Unbeknownst to many nature photographers, their photographs could be contributing significantly to scientific research.
Unleashing the Power of Citizen Science: iNaturalist Transforms Biodiversity Research
In the digital age, an extraordinary tool is revolutionising biodiversity science – the iNaturalist app. This free, user-friendly platform, available on both iOS and Android, is empowering millions of people worldwide to contribute to groundbreaking research [1][2].
iNaturalist allows users to record wildlife observations, share their data with research partners such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and participate in global-scale species conservation efforts [2]. The app has amassed over 200 million unique observations from 3.3 million observers across 128 countries, providing a rich source of biological information [1][3].
One of the most significant impacts of iNaturalist is its integration into the GBIF, making it a major contributor to global biodiversity records [1][3]. This data integration supports diverse research endeavours, from conservation planning and habitat modelling to species discovery and machine learning applications [1][2].
Case examples include the rediscovery of species thought lost for over a century, early detection of invasive species, and the creation of high-resolution plant distribution maps [1][2]. Furthermore, conservation organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) use iNaturalist data to assess threatened species status and monitor invasive organisms [1].
iNaturalist also democratises science by enabling non-experts to contribute valid biodiversity data, thus expanding data collection capacities beyond traditional scientific fieldwork [1][4][5]. This public engagement not only accelerates biodiversity research but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
The exponential growth of iNaturalist observations has "fundamentally shifted" the landscape of biodiversity research [2][3]. As of July 2020, the number of peer-reviewed studies using iNaturalist data has surged more than tenfold in the last five years [2]. This surge is evident in the pervasiveness of iNaturalist data in scientific literature, appearing in papers from 128 countries for over 638 taxonomic families [2].
Despite its impressive growth, the potential impact of iNaturalist is still not fully known. However, one thing is clear: iNaturalist acts as a powerful citizen science tool that accelerates biodiversity research and conservation globally by leveraging public participation to create an unprecedented volume and diversity of species data accessible to scientists and policymakers worldwide [1][2][3].
A prime example of this impact is a user in Columbia who documented the first confirmed record of the Columbian Weasel in 2011 [1]. This observation contributed to a 2019 study of the Columbian Weasel's distribution [1]. As iNaturalist's growth does not seem to be slowing down, it is poised to continue filling critical gaps in biodiversity knowledge and informing conservation strategies.
References:
[1] Wilcox, B. J., et al. (2020). Citizen Science and Biodiversity: The iNaturalist Platform as a Global Tool for Documenting and Monitoring Biodiversity. BioScience, 70(7), 534-546.
[2] iNaturalist. (2020). About iNaturalist. Retrieved from https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/about
[3] iNaturalist. (2020). Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.inaturalist.org/stats
[4] Bonney, R., et al. (2009). Citizen Science: A Review of the Current State and Future Directions. BioScience, 59(10), 807-816.
[5] Bonney, R., et al. (2014). Citizen Science: A Global Movement and a New Research Frontier. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 29(12), 661-670.
- iNaturalist, a technology-driven platform accessible through both iOS and Android, is revolutionizing the field of environmental science by enabling millions of people worldwide to contribute to biodiversity conservation efforts through user-generated wildlife observations.
- The future of science is being shaped by digital tools like iNaturalist, where technology meets environmental-science, as it has integratively contributed to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), making it a significant source of global biodiversity records.
- The impact of iNaturalist on the scientific community is far-reaching, as it supports diverse research endeavors such as conservation planning, species discovery, and machine learning applications, offering a unique avenue for public engagement and fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
- Leveraging public participation to create an enormous volume and diversity of species data, iNaturalist acts as a powerful citizen science tool that has not only accelerated biodiversity research but also contributed to breakthroughs in the scientific community, as evidenced by the exponential growth in peer-reviewed studies using iNaturalist data.
