estimates site’s at USD 16–19 million, aligned Taiwan’s 2024 Carbon Fee Policy. Comparative landscape metrics suggest that temple-managed green spaces mitigate fragmentation more effectively than passive conservation models. These findings support integration faith-driven sacred into offset programs nature-based climate solutions. The highlights policy relevance religious sites as multifunctional heritage sustainability national strategies.

Language: Английский

---

Visitor experience with biodiversity in tropical rainforests: A global-scale assessment using social media data

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 293, P. 110590 - 110590

Published: April 11, 2024

Tourism in tropical rainforests can assist their conservation by providing visitors with opportunities to interact biodiversity and raising awareness toward rainforest conservation. However, it has been argued that most visiting prefer recreational activities rather than observing biodiversity, except for charismatic mammals birds. As there is no systematic global-scale study on visitor experiences rainforests, we assessed 25,000 Flickr photographs of 25 rainforest-protected areas worldwide. Globally, found (plants, animals, fungi) were shared liked more frequently those human activities. Among the photographs, as many birds, arthropods, plants mammals. Our results indicated interested non-charismatic they encountered. Thus, information will enrich raise We also several limitations using social media data assessing including user bias, limited geotagged data, a lack sufficient validation.

Language: Английский

---

Characterizing nature-based recreation preferences in a Mediterranean small island environment using crowdsourced data

Ecosystems and People, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: Nov. 13, 2023

Nature-based recreation is a key ecosystem service that contributes to positive physical and mental welfare but, at the same time, nature-based recreational activities can increase human pressure impacts on natural areas biodiversity. Understanding people's preference for visiting settings challenging due data methodological limitations. Social media be used map recreation. However, variation in popularity of platforms limitations accessibility are highlighting importance exploring using different sources. We analyzed complementary crowdsourced an automated content analysis refined by manual identification assess services across Maltese archipelago. A images uploaded Flickr between 2015 2021 was performed Google Vision machine learning algorithm identify interactions nature visitation patterns were modeled based landscape characteristics, environmental variables socio-economic parameters. compared complemented with publicly available geolocated from iNaturalist platform. Significant difference found spatial distribution data. Generalized linear models identified coastal areas, protected habitats via road network as significant predictors visits. Localities higher percentage people receiving old age unemployment benefits also positively correlated users' Finally, we discussed how low resource methodology developed here preferences which should prioritized ecological restoration efforts.

Language: Английский

---

Social Media as a Lens for Citizen Science: Investigating Visitor Contributions in a Forest Recreational Area

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(13), P. 5804 - 5804

Published: July 8, 2024

The primary challenge in collecting biodiversity information using citizen science is to encourage a diverse range of people participate. This crucial fostering Nature Positive society. Social media approaches have the potential engage not only nature lovers but also wider citizens, including those indifferent nature. However, current understanding traits individuals who contribute widely prevalent social platforms limited and insufficient. study focuses on forest recreational area photos they share popular platform; it sheds light untapped as source data contributor sources. We developed taxonomy 22 classifications for 1066 photographs that illustrate human–ecosystem interactions identified relationship between these subjects history activities 136 photo contributors. Our findings indicate different behavioral styles exist among types visitors regarding their posting behavior associated recreation types. can future contributions recruitment scientists collection at small spatial scales.

Language: Английский

---