Some cautions in the use of citizen science: a case study of urban insect collection

ABSTRACT

The engagement of volunteers to collect scientific information (citizen science) is a powerful tool for gathering biodiversity information and for achieving environmental education objectives. Here we describe an intervention designed to enhance participant understanding of insects in ecosystems. We did this by involving them as citizen scientists to collect insects on traps and by providing them with enriching information about insects. We also evaluated the use of citizen scientists for the collection of insect biodiversity data. Despite targeted recruitment around a focal site (a constructed urban wetland), participants were spread throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area, a result of the most successful recruitment method being through electronic communication via social media. Use of paper flyers was ineffective. Surveys before and after the intervention demonstrated some enhancement of knowledge and understanding of insect roles in ecosystems, with participants nominating the insect trapping and subsequent information sheet being their primary sources of new information. However, participants largely appeared to have an existing interest in ecosystems and the environment, reducing our ability to improve understanding and attitudes in the community. Volunteer deployment of sticky traps proved successful in gaining new insect community data and shows promise for future use.

KEYWORDS:

• Volunteers
• ecosystems
• insects
• Australia
• survey
• citizen science

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by the Flinders University and Barbara Hardy Institute (UniSA) Collaborative Research Program. The following organisations are warmly thanked for their cooperation: City of Marion (Glynn Ricketts), Friends of the Sturt River, the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board. Michael Reilly is thanked for his graphic design work on the information sheet. Prof. Chris Daniels (UniSA) is thanked for his leadership of the collaborative research program and for material support. The comments of anonymous reviewers greatly improved this manuscript. Approval to conduct this research was granted by the UniSA Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval 34218). Editorial work for this manuscript was performed by Associate Editor Prof Steve McKillup.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by the Flinders University and Barbara Hardy Institute (UniSA) Collaborative Research Program.