Abstract
Simple SummaryCurrent scientific methods used to determine national population estimates for species like the koala, where individuals are scattered over a vast area, have failed to deliver an accurate and widely accepted result. Current citizen science projects aimed at mapping koala sightings reported by the public all use different methods and store their data in their own databases, each collecting scattered pieces of a much larger puzzle. To bring these pieces together, this study developed guidelines for a national citizen science project highlighting the importance of using one single method for data collection, and in turn assisting in the development of a national koala population database.The acceptance and application of citizen science has risen over the last 10 years, with this rise likely attributed to an increase in public awareness surrounding anthropogenic impacts affecting urban ecosystems. Citizen science projects have the potential to expand upon data collected by specialist researchers as they are able to gain access to previously unattainable information, consequently increasing the likelihood of an effective management program. The primary objective of this research was to develop guidelines for a successful regional-scale citizen science project following a critical analysis of 12 existing citizen science case studies. Secondly, the effectiveness of these guidelines was measured through the implementation of a citizen science project, Koala Quest, for the purpose of estimating the presence of koalas in a fragmented landscape. Consequently, this research aimed to determine whether citizen-collected data can augment traditional science research methods, by comparing and contrasting the abundance of koala sightings gathered by citizen scientists and professional researchers. Based upon the guidelines developed, Koala Quest methodologies were designed, the study conducted, and the efficacy of the project assessed. To combat the high variability of estimated koala populations due to differences in counting techniques, a national monitoring and evaluation program is required, in addition to a standardised method for conducting koala population estimates. Citizen science is a useful method for monitoring animals such as the koala, which are sparsely distributed throughout a vast geographical area, as the large numbers of volunteers recruited by a citizen science project are capable of monitoring a similarly broad spatial range.
Highlights
The popularity of citizen science has soared in the last 10 years, with non-government organisations (NGOs) and decision-makers utilising the geographic dispersion of a large volunteer base to enhance their ability to monitor and manage ecosystem services and “at risk” species [1,2,3].Animals 2016, 6, 42; doi:10.3390/ani6070042 www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsThis growth can largely be attributed to progressions in technology, primarily in data storage, website development, social networking sites, and smartphone applications [4], all of which provide citizens with an unprecedented access to science
A general impression of Australia’s national koala population is difficult to obtain as the local populations in the north and east of the koala’s range are rapidly declining, whereas those populations further south are currently managed for overabundance [5,6]
The guidelines developed were an amalgamation of widely accepted practices for a citizen science project and a number of more recently recognised elements, such as those associated with the evolving
Summary
The popularity of citizen science has soared in the last 10 years, with non-government organisations (NGOs) and decision-makers utilising the geographic dispersion of a large volunteer base to enhance their ability to monitor and manage ecosystem services and “at risk” species [1,2,3].Animals 2016, 6, 42; doi:10.3390/ani6070042 www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsThis growth can largely be attributed to progressions in technology, primarily in data storage, website development, social networking sites, and smartphone applications [4], all of which provide citizens with an unprecedented access to science. A general impression of Australia’s national koala population is difficult to obtain as the local populations in the north and east of the koala’s range are rapidly declining, whereas those populations further south are currently managed for overabundance [5,6]. This presents a significant challenge for authorities attempting to develop a national koala management program. This problem is intensified by a lack of data, population monitoring and assessment methods, and koala population trends on a national scale [6].
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