Focal plant observations as a standardised method for pollinator monitoring: opportunities and limitations for mass participation citizen science

Roy, Helen E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6050-679X; Baxter, Elizabeth; Saunders, Aoine; Pocock, Michael J.O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4375-0445. 2016 Focal plant observations as a standardised method for pollinator monitoring: opportunities and limitations for mass participation citizen science. PLoS ONE, 11 (3), e0150794. 14, pp. 10.1371/journal.pone.0150794

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150794

Abstract/Summary

Background: Recently there has been increasing focus on monitoring pollinating insects, due to concerns about their declines, and interest in the role of volunteers in monitoring pollinators, particularly bumblebees, via citizen science. Methodology/Principal Findings: The Big Bumblebee Discovery was a one-year citizen science project run by a partnership of EDF Energy, the British Science Association and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology which sought to assess the influence of the landscape at multiple scales on the diversity and abundance of bumblebees. Timed counts of bumblebees ( Bombus spp.; identified to six colour groups) visiting focal plants of lavender (Lavendula spp.) were carried out by about 13 000 primary school children (7 – 11 years old) from over 400 schools across the UK. 3948 reports were received totalling 26 868 bumblebees. We found that while the wider landscape type had no significant effect on reported bumblebee abundance, the local proximity to flowers had a significant effect (fewer bumblebees where other flowers were reported to be > 5m away from the focal plant). However, the rate of mis-identifcation, revealed by photographs uploaded by participants and a photo-based quiz, was high. Conclusions/Significance: Our citizen science results support recent research on the importance of local floral resources on pollinator abundance. Timed counts of insects visiting a lure plant is potentially an effective approach for standardised pollinator monitoring, engaging a large number of participants with a simple protocol. However, the relatively high rate of mis-identifications (compared to reports from previous pollinator citizen science projects) highlights the importance of investing in resources to train volunteers. Also, to be a scientifically valid method for enquiry, citizen science data needs to be sufficiently high quality, so receiving supporting evidence (such as photographs) would allow this to be tested and for records to be verified.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1371/journal.pone.0150794
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
ISSN:	1932-6203
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	08 Apr 2016 14:11 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513381

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1371/journal.pone.0150794

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Pywell

ISSN:

1932-6203

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment