Citizen scientists lead the way in exciting new research

From the ponds of Paris to the quintessentially English floodplain meadow, hundreds of sites are now being studied by thousands of citizen scientists across Europe.

Data collected by these enthusiastic volunteers provide vital information for researchers, environmental managers and policy makers, and their extraordinary contribution to ecology is being celebrated at the joint BES/SFE meeting in Lille this week.

Professor Nathalie Machon from the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle will discuss the latest results from the ‘Sauvages de ma rue’ project. By encouraging members of the public to record plant species growing in urban environments, the project is helping people learn how to identify wild species on their doorsteps at the same time as collecting vital data on urban biodiversity.

Thanks to thousands of plant records submitted by enthusiastic volunteers, Sauvages de ma rue has created a new way to measure the quality of biodiversity in urban environments. The scale is based on the proportion of plant species that are pollinated by insects, and the higher the number, the healthier the environment and the greater the diversity of species.

And the scale will also help local authorities, says Professor Machon: “Our work will provide managers or local councils with a simple tool that they can use to asses biodiversity in their districts with the hope that it will encourage them to employ better practices that will improve the quality of biodiversity in our cities.”

In the UK, the Open University has led another successful citizen science project to monitor populations of the rare snakeshead fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris). This beautiful, delicate plant was once common in meadows throughout the country but intensive agriculture and development have destroyed much of its habitat.

The Latest on: Citizen scientists

[google_news title=”” keyword=”Citizen scientists” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]

via Google News

Citizen Science: A global citizen network to monitor insect abundance

The Latest on: Citizen scientists

Scientists Are Finding Out Just How Toxic Your Stuff Is
on May 9, 2024 at 1:37 pm
“Most consumers assume that because it’s for sale, it must be safe,” says Teresa Murray, who directs the consumer watchdog office at the nonprofit U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).
Scientists want you to help track cicadas. Here's how
on May 9, 2024 at 6:52 am
Cicadas. You know them. You may not love them. But scientists need your help to track them. Here & Now ‘s Peter O’Dowd talks with Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology at Mount St. Joseph ...
Sneaking science into Borderlands: Inside the game inside a game
on May 7, 2024 at 9:53 am
In 2020, a new minigame appeared in the video game Borderlands 3, located in the resident scientist’s laboratory on the spaceship Sanctuary III . Although the arcade game may seem like just another ...
Citizen science offers lessons in understanding green-up
on May 5, 2024 at 7:11 am
Interior Alaska’s long winters are the impetus for a lot of long-running citizen science. Most famous is the event cooked up in 1917 by a bunch of railroad engineers who bet on the exact minute the ...
Citizen scientists find remarkable exoplanet, name it after Harry Potter character
on May 3, 2024 at 7:00 am
Citizen scientists have spotted a truly remarkable planet in a binary system's habitable zone. They gave a Harry Potter-inspired nickname.
Citizen scientists help discover record-breaking exoplanet in binary star system
on April 30, 2024 at 9:15 am
A team of astronomers and citizen scientists has discovered a planet in the habitable zone of an unusual star system, including two stars and potentially another exoplanet.
Across the Finish Line! Citizen Science Month Final Days.
on April 26, 2024 at 10:42 am
One Million Acts of Science challenge met, but lots of important project work is still left!
You might find a rare species in your backyard: How global citizen science contributes to biodiversity knowledge
on April 26, 2024 at 9:28 am
While it can be hard for us to notice as we go about our busy lives, cities are filled with indigenous plants, fungi, insects, spiders and other little creatures, as well as birds, frogs and reptiles.
'Citizen scientists' help NASA discover over 1,000 new asteroids using Hubble Telescope
on April 25, 2024 at 5:06 pm
NASA said volunteers scanned 19 years' worth of images from the Hubble Telescope, using a new approach that could lead to other discoveries.