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

Boyd Robin J., Powney Gary D., Burns Fiona, Danet Alain, Duchenne François, Grainger Matthew J., Jarvis Susan G., Martin Gabrielle, Nilsen Erlend B., Porcher Emmanuelle, Stewart Gavin B., Wilson Oliver J., Pescott Oliver L. (2022) ROBITT: A tool for assessing the risk-of-bias in studies of temporal trends in ecology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd,
Browning Ella, Freeman Robin, Boughey Katherine L., Isaac Nick J. B., Jones Kate E. (2022) Accounting for spatial autocorrelation and environment are important to derive robust bat population trends from citizen science data. ,
Gardiner Mary M., Roy Helen E. (2022) The Role of Community Science in Entomology. ,
Boyd Rob, Isaac Nick, Cooke Rob, Mancini Francesca, August Tom, Powney Gary, Logie Mark, Roy D.B. (2021) Practical Considerations for Implementing Species Distribution Essential Biodiversity Variables. ,
Blockeel T.L., Hodgetts N.G., Pilkington S.L., Pescott O.L. (2021) A census catalogue of British and Irish bryophytes 2021. British Bryological Society, Peterborough
Botham Marc S., Howell Katherine A., Kerans Julie, Pescott Oliver L., Roy Helen E., Barnett-Warden Emma L., Scott Ian, Szczerba Patryk, Vince John, Boydell Marlies, Cartwright Sam J., Hunt Tom, Peyton Jodey M. (2021) Biodiversity toolkit for housing providers. Field Studies Council Publications, Telford
Coomber Frazer G., Smith Bethany R., August Tom A., Harrower Colin A., Powney Gary D., Mathews Fiona (2021) Using biological records to infer long-term occupancy trends of mammals in the UK. ,
Fox R., Dennis E.B., Harrower C.A., Blumgart D., Bell J.R., Cook P., Davis A.M., Evans-Hill L.J., Haynes F., Hill D., Isaac N.J.B., Parsons M.S., Pocock M.J.O., Prescott T., Randle Z., Shortall C.R., Tordoff G.M., Tuson D., Bourn N.A.D. (2021) The state of Britain's larger moths 2021. Butterfly Conservation, Rothamsted Research and UK Centre for Ecology \& Hydrology, Wareham
Greenop Arran, Woodcock Ben A., Outhwaite Charlotte L., Carvell Claire, Pywell Richard F., Mancini Francesca, Edwards François K., Johnson Andrew C., Isaac Nick J.B. (2021) Patterns of invertebrate functional diversity highlight the vulnerability of ecosystem services over a 45-year period. ,
Leaney Bob, Parmenter Jo, Pescott Oli (2021) Eremopoa persica (Trin.) Roshev. (Persian meadow-grass) re-found in Britain after a 60-year absence. Botanical Society of Britain \& Ireland,