Boosting Biodiversity Monitoring with Citizen Data App in Japan

Główne pojęcia

Efficient citizen data collection enhances biodiversity monitoring and species distribution modeling.

Streszczenie

Abstract:

Ecosystem services rely on biodiversity.
Human activities threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework requires comprehensive data.
The 'Biome' app in Japan collects species observations using algorithms and gamification.
Biome data quality influences species distribution models (SDMs).
Accuracy varies across different species groups.
Incorporating Biome data improves SDM accuracy, especially for endangered species.
Competing Interest Statement:

Authors disclose affiliations and patents related to the app's technology.
Footnotes:

Acknowledgments for significant contributions.

Statystyki

"The app has gathered >6M observations since its launch in 2019."
"Species identification accuracy exceeds 95% for birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians."
"Seed plants, molluscs, and fishes scored below 90%."

Cytaty

Kluczowe wnioski z

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

by Atsumi,K., N... o www.biorxiv.org 09-17-2023

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.13.557657v4

Głębsze pytania

How can citizen science apps like Biome contribute to global biodiversity conservation efforts

Citizen science apps like Biome can significantly contribute to global biodiversity conservation efforts in several ways. Firstly, these apps engage the public in scientific research and data collection, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship among users. By crowdsourcing species observations through such platforms, researchers can gather vast amounts of data that would be otherwise challenging or costly to obtain. This influx of data enables more comprehensive species distribution modeling, aiding in the identification of critical habitats and informing conservation strategies.
Furthermore, citizen science apps promote public awareness and education about biodiversity issues. Through interactive features like gamification elements in Biome, users are motivated to explore nature actively and learn about different species. This increased knowledge can lead to greater support for conservation initiatives and policies at local, national, and global levels.
By harnessing the power of smartphone technology and community participation, citizen science apps create a network of individuals contributing to biodiversity monitoring on a large scale. This collective effort not only enhances our understanding of ecosystems but also facilitates evidence-based decision-making for effective conservation actions worldwide.

What challenges might arise from relying heavily on community-sourced data for conservation decisions

Relying heavily on community-sourced data for conservation decisions presents certain challenges that need to be addressed carefully. One significant issue is the potential for spatial and taxonomic biases in the data collected through citizen science apps like Biome. These biases may arise due to uneven user distribution across regions or preferences towards observing specific types of species over others. Such biases could skew species distribution models (SDMs) if not properly accounted for during analysis.
Another challenge is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of community-contributed data. While advancements in AI algorithms have improved species identification accuracy as seen with birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians; there are still concerns regarding lower accuracy rates for certain taxa like seed plants or fishes observed through Biome app submissions.
Moreover, integrating diverse datasets from multiple sources requires robust protocols for data processing and validation to ensure consistency and quality across all information used in SDMs or other analyses supporting conservation decisions.

How can advancements in technology further revolutionize biodiversity monitoring practices

Advancements in technology hold immense potential to revolutionize biodiversity monitoring practices further by enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. One key area where technology can make a significant impact is through the development of advanced AI algorithms for automated species identification within citizen science apps such as Biome. Improving algorithm performance across various taxa will boost overall data quality while reducing manual verification efforts.
Additionally, incorporating remote sensing technologies like satellite imagery or drones into biodiversity monitoring allows researchers to gather real-time ecological information over large areas rapidly. These tools enable continuous monitoring of habitat changes or wildlife populations without extensive fieldwork requirements.
Furthermore, leveraging big data analytics techniques can help process vast amounts of biological information efficiently while identifying patterns or trends that inform conservation strategies effectively.
Overall advancements in technology offer opportunities to streamline biodiversity monitoring processes enhance decision-making capabilities based on robust scientific evidence generated from diverse datasets sourced from both traditional surveys & community-driven platforms like Biome app contributions