Hi Onildo,

This is actually a mix of questions.

do you believe common citizens find the apps user friendly and are able to use them effectively to learn and add data to science?

CvS: As you already found out there are quite a few of these apps, each with their own online database attached. Some are good, some not so good, and of course it depends on the number of species (such an app will be much easier in Europe than in a tropical rainforest in Brasil), if it's available in your language and simply if the makers of the app have enough affinity with volunteers in the field.

Science perspective: Are scientists, mainly taxonomists, engaging in this initiative to help people learn about nature?

CvS: I guess they will be, but not all of them.

If not, why?

CvS: Some are simply not doing anything with education, communication etc.

Is the data generated by citizens, useful for science (biogeography, conservation)?

CvS: Very much so, actually we almost only work with such data on butterflies in the Netherlands and Europe.

Good luck, Chris

Hi Onildo,

This is actually a mix of questions.

do you believe common citizens find the apps user friendly and are able to use them effectively to learn and add data to science?

CvS: As you already found out there are quite a few of these apps, each with their own online database attached. Some are good, some not so good, and of course it depends on the number of species (such an app will be much easier in Europe than in a tropical rainforest in Brasil), if it's available in your language and simply if the makers of the app have enough affinity with volunteers in the field.

Science perspective: Are scientists, mainly taxonomists, engaging in this initiative to help people learn about nature?

CvS: I guess they will be, but not all of them.

If not, why?

CvS: Some are simply not doing anything with education, communication etc.

Is the data generated by citizens, useful for science (biogeography, conservation)?

CvS: Very much so, actually we almost only work with such data on butterflies in the Netherlands and Europe.

Good luck, Chris

"The citizen scientist" a topical debate!!!, while the contribution of these scientists volunteer is related to the quality of data, the tools they have... iNaturalist helps a lot to become more familiar with the wildlife and and taxonomic systems in the presence always of expert assistance.

http://www.nature.com/news/rise-of-the-citizen-scientist-1.18192

Hi Onildo:

The Mobil phone apps used to study biodiversity inventory are like digital field guides that continues to improve the more we all use it and add to it. As Chris said, perhaps they are very useful in Europe and United States where the biodiversity is well documented but not in the tropical regions where every day you get new species to science. Perhaps some day we will have mobile apps to study the biodiversity in the tropics. However, the main objective of mobile apps is to make easier and more globally efficient and effective for "citizen scientists" to contribute information during field trips to observe wildlife.

Regards,

Luis Miguel

I totally agree with what has been said.  Otherwise, there are ways of improving it.  For instance, we could work on higher taxonomical levels when dealing with more complex systems!  Mobil phones might be useful indeed.  But again, a good data base is needed but we should develop some type or smart applications that recognize the beast and name it! We could start with some colorful and distinct butterflies, dung beetles and galls (if we know the host...).

Regards,

Wilson

Dear Onildo Marini-Filho, 

Mobile phone apps have more diversity than that you mentioned. 

I believe this technique can be used and it is very important for specific cultures.

I am sending a manuscript we have just published on teca pests.

Regards,

José Zanuncio 

Dear Onildo

I also agree that the question (in its general direction) is timely and important. However, the current limitations and the missing continuity or generality in application should not be taken as a negative signal.

The development of this form of communication is rapid and also somehow chaotic or anarchic. Offered structures must not be used as intented. Approaches will develop in parallel.

My clear opinion is that such tools will become increasingly important in both directions:

A) in citizen science as an input of information, records, observations from regular people that can feed into scientific data structures IF quality control is implemented,

and

B) when making information available for specific users (e.g. birders, medical doctors, pest control) IF the information and data are prepared and visualized in a way that is appropriate for these users.

But, it is unlikely that ONE product, tool, instrument, app, whatsoever will fulfill these criteria.

The European Horizon2020 program strongly asks for free and accessible forms of communication and data availability. Apps that will deliver this can be taken up in research projects and innovation actions. The incentives are there, and the market will develop, also in the field of ecology and enivronmental research.

Best wishes

Carl

There effective phone applications used to monitor or at least document species occurrence such as The Project Noah. The application includes guidance in proper identification of the species, and it also allows citizen scientists and experts to discuss. Citizen science thru mobile apps and photographs are also helpful in documenting environmental changes and its effects to species.

Apps are extremely useful for peoples' participation and may develop a biodiversity register

The effectiveness depends on the ease of identification of the taxon in question. For example, in Europe we have a relatively small number of amphibians and reptiles, many of which can be approached and observed long enough for a 'citizen scientist' to manage an accurate identifiaction or even submit a photo for confirmation. This has led to some successful projects e.g. Recordpool in the UK and Herpterkep in Hungary. Such an approach is less likely to be effective in more challenging taxa though.

http://www.recordpool.org.uk/

http://herpterkep.mme.hu/

Mobile phone apps will be of great help in participatory rural appraisals especially in preparing biodiversity registers. However should be cautious of using high technologies for very conventional biodiversity documentation domains.

in Brazil we have the Urubu (=vulture) mobile, to people document roadkills. Seems to be working well but I don't have more info about (don't have a smartphone)

Yes, these apps are useful and helps as quick recknoner. for example- ENVIS App on medicinal plants gives info on 6500 medicinally important species of India and Neighbourhood Medicinal Plants App gives a list of 300 common medicinal plants of Bangalore city. Specially designed for School students.

Dear Onildo, 

Mobile phones can be very important for for biodiversity inventory, monitoring, citizen science projects.

I am sending a paper we just published in how to identify pests of teca with a mbile phone applicative.

Best regards,

José Zanuncio 

I would answer with a "yes" to all your questions, Onildo. We developed an app and it was quite useful. To check on how to make your own app for involving students and naturalists in research, check our paper here Article Harnessing Smartphones for Ecological Education, Research, a...

Yes!

But don't join projects that don't share the data... that's abusive.

Hello Onildo; At my college such apps are used regularly in the lower division courses involving field work. They are certainly useful. Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers