Citizen Science Contributions to Address Biodiversity Loss and Conservation Planning in a Rapidly Developing Region

Caitlin R. De Bellis,Diana L. Soteropoulos,Theo Witsell

doi:10.3390/d13060255

Caitlin R. De Bellis, Diana L. Soteropoulos + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/d13060255

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Abstract

Biodiversity data support conservation research and inform conservation decisions addressing the wicked problem of biodiversity loss. However, these data often need processing and compilation before use, which exceed the time availability of professional scientists. Nevertheless, scientists can recruit, train, and support a network of citizen scientists to prepare these data using online platforms. Here, we describe three citizen science projects sponsored by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission to transcribe and georeference historic herbarium specimens and document current biodiversity through iNaturalist for two highly biodiverse and rapidly developing counties in Northwest Arkansas, USA. Citizen science-generated data will be used in a county natural heritage inventory (CNHI) report, including a comprehensive list of taxa tied to voucher specimens and records for rare plant populations. Since the CNHI project started in 2018, citizen scientists have transcribed 8855 and georeferenced 2636 specimen records. From iNaturalist observations, 125 rare plant populations of 39 taxa have been documented. This CNHI report will determine the most critical taxa, habitats, and sites for conservation action in the region and will inform conservation stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels as they engage in land acquisition, ecological restoration, natural resource management, planning of growth and development, and environmental review/regulation.

Highlights

The rapid loss of biodiversity represents a wicked problem in conservation and demands innovative ways to quickly document populations of rare taxa and areas with high conservation value to provide protection before populations are lost and taxa become extinct [1]
Natural Heritage Program data represent a major tool in focusing conservation resources to address the wicked problem of rapid biodiversity loss and drive conservation decisions in the region in five major ways: (1) guiding the acquisition of significant conservation lands, (2) providing data for use in environmental review and impact analysis, (3) identifying certain sites within protected lands to avoid when developing infrastructure improvements and recreational amenities, (4) prioritizing specific sites, on both public and private lands, for restoration and management actions such as removal of invasive species and prescribed burning, and
Local agencies and organizations working in Benton and Washington Counties who use Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) data for these purposes include Arkansas State Parks, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the U.S

Summary

Introduction

The rapid loss of biodiversity represents a wicked problem in conservation and demands innovative ways to quickly document populations of rare taxa and areas with high conservation value to provide protection before populations are lost and taxa become extinct [1]. Herbarium specimens document changes in the distribution of taxa over time [6], including extant and extirpated population locations and information about why taxa have been lost [7], such as specific habitat changes or expansion of invasive taxa [8,9]. Current biodiversity records include observations on iNaturalist that provide information about extant populations [10,11], current distribution data [12], and early detection of invasive taxa [13]. Both historic and current biodiversity records require resource-intensive processing to make the data standardized and useful [14]. An obstacle for using herbarium specimens as biodiversity data for conservation action is a lack of digitized records of sufficient quantity and quality for taxa and region of interest [14], and observations from iNaturalist need to be verified for correct identification and location and determined to be wild [17,18]

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