Boosting biodiversity monitoring using smartphone-driven, rapidly accumulating community-sourced data

eLife, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 13

Опубликована: Март 26, 2024

Comprehensive biodiversity data is crucial for ecosystem protection. The Biome mobile app, launched in Japan, efficiently gathers species observations from the public using identification algorithms and gamification elements. app has amassed >6 million since 2019. Nonetheless, community-sourced may exhibit spatial taxonomic biases. Species distribution models (SDMs) estimate while accommodating such bias. Here, we investigated quality of its impact on SDM performance. accuracy exceeds 95% birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, but seed plants, molluscs, fishes scored below 90%. Our SDMs 132 terrestrial plants animals across Japan revealed that incorporating into traditional survey improved accuracy. For endangered species, required >2000 records accurate (Boyce index ≥ 0.9), blending two sources reduced this to around 300. uniform coverage urban-natural gradients by data, compared biased towards natural areas, explain improvement. Combining multiple better estimates distributions, aiding protected area designation service assessment. Establishing a platform accumulating will contribute conserving monitoring ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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Identifying Ecological Corridors of the Bush Cricket Saga pedo in Fragmented Landscapes

Insects, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16(3), С. 279 - 279

Опубликована: Март 6, 2025

The bush cricket Saga pedo, listed as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN and included in Annex IV of EU Habitats Directive, is a parthenogenetic species highly sensitive to environmental changes, facing threats from forest expansion agricultural intensification. S. pedo prefers dry, open habitats with sparse vegetation, its pronounced thermo-heliophily makes it an indicator xerothermic habitats. In many areas Italy, including Northern Apennines (Piedmont), semi-natural grasslands are fragmented. Open have been reduced small, isolated patches surrounded forests due abandonment agropastoral activities. Consequently, occurrence habitat related quality availability suitable ecological connectivity. We developed spatial Bayesian framework identify for pedo. Using inverse probability occurrence, we derived corridors among patches. Our findings indicate that connectivity intensive cultivation but favored 10-50% woody tree cover, suggesting sustainable land management crucial supporting species. Given extinction risk faces, urge local administrations maintain improve guarantee network identified.

Язык: Английский

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Butterflies at porch lights: Exploring nocturnal light visitation in butterflies using community science data from iNaturalist

Insect Conservation and Diversity, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 8, 2025

Abstract Artificial light at night (ALAN) is altering natural conditions globally, with dramatic effects on insect behaviour. Flight‐to‐light behaviour one of the most noticeable and ecologically significant impacts. Research has focused nocturnal crepuscular taxa, but diurnal insects also exhibit flight‐to‐light Community science increasingly recognised as useful for biological research. iNaturalist an unstructured community project where observations are geo‐tagged photos organisms. We downloaded butterflies artificial sources in United States Canada. manually verified that were from recorded source information. examined visitation checked signals history traits predicting a species level. compiled 384 sources, representing 107 species, 74 genera all six butterfly families. Most came residential or sampling/observation schemes (e.g., moth sheets). Observation frequency lights varied across families: Lycaenidae observed Papilionidae least. Habitat preference may influence visitation: closed‐habitat more frequently than open‐habitat species. There no clear relationships between observation wingspan migratory A broad diversity been sources. Butterfly differ which they reported iNaturalist. Natural be species' vulnerability to ALAN.

Язык: Английский

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Distribution models using semi-structured community science data outperform unstructured-data models for a data-poor species, the Plain Tyrannulet

Ornithological Applications, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 123(4)

Опубликована: Июль 20, 2021

Abstract Modeling the distribution of a data-poor species is challenging due to reliance on unstructured data that often lacks relevant information sampling and produces coarse-resolution outputs varying accuracy. Data effort associated with higher-quality, semi-structured derived from some community science programs can be used produce more precise models distribution, albeit at cost using fewer data. Here, we model seasonal ranges Plain Tyrannulet (Inezia inornata), poorly known Austral–Neotropical migrant, compared predictive performance built full dataset species. By comparing these models, examined relatively unexplored tradeoff between quality quantity for modeling data-sparse We found outperformed unstructured-data in accuracy metrics (mean squared error, area under curve, kappa, sensitivity, specificity), despite only 30% available detection records. Moreover, were biologically accurate, indicating tyrannulet favors arboreal habitats dry hot lowlands during breeding season (Chaco region) proximity rivers tropical wet areas nonbreeding (Pantanal, Beni, southwest Amazonia). demonstrate detailed insights into distributional patterns gained even small quantities when are analyzed appropriately. The use promises wide applicability bird species, helping refine habitat use, needed effective assessments conservation status.

Язык: Английский

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Multiscale ecological niche modeling exhibits varying climate change impacts on habitat suitability of Madrean Pine-Oak trees

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11

Опубликована: Март 13, 2023

Anthropogenic climate change and increasing greenhouse gas emissions are expected to globally impact the biological function, community structure, spatial distribution of biodiversity. Many existing studies explore effect on biodiversity, generally at a single scale. This study explores potential effects habitat suitability seven tree species two distinct scales: Coronado National Forest (CNF), local management area, Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO), an ecoregional extent. Habitat was determined by extrapolating Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) based citizen-science occurrence records into future climatic conditions using projected 30-year normals for anthropogenic scenarios through end century. These ENMs, examined resolution 1 km 2 , constructed mean average ensemble three commonly used machine learning algorithms. The results show that is decrease all varying degrees. Results also climate-forcing scenario choice appears be far less important understanding changes in than scale modeling Additionally, we observed non-linear within SMO CNF dependent forest type, latitude, elevational gradient. paper concludes with discussion necessary steps verify estimated alters these under change. Most importantly, provides framework characterizing across scales.

Язык: Английский

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Quantifying How Natural History Traits Contribute to Bias in Community Science Engagement: A Case Study Using Orbweaver Spiders

Citizen Science Theory and Practice, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 9(1), С. 9 - 9

Опубликована: Апрель 24, 2024

Online citizen science platforms can be crucial to the scientific and regulatory community, but inherent biases based on organism traits influence likelihood of a species being reported accurately identified. We explored how orb weaving spiders impact data in iNaturalist, using invasive Jorō spider as case study. This is an outlier among orbweavers due its large size bright coloration, was most frequently species, with identifications research-grade observations. It also by less experienced users average, highlighting potential role gateway into community participation. bias towards large, flashy orbweaver suggests underrepresentation smaller, drab species. Given increasing importance open access digital biodiversity records, we encourage researchers engage more iNaturalist contribute their expertise improving quality wherever possible.

Язык: Английский

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Boosting biodiversity monitoring using smartphone-driven, rapidly accumulating community-sourced data

eLife, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 13

Опубликована: Июнь 20, 2024

Comprehensive biodiversity data is crucial for ecosystem protection. The Biome mobile app, launched in Japan, efficiently gathers species observations from the public using identification algorithms and gamification elements. app has amassed >6 million since 2019. Nonetheless, community-sourced may exhibit spatial taxonomic biases. Species distribution models (SDMs) estimate while accommodating such bias. Here, we investigated quality of its impact on SDM performance. accuracy exceeds 95% birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, but seed plants, molluscs, fishes scored below 90%. Our SDMs 132 terrestrial plants animals across Japan revealed that incorporating into traditional survey improved accuracy. For endangered species, required >2000 records accurate (Boyce index ≥ 0.9), blending two sources reduced this to around 300. uniform coverage urban-natural gradients by data, compared biased towards natural areas, explain improvement. Combining multiple better estimates distributions, aiding protected area designation service assessment. Establishing a platform accumulating will contribute conserving monitoring ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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En route to the North: modelling crested porcupine habitat suitability and dispersal flows across a highly anthropized area in northern Italy

Mammalian Biology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 101(6), С. 1067 - 1077

Опубликована: Июль 14, 2021

Abstract The crested porcupine ( Hystrix cristata ) underwent a rapid and widespread range expansion in Italy. Nowadays the species is moving towards northernmost regions of country its occurrence increasing highly anthropized Po Plain. Our objectives were to evaluate suitability Plain for species, as well identify dispersal corridors connecting northern Apennines areas Prealps. We modelled home-range scale habitat based on an ensemble modelling approach. Additionally, prediction carried out at finer was used parametrize landscape resistance, which we potential using factorial least-cost path estimated 27.4% study area. probability mainly driven by distribution extensive cultivations, woodlands shrublands, water courses annual mean temperature. Conversely, movements resulted sustained shrublands hindered simple arable lands rice paddies. connectivity showed that three main routes are likely connect currently unoccupied but suitable allowed us Prealps with highest be colonized near future provided important insights conservation strictly protected human-dominated landscape.

Язык: Английский

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Habitat prediction modelling for vulture conservation in Gangetic-Thar-Deccan region of India

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 193(8)

Опубликована: Июль 29, 2021

Язык: Английский

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An update on the distribution of the coypu, Myocastor coypus, in Asia and Africa through published literature, citizen-science and online platforms

Mammalian Biology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 102(1), С. 109 - 118

Опубликована: Янв. 7, 2022

Abstract The coypu, Myocastor coypus, has been introduced worldwide for fur farming and is widely recognized as one of the most invasive alien mammals world, affecting natural ecosystems, crops possibly human health. Here we present a comprehensive up-to-date review its distribution status in Asia Africa. Using multi-source approach, collected occurrences from published literature well online biodiversity platforms (e.g. GBIF, iNaturalist), video sharing platforms, local experts. Additionally, used an ensemble modelling approach to predict climatic suitability across Africa Asia. We updated map, including total 1506 spatially explicit records 1973 2021, covering 1 African 16 Asian countries. find evidence current populations Kenya five new countries since last (Carter Leonard, Wildl Soc Bull 30:162–175, 2002): Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, identify main clusters coypu occurrence Western (including Transcaucasia) East show that warm temperate Mediterranean areas on both continents are predicted be climatically suitable highlight not only possible spread, but also potential data gaps, i.e. with high low availability concrete information China, Southern Russia). emphasize importance citizen involvement urgency coypu-targeted studies data-poor regions obtain clear picture geographical better address management strategies.

Язык: Английский

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