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Zhang H, Yang J, Zhang L, Gu X, Zhang X. Citizen science meets eDNA: A new boom in research exploring urban wetland biodiversity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 16:100275. [PMID: 37213810 PMCID: PMC10196805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
•eDNA citizen science provides a comprehensive picture of the biodiversity.•Non-native species reduced the local fish diversity in urban wetlands.•Expanding water area can improve wetland biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Zhang
- Nanjing Foreign Language School, 30 East Beijing Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Jianghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xueping Gu
- Nanjing Foreign Language School, 30 East Beijing Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Báthori F, Jégh T, Csősz S. Formerly considered rare, the ant species Cryptoponeochracea (Mayr, 1855) can be commonly detected using citizen-science tools. Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e83117. [PMID: 36761526 PMCID: PMC9848458 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e83117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Citizen science is a valuable tool for monitoring different species, especially in cases concerning truly rare and difficult-to-detect species where time-consuming field studies are limited and long-term research projects are uncertain. To better understand the distribution of the rarely collected Cryptoponeochracea (Mayr, 1855) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Hungary, we obtained the occurrence data with photos uploaded by non-professionals to the page of the largest Hungarian Facebook group dealing with ants and a citizen-science website dealing with biological data collection. In this article, we expand the known distribution of C.ochracea to include 46 new records from Hungary and one from Serbia. With two historical records, this previously undersampled species has now been found 48 times in Hungary. Our results prove that social media platforms and other websites for citizen science projects offer new and useful opportunities for researchers to involve non-professionals in scientific work and, thus, obtain large amounts of valuable data, even for understudied arthropod species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferenc Báthori
- Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, HungaryEvolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological ResearchVácrátótHungary
| | - Tamás Jégh
- Independent Researcher, Budapest, HungaryIndependent ResearcherBudapestHungary
| | - Sándor Csősz
- Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, HungaryEvolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological ResearchVácrátótHungary,MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, HungaryMTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
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3
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Yosef R, Tryjanowski P. Editorial: Citizen Science for Future Generations. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.847461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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The educational community and its knowledge and perceptions of native and invasive alien species. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21474. [PMID: 34728666 PMCID: PMC8563966 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00683-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental education seeks to foster an appreciation for nature and the impact of humans on it while introducing citizens to scientific thinking. Biological invasions affect different aspects of life on earth and mandate urgent management actions. Education and public awareness are strongly recommended for successful prevention and management of invasive alien species (IAS). This work presents a study on knowledge and perception of the educational community of Argentina about native species and IAS. We designed an on-line semi-structured questionnaire to examine perception of the environment, recognition of native species and IAS and awareness about biological invasions. Educators recognised an important number of biotic components, mostly represented by trees, birds and mammals. Recognition of native species and IAS, and awareness of biological invasions were different between NST (Natural Science Teachers) and non-NST. Respondents had different performances when they were exposed to recognising native species though written names or photographs. Out of 532 respondents, 56% knew what biological invasions are, 21% answered "Maybe" and 23% had never heard about them. We need to foster capacity-building and encourage a two-way communication between educators and scientists, formally and informally, to engage the participation of the whole society in recognition, prevention and management of IAS.
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Is mimicry a diversification-driver in ants? Biogeography, ecology, ethology, genetics and morphology define a second West-Palaearctic Colobopsis species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The West-Palaearctic Colobopsis ant populations have long been considered a single species (Colobopsis truncata). We studied the diversity of this species by employing a multidisciplinary approach and combining data from our surveys, museum and private collections, and citizen science platforms. As a result, we have revealed the existence of a second species, which we describe as Colobopsis imitans sp. nov., distributed allopatrically from Co. truncata and living in the Maghreb, Sicily and southern Iberia. While the pigmentation of Co. truncata is reminiscent of Dolichoderus quadripunctatus, that of Co. imitans is similar to Crematogaster scutellaris, with which Co. imitans lives in close spatial association, and whose foraging trails it habitually follows, similar to Camponotus lateralis and other ant-mimicking ants. The isolation between Co. imitans and Co. truncata seems to have occurred relatively recently because of significant, yet not extreme, morphometric differentiation, and to mtDNA polyphyly. Both Co. imitans and Co. truncata appear to employ mimicry of an unpalatable or aggressive ant species as an important defensive strategy; this ‘choice’ of a different model species is motivated by biogeographic reasons and appears to act as a critical evolutionary driver of their diversification.
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Dilworth KA, Borowiec ML, Cohen AL, Mickelson GS, Oeller EC, Crowder DW, Clark RE. Ants of the Palouse Prairie: diversity and species composition in an endangered grassland. Biodivers Data J 2021; 9:e65768. [PMID: 34012316 PMCID: PMC8128849 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.9.e65768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Grasslands are globally imperilled ecosystems due to widespread conversion to agriculture and there is a concerted effort to catalogue arthropod diversity in grasslands to guide conservation decisions. The Palouse Prairie is one such endangered grassland; a mid-elevation habitat found in Washington and Idaho, United States. Ants (Formicidae) are useful indicators of biodiversity and historical ecological disturbance, but there has been no structured sampling of ants in the Palouse Prairie. To fill this gap, we employed a rapid inventory sampling approach using pitfall traps to capture peak ant activity in five habitat fragments. We complemented our survey with a systemic review of field studies for the ant species found in Palouse Prairie. Our field inventory yielded 17 ant species across 10 genera and our models estimate the total ant species pool to be 27. The highest ant diversity was found in an actively-managed ecological trust in Latah County, Idaho, suggesting that restoration efforts may increase biodiversity. We also report two rarely-collected ants in the Pacific Northwest and a microgyne that may represent an undescribed species related to Brachymyrmexdepilis. Our score-counting review revealed that grassland ants in Palouse Prairie have rarely been studied previously and that more ant surveys in temperate grasslands have lagged behind sampling efforts of other global biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla A Dilworth
- Washington State University, Pullman, United States of America Washington State University Pullman United States of America
| | - Marek L Borowiec
- University of Idaho, Moscow, United States of America University of Idaho Moscow United States of America
| | - Abigail L Cohen
- Washington State University, Pullman, United States of America Washington State University Pullman United States of America
| | - Gabrielle S Mickelson
- Washington State University, Pullman, United States of America Washington State University Pullman United States of America
| | - Elisabeth C Oeller
- Washington State University, Pullman, United States of America Washington State University Pullman United States of America
| | - David W Crowder
- Washington State University, Pullman, United States of America Washington State University Pullman United States of America
| | - Robert E Clark
- Washington State University, Pullman, United States of America Washington State University Pullman United States of America
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Flucher SM, Krapf P, Arthofer W, Suarez AV, Crozier RH, Steiner FM, Schlick-Steiner BC. Effect of social structure and introduction history on genetic diversity and differentiation. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2511-2527. [PMID: 33811410 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Invasive species are a global threat to biodiversity, and understanding their history and biology is a major goal of invasion biology. Population-genetic approaches allow insights into these features, as population structure is shaped by factors such as invasion history (number, origin and age of introductions) and life-history traits (e.g., mating system, dispersal capability). We compared the relative importance of these factors by investigating two closely related ants, Tetramorium immigrans and Tetramorium tsushimae, that differ in their social structure and invasion history in North America. We used mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite alleles to estimate the source and number of introduction events of the two species, and compared genetic structure among native and introduced populations. Genetic diversity of both species was strongly reduced in introduced populations, which also differed genetically from native populations. Genetic differentiation between ranges and the reduction in microsatellite diversity were more severe in the more recently introduced and supercolonial T. tsushimae. However, the loss of mitochondrial haplotype diversity was more pronounced in T. immigrans, which has single-queen colonies and was introduced earlier. Tetramorium immigrans was introduced at least twice from Western Europe to North America and once independently to South America. Its monogyny might have limited genetic diversity per introduction, but new mutations and successive introductions over a long time may have added to the gene pool in the introduced range. Polygyny in T. tsushimae probably facilitated the simultaneous introduction of several queens from a Japanese population to St. Louis, USA. In addition to identifying introduction pathways, our results reveal how social structure can influence the population-genetic consequences of founder events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia M Flucher
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrick Krapf
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Arthofer
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andrew V Suarez
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ross H Crozier
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Florian M Steiner
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Jaskuła R, Kolanowska M, Michalski M, Schwerk A. From Phenology and Habitat Preferences to Climate Change: Importance of Citizen Science in Studying Insect Ecology in the Continental Scale with American Red Flat Bark Beetle, Cucujus clavipes, as a Model Species. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040369. [PMID: 33924259 PMCID: PMC8074780 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Studies of widely distributed species often are problematic as such research usually needs to engage a lot of time, a large team of field workers, and big financial support before good quality data will be collected. Citizen scientists allow to study different aspects of species biology and ecology with significantly reduced basic operational costs of such studies. Based on the data deposited in the iNaturalist database, we studied the ecology of the American flat bark beetle in the entire area of its species range. The results clearly show high value of citizen science, particularly in studies focused on habitat preferences and phenology in both recognized subspecies of this taxon. Abstract The American red flat bark beetle, Cucujus clavipes, is a wide distributed saproxylic species divided into two subspecies: ssp. clavipes restricted to eastern regions of North America and ssp. puniceus occurring only in western regions of this continent. Unique morphological features, including body shape and body coloration, make this species easy to recognize even for amateurs. Surprisingly, except some studies focused on physiological adaptations of the species, the ecology of C. clavipes was almost unstudied. Based on over 500 records collected by citizen scientists and deposited in the iNaturalist data base, we studied phenological activity of adult beetles, habitat preferences and impact of future climate change for both subspecies separately. The results clearly show that spp. clavipes and ssp. puniceus can be characterized by differences in phenology and macrohabitat preferences, and their ranges do not overlap at any point. Spp. clavipes is found as more opportunistic taxon occurring in different forests as well as in urban and agricultural areas with tree vegetation always in elevations below 500 m, while elevational distribution of ssp. puniceus covers areas up to 2300 m, and the beetle was observed mainly in forested areas. Moreover, we expect that climate warming will have negative influence on both subspecies with the possible loss of proper niches at level even up to 47–70% of their actual ranges during next few decades. As the species is actually recognized as unthreatened and always co-occurs with many other species, we suggest, because of its expected future habitat loss, to pay more attention to conservationists for possible negative changes in saproxylic insects and/or forest fauna in North America. In addition, as our results clearly show that both subspecies of C. clavipes differ ecologically, which strongly supports earlier significant morphological and physiological differences noted between them, we suggest that their taxonomical status should be verified by molecular data, because very probably they represent separate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radomir Jaskuła
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Marta Kolanowska
- Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland;
- Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute AS CR, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Michalski
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland;
| | - Axel Schwerk
- Department of Landscape Art, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland;
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Phillips TB, Bailey RL, Martin V, Faulkner-Grant H, Bonter DN. The role of citizen science in management of invasive avian species: What people think, know, and do. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 280:111709. [PMID: 33298396 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In North America, nest site competition from invasive cavity-nesting birds can limit the opportunities for successful nesting by native birds. Managing invasive species is costly and complex, requiring input from biologists, decision makers, and the public. An informed and engaged public can play an important role in mitigating the negative effects of invasive avian species. However, little is known regarding the publics' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward non-native bird species. We examined the association between participating in a citizen science project and enjoyment, knowledge, and management of two non-native avian species in North America: European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We administered a pre and post survey to 947 people who monitor nest boxes in the United States and Canada, 30% of whom were also reporting their observations to NestWatch, a citizen science project focused on nesting birds. We found that NestWatch participants were more likely to have negative views of non-native species, score higher on bird identification tasks, and manage for invasive species than non-participants. The most important predictor for undertaking management activities was respondents' perceptions of whether they believed non-native birds to be a problem at the continental scale, underscoring the important role of individual factors such as perception. Our study also highlights the important role citizen science may play in shaping attitudes and behaviors and increasing knowledge. We propose a conceptual model describing the mechanisms by which citizen science can be leveraged for management of invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vicki Martin
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Castracani C, Spotti FA, Schifani E, Giannetti D, Ghizzoni M, Grasso DA, Mori A. Public Engagement Provides First Insights on Po Plain Ant Communities and Reveals the Ubiquity of the Cryptic Species Tetramorium immigrans (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100678. [PMID: 33036330 PMCID: PMC7601173 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Public involvement in biodiversity research in the form of Citizen Science is a powerful tool to improve our understanding of the natural world, and it is especially suitable for the study of heavily populated environments. Ants’ ubiquity and diversity, their role as ecological bioindicators, and the fact that most species can easily be sampled makes them ideal candidates for this kind of studies. In the framework of the international School of Ants citizen science project, we joined the “BioBlitz Lombardia” in which citizens are invited to collect biodiversity data on several parks from Lombardy (Po Plain, Italy). As a result, we recorded 30 ant species and obtained a first characterization of the region’s ant assemblages. We studied their patterns of variation in relation with the ecological difference between the studies sites, which ranged from urban to subalpine areas. In addition, we detected the presence of a cryptic species (Tetramorium immigrans) whose distribution and identity were only recently clarified. It likely represents an under-recorded introduced species in the region. Advantages and critical aspects of using CS methodology for the study of biodiversity are discussed in light of our experience. Abstract Ants are considered a useful model for biodiversity monitoring and several of their characteristics make them promising for citizen science (CS) projects. Involving a wide range of public figures into collecting valuable data on the effect of human impact on ant biodiversity, the School of Ants (SoA) project represents one of the very few attempts to explore the potential of these insects in CS. Through the collaboration with the “BioBlitz Lombardia” project, we tested the SoA protocol on 12 Northern Italy parks, ranging from urban green to subalpine protected sites. As a result, we obtained some of the very first quantitative data characterizing the ants of this region, recording 30 species and highlighting some interesting ecological patterns. These data revealed the ubiquitous presence of the recently taxonomically defined cryptic species Tetramorium immigrans, which appears to be probably introduced in the region. We also discuss advantages and criticisms encountered applying the SoA protocol, originally intended for schools, to new categories of volunteers, from BioBlitz participants to park operators, suggesting best practices based on our experience.
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