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Ruck A, van der Wal R, S C Hood A, L Mauchline A, G Potts S, F WallisDeVries M, Öckinger E. Farmland biodiversity monitoring through citizen science: A review of existing approaches and future opportunities. Ambio 2024; 53:257-275. [PMID: 37973702 PMCID: PMC10774504 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01929-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity monitoring in agricultural landscapes is important for assessing the effects of both land use change and activities that influence farmland biodiversity. Despite a considerable increase in citizen science approaches to biodiversity monitoring in recent decades, their potential in farmland-specific contexts has not been systematically examined. This paper therefore provides a comprehensive review of existing citizen science approaches involving biodiversity monitoring on farmland. Using three complementary methods, we identify a range of programmes at least partially covering farmland. From these, we develop a typology of eight programme types, reflecting distinctions in types of data collected and nature of volunteer involvement, and highlight their respective strengths and limitations. While all eight types can make substantial contributions to farmland biodiversity monitoring, there is considerable scope for their further development-particularly through increased engagement of farmers, for whom receiving feedback on the effects of their own practices could help facilitate adaptive management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Ruck
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - René van der Wal
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amelia S C Hood
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6EU, UK
| | - Alice L Mauchline
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6EU, UK
| | - Simon G Potts
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6EU, UK
| | - Michiel F WallisDeVries
- De Vlinderstichting/Dutch Butterfly Conservation, P.O. Box 506, 6700AM, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Öckinger
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Jönsson M, Kasperowski D, Coulson SJ, Nilsson J, Bína P, Kullenberg C, Hagen N, van der Wal R, Peterson J. Inequality persists in a large citizen science programme despite increased participation through ICT innovations. Ambio 2024; 53:126-137. [PMID: 37707687 PMCID: PMC10692043 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01917-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Biological recording is a prominent and widely practised form of citizen science, but few studies explore long-term demographic trends in participation and knowledge production. We studied long-term demographic trends of age and gender of participants reporting to a large online citizen science multi-taxon biodiversity platform ( www.artportalen.se ). Adoption by user communities and continually developing Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) greatly increased the number of participants reporting data, but profound long-term imbalances in gender contribution across species groups persisted over time. Reporters identifying as male dominated in numbers, spent more days in the field reporting and reported more species on each field day. Moreover, an age imbalance towards older participants amplified over time. As the first long-term study of citizen participation by age and gender, our results show that it is important for citizen science project developers to account for cultural and social developments that might exclude participants, and to engage with underrepresented and younger participants. This could facilitate the breadth of engagement and learning across a larger societal landscape, ensure project longevity and biodiversity data representation (e.g. mitigate gender bias influence on the number of reports of different species groups).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Jönsson
- SLU Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Dick Kasperowski
- Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | - Johan Nilsson
- SLU Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pavel Bína
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christopher Kullenberg
- Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Niclas Hagen
- Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - René van der Wal
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jesse Peterson
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Geography, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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3
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Knape J, Coulson SJ, van der Wal R, Arlt D. Temporal trends in opportunistic citizen science reports across multiple taxa. Ambio 2022; 51:183-198. [PMID: 33782853 PMCID: PMC8651922 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01550-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Opportunistic reporting of species observations to online platforms provide one of the most extensive sources of information about the distribution and status of organisms in the wild. The lack of a clear sampling design, and changes in reporting over time, leads to challenges when analysing these data for temporal change in organisms. To better understand temporal changes in reporting, we use records submitted to an online platform in Sweden (Artportalen), currently containing 80 million records. Focussing on five taxonomic groups, fungi, plants, beetles, butterflies and birds, we decompose change in reporting into long-term and seasonal trends, and effects of weekdays, holidays and weather variables. The large surge in number of records since the launch of the, initially taxa-specific, portals is accompanied by non-trivial long-term and seasonal changes that differ between the taxonomic groups and are likely due to changes in, and differences between, the user communities and observer behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Knape
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Inst för Ekologi, Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stephen James Coulson
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8E, Box 7007, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard, UNIS, Box 156, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - René van der Wal
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Inst för Ekologi, Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Debora Arlt
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Inst för Ekologi, Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8E, Box 7007, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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4
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Arts K, Melero Y, Webster G, Sharma N, Tintarev N, Tait E, Mellish C, Sripada S, MacMaster AM, Sutherland H, Horrill C, Lambin X, van der Wal R. On the merits and pitfalls of introducing a digital platform to aid conservation management: Volunteer data submission and the mediating role of volunteer coordinators. J Environ Manage 2020; 265:110497. [PMID: 32292169 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Against a backdrop of accelerating digital innovation in nature conservation and environmental management, a real-world experiment was conducted with the research aims of assessing: 1) the effects of introducing a digital data-entry platform on volunteer data submission; and 2) the extent to which coordinators influence digital platform use by their volunteers. We focussed on a large-scale volunteer-based initiative aimed at eradicating the non-native American mink (Neovison vison) from northern Scotland. This geographically dispersed conservation initiative adopted a digital platform that allowed volunteers to submit records to a central database. We found that the platform had a direct and positive effect on volunteer data submission behaviour, increasing both the number and frequency of submissions. However, our analysis revealed striking differences in coordinator engagement with the platform, which in turn influenced the engagement of volunteers with this centrally introduced digital innovation. As a consequence, the intended organisation-wide rolling out of a digital platform translated into a diversely-implemented innovation, limiting the efficacy of the tool and revealing key challenges for digital innovation in geographically-dispersed conservation initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Arts
- Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group (FNP), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Building, room: 101 (Gaia), B303. PO Box 47, 6700, AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; dot.rural, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - Yolanda Melero
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Harborne Building, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AS, UK; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193, Spain.
| | - Gemma Webster
- School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Nirwan Sharma
- dot.rural, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - Nava Tintarev
- Web Information Systems, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5031, 2600 GA Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Elizabeth Tait
- Business IT and Logistics, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia.
| | - Christopher Mellish
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
| | - Somayajulu Sripada
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
| | | | - Hollie Sutherland
- Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Chris Horrill
- Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS), Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, United Kingdom; Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Ewing SR, Baxter A, Wilson JD, Hayhow DB, Gordon J, Thompson DBA, Whitfield DP, van der Wal R. Clinging on to alpine life: Investigating factors driving the uphill range contraction and population decline of a mountain breeding bird. Glob Chang Biol 2020; 26:3771-3787. [PMID: 32350939 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and anthropogenic nitrogen deposition are widely regarded as important drivers of environmental change in alpine habitats. However, due to the difficulties working in high-elevation mountain systems, the impacts of these drivers on alpine breeding species have rarely been investigated. The Eurasian dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) is a migratory wader, which has been the subject of uniquely long-term and spatially widespread monitoring effort in Scotland, where it breeds in alpine areas in dwindling numbers. Here we analyse data sets spanning three decades, to investigate whether key potential drivers of environmental change in Scottish mountains (snow lie, elevated summer temperatures and nitrogen deposition) have contributed to the population decline of dotterel. We also consider the role of rainfall on the species' wintering grounds in North Africa. We found that dotterel declines-in both density and site occupancy of breeding males-primarily occurred on low and intermediate elevation sites. High-elevation sites mostly continued to be occupied, but males occurred at lower densities in years following snow-rich winters, suggesting that high-elevation snow cover displaced dotterel to lower sites. Wintering ground rainfall was positively associated with densities of breeding males two springs later. Dotterel densities were reduced at low and intermediate sites where nitrogen deposition was greatest, but not at high-elevation sites. While climatic factors explained variation in breeding density between years, they did not seem to explain the species' uphill retreat and decline. We cannot rule out the possibility that dotterel have increasingly settled on higher sites previously unavailable due to extensive snow cover, while changes associated with nitrogen deposition may also have rendered lower lying sites less suitable for breeding. Causes of population and range changes in mountain-breeding species are thus liable to be complex, involving multiple anthropogenic drivers of environmental change acting widely across annual and migratory life cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Ewing
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alistair Baxter
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Jeremy D Wilson
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Daniel B Hayhow
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB, The Lodge, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - James Gordon
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
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Ravolainen V, Soininen EM, Jónsdóttir IS, Eischeid I, Forchhammer M, van der Wal R, Pedersen ÅØ. High Arctic ecosystem states: Conceptual models of vegetation change to guide long-term monitoring and research. Ambio 2020; 49:666-677. [PMID: 31955396 PMCID: PMC6989444 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01310-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Vegetation change has consequences for terrestrial ecosystem structure and functioning and may involve climate feedbacks. Hence, when monitoring ecosystem states and changes thereof, the vegetation is often a primary monitoring target. Here, we summarize current understanding of vegetation change in the High Arctic-the World's most rapidly warming region-in the context of ecosystem monitoring. To foster development of deployable monitoring strategies, we categorize different kinds of drivers (disturbances or stresses) of vegetation change either as pulse (i.e. drivers that occur as sudden and short events, though their effects may be long lasting) or press (i.e. drivers where change in conditions remains in place for a prolonged period, or slowly increases in pressure). To account for the great heterogeneity in vegetation responses to climate change and other drivers, we stress the need for increased use of ecosystem-specific conceptual models to guide monitoring and ecological studies in the Arctic. We discuss a conceptual model with three hypothesized alternative vegetation states characterized by mosses, herbaceous plants, and bare ground patches, respectively. We use moss-graminoid tundra of Svalbard as a case study to discuss the documented and potential impacts of different drivers on the possible transitions between those states. Our current understanding points to likely additive effects of herbivores and a warming climate, driving this ecosystem from a moss-dominated state with cool soils, shallow active layer and slow nutrient cycling to an ecosystem with warmer soil, deeper permafrost thaw, and faster nutrient cycling. Herbaceous-dominated vegetation and (patchy) bare ground would present two states in response to those drivers. Conceptual models are an operational tool to focus monitoring efforts towards management needs and identify the most pressing scientific questions. We promote greater use of conceptual models in conjunction with a state-and-transition framework in monitoring to ensure fit for purpose approaches. Defined expectations of the focal systems' responses to different drivers also facilitate linking local and regional monitoring efforts to international initiatives, such as the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Ravolainen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway.
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9062, Tromsø, Norway.
| | | | - Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir
- University of Iceland, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland
- The University Centre in Svalbard, 9171, Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Isabell Eischeid
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
- UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mads Forchhammer
- The University Centre in Svalbard, 9171, Longyearbyen, Norway
- The Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) and Greenland Perspective (GP), Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - René van der Wal
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Ulls väg 16, 75651, Uppsala, Sweden
- University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Åshild Ø Pedersen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9062, Tromsø, Norway
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7
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Arts K, Macleod CJA, Ioris AAR, Han X, Sripada S, Braga JF, Maffey G, Jekjantuk N, Zeng C, van der Wal R. Towards more effective online environmental information provision through tailored Natural Language Generation: Profiles of Scottish river user groups and an evaluative online experiment. Sci Total Environ 2019; 673:643-655. [PMID: 30999105 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
As a result of societal transformations, political governance shifts, and advances in ICT, online information has become crucial in efforts by public authorities to make citizens better stewards of the environment. Yet, their environmental information provision may not always be attuned to end users' rationales, behaviours and appreciations. This study revolves around dynamic river level information provided by an environmental regulator - updated once a day or more, and collected by a sensor network of 333 gauging stations along 232 Scottish rivers. Employing an elaborate mixed methods approach with qualitative and quantitative elements, we examined if profiling of web page user groups and the subsequent employment of a specially designed Natural Language Generation (NLG) system could foster more effective online information provision. We identified profiles for the three main user groups: fishing, flood risk related, and paddling. The existence of well-distinguishable rationales and characteristics was in itself an argument for profiling; the same river level information was used in entirely different ways by the three groups. We subsequently constructed an advanced online experiment that implemented NLG based on live river level data. We found that textual information can be of much value in translating dynamic technical information into straightforward messages for the specific purposes of the user groups. We conclude that tailored NLG could be widely used in more effective online environmental information provision, and we provide five practical recommendations for public authorities and other information providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Arts
- Wageningen University and Research, Post box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Antonio A R Ioris
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom; Cardiff University, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff CF10 3WA, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Xiwu Han
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Somayajulu Sripada
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - João F Braga
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Maffey
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Nophadol Jekjantuk
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Cheng Zeng
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - René van der Wal
- The University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, United Kingdom
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8
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Sharma N, Colucci-Gray L, Siddharthan A, Comont R, van der Wal R. Designing online species identification tools for biological recording: the impact on data quality and citizen science learning. PeerJ 2019; 6:e5965. [PMID: 30713813 PMCID: PMC6354666 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the number and scale of environmental citizen science programmes that involve lay people in scientific research have increased rapidly. Many of these initiatives are concerned with the recording and identification of species, processes which are increasingly mediated through digital interfaces. Here, we address the growing need to understand the particular role of digital identification tools, both in generating scientific data and in supporting learning by lay people engaged in citizen science activities pertaining to biological recording communities. Starting from two well-known identification tools, namely identification keys and field guides, this study focuses on the decision-making and quality of learning processes underlying species identification tasks, by comparing three digital interfaces designed to identify bumblebee species. The three interfaces varied with respect to whether species were directly compared or filtered by matching on visual features; and whether the order of filters was directed by the interface or a user-driven open choice. A concurrent mixed-methods approach was adopted to compare how these different interfaces affected the ability of participants to make correct and quick species identifications, and to better understand how participants learned through using these interfaces. We found that the accuracy of identification and quality of learning were dependent upon the interface type, the difficulty of the specimen on the image being identified and the interaction between interface type and ‘image difficulty’. Specifically, interfaces based on filtering outperformed those based on direct visual comparison across all metrics, and an open choice of filters led to higher accuracy than the interface that directed the filtering. Our results have direct implications for the design of online identification technologies for biological recording, irrespective of whether the goal is to collect higher quality citizen science data, or to support user learning and engagement in these communities of practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirwan Sharma
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Laura Colucci-Gray
- School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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9
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Gordon IJ, Prins HHT, Mallon J, Puk LD, Miranda EBP, Starling-Manne C, van der Wal R, Moore B, Foley W, Lush L, Maestri R, Matsuda I, Clauss M. The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing in Other Vertebrate Taxa. The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing II 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25865-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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10
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Pagès M, Fischer A, van der Wal R, Lambin X. Empowered communities or "cheap labour"? Engaging volunteers in the rationalised management of invasive alien species in Great Britain. J Environ Manage 2019; 229:102-111. [PMID: 30001886 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Volunteers are increasingly involved in the delivery of nature conservation policies, usually supported by a twofold rationale: volunteering can (a) enhance citizen participation in environmental governance and (b) ensure a workforce is in place to support conservation work in times of budget shortages. Here, we ask how these two rationales correspond to volunteers' own motivations to engage in a specific nature conservation activity, namely the control of invasive alien species (IAS). We use qualitative interviews with professional project managers, local group leaders, and volunteers to examine the interactions between policies aiming to rationalise the management of IAS and the motivations for and goals of volunteer engagement. Our findings suggest that although volunteering can lead to positive conservation outcomes, satisfying experiences and empowerment, the different interests do not always align in practice. We investigate the implications of strategies that aim to improve the efficiency of invasive species and volunteer management, and discuss organisational arrangements that reconcile different objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pagès
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK; Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK.
| | - Anke Fischer
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK.
| | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK.
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK.
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Wilson DJ, van der Wal R, Chang ER, Jensen A, Jefferies RL. Urea hydrolysis and nitrification in arctic salt-marsh soils: Possible constraints on the growth of forage plants. Écoscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.1999.11952196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J. Wilson
- Department of BotanyUniversity of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - René van der Wal
- Zoological LaboratoryUniversity of Groningen, Biological Centre, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA, Haren, The Netherlands
| | - Esther R. Chang
- Department of BotanyUniversity of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Arne Jensen
- Department of Environmental Science and TechnologyRisø National Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robert L. Jefferies
- Department of BotanyUniversity of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
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12
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Cornelissen JHC, Grootemaat S, Verheijen LM, Cornwell WK, van Bodegom PM, van der Wal R, Aerts R. Are litter decomposition and fire linked through plant species traits? New Phytol 2017; 216:653-669. [PMID: 28892160 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Contents 653 I. 654 II. 657 III. 659 IV. 661 V. 662 VI. 663 VII. 665 665 References 665 SUMMARY: Biological decomposition and wildfire are connected carbon release pathways for dead plant material: slower litter decomposition leads to fuel accumulation. Are decomposition and surface fires also connected through plant community composition, via the species' traits? Our central concept involves two axes of trait variation related to decomposition and fire. The 'plant economics spectrum' (PES) links biochemistry traits to the litter decomposability of different fine organs. The 'size and shape spectrum' (SSS) includes litter particle size and shape and their consequent effect on fuel bed structure, ventilation and flammability. Our literature synthesis revealed that PES-driven decomposability is largely decoupled from predominantly SSS-driven surface litter flammability across species; this finding needs empirical testing in various environmental settings. Under certain conditions, carbon release will be dominated by decomposition, while under other conditions litter fuel will accumulate and fire may dominate carbon release. Ecosystem-level feedbacks between decomposition and fire, for example via litter amounts, litter decomposition stage, community-level biotic interactions and altered environment, will influence the trait-driven effects on decomposition and fire. Yet, our conceptual framework, explicitly comparing the effects of two plant trait spectra on litter decomposition vs fire, provides a promising new research direction for better understanding and predicting Earth surface carbon dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes H C Cornelissen
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia Grootemaat
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Lieneke M Verheijen
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - William K Cornwell
- Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Peter M van Bodegom
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CML, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Science, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Rien Aerts
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Verma A, van der Wal R, Fischer A. New Technological Interventions in Conservation Conflicts: Countering Emotions and Contested Knowledge. Hum Ecol Interdiscip J 2017; 45:683-695. [PMID: 29170591 PMCID: PMC5680367 DOI: 10.1007/s10745-017-9936-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
New technologies have increasingly featured in environmental conservation conflicts. We examined the deployment of imaging devices such as sonar equipment and cameras to survey the Fal estuary in Cornwall, UK. Due to heavy use of these waters, there have been several disputes coalescing around protected marine features, including the estuary's rare maerl beds. A comparison of two cases, scallop dredging and docks development, showed technical instruments being deployed to produce information about the marine environment as evidence to inform decision-making. The use of imaging devices stimulated political action and was regarded as a move away from emotion-based decision-making towards desired objectivity. Simultaneously, however, the process of deploying these devices was challenged and there was recognition that the resultant information could be used to construct the estuary as a politically charged space. Thus, rather than clarifying and resolving contentious issues, technological interventions generated new baselines for knowledge contestation and amplified ongoing battles for credibility and authority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Verma
- Sociology, Claremont Bridge Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU UK
| | - Anke Fischer
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, Scotland AB15 8QH UK
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14
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Albon SD, Irvine RJ, Halvorsen O, Langvatn R, Loe LE, Ropstad E, Veiberg V, van der Wal R, Bjørkvoll EM, Duff EI, Hansen BB, Lee AM, Tveraa T, Stien A. Contrasting effects of summer and winter warming on body mass explain population dynamics in a food-limited Arctic herbivore. Glob Chang Biol 2017; 23:1374-1389. [PMID: 27426229 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The cumulative effects of climate warming on herbivore vital rates and population dynamics are hard to predict, given that the expected effects differ between seasons. In the Arctic, warmer summers enhance plant growth which should lead to heavier and more fertile individuals in the autumn. Conversely, warm spells in winter with rainfall (rain-on-snow) can cause 'icing', restricting access to forage, resulting in starvation, lower survival and fecundity. As body condition is a 'barometer' of energy demands relative to energy intake, we explored the causes and consequences of variation in body mass of wild female Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) from 1994 to 2015, a period of marked climate warming. Late winter (April) body mass explained 88% of the between-year variation in population growth rate, because it strongly influenced reproductive loss, and hence subsequent fecundity (92%), as well as survival (94%) and recruitment (93%). Autumn (October) body mass affected ovulation rates but did not affect fecundity. April body mass showed no long-term trend (coefficient of variation, CV = 8.8%) and was higher following warm autumn (October) weather, reflecting delays in winter onset, but most strongly, and negatively, related to 'rain-on-snow' events. October body mass (CV = 2.5%) increased over the study due to higher plant productivity in the increasingly warm summers. Density-dependent mass change suggested competition for resources in both winter and summer but was less pronounced in recent years, despite an increasing population size. While continued climate warming is expected to increase the carrying capacity of the high Arctic tundra, it is also likely to cause more frequent icing events. Our analyses suggest that these contrasting effects may cause larger seasonal fluctuations in body mass and vital rates. Overall our findings provide an important 'missing' mechanistic link in the current understanding of the population biology of a keystone species in a rapidly warming Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Odd Halvorsen
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rolf Langvatn
- University Courses in Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, NO-9171, Longyearbyen, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), P.O. Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Leif E Loe
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Aas, Norway
| | - Erik Ropstad
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 8146, NO-0033, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vebjørn Veiberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), P.O. Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Eirin M Bjørkvoll
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Elizabeth I Duff
- Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland (BioSS), Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK
| | - Brage B Hansen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Aline M Lee
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Torkild Tveraa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Audun Stien
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
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15
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Maffey G, Irvine RJ, Reed M, van der Wal R. Can digital reinvention of ecological monitoring remove barriers to its adoption by practitioners? A case study of deer management in Scotland. J Environ Manage 2016; 184:186-195. [PMID: 27707658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.09.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring is one of the key tools employed to help understand the condition of the natural environment and inform the development of appropriate management actions. While international conventions encourage the use of standardised methods, the link between the information monitoring provides and local management needs is frequently overlooked. This problem is further exacerbated when monitoring is employed in areas where there are divergent interests among stakeholders in land use and management. Such problems are found in the management of wild deer across Scotland, where monitoring, in the form of habitat impact assessments, have been introduced as an innovation in sustainable deer management. However, the uptake of habitat impact assessments has been limited. We used deer management in Scotland as a case study to explore whether reinventing habitat impact assessments, and hosting the system on a familiar digital platform (a mobile phone) could help to remove perceived barriers to the implementation of assessments. Using the diffusion of innovations as a theoretical framework three sets of workshops were conducted with participants representing different stakeholder interests. While the proposed digital system did address perceived barriers to the conduct of habitat monitoring, in addition it revealed underlying concerns on the use and purpose of habitat monitoring as a tool in land management. Such concerns indicate friction between scientific and management perspectives, which need to be considered and addressed if monitoring is to become more widely acceptable as a tool to inform the management of natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Maffey
- dot.rural, RCUK Digital Economy Research, MacRobert Building, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 5UA, United Kingdom.
| | - R Justin Irvine
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Reed
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, United Kingdom; Centre for Rural Economy, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - René van der Wal
- dot.rural, RCUK Digital Economy Research, MacRobert Building, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 5UA, United Kingdom; Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, United Kingdom
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16
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Anderson HB, Speed JD, Madsen J, Pedersen ÅØ, Tombre IM, van der Wal R. Late snow melt moderates herbivore disturbance of the Arctic tundra. Écoscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2016.1212684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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17
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Lakeman-Fraser P, Gosling L, Moffat AJ, West SE, Fradera R, Davies L, Ayamba MA, van der Wal R. To have your citizen science cake and eat it? Delivering research and outreach through Open Air Laboratories (OPAL). BMC Ecol 2016; 16 Suppl 1:16. [PMID: 27460040 PMCID: PMC4965728 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-016-0065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vast array of citizen science projects which have blossomed over the last decade span a spectrum of objectives from research to outreach. While some focus primarily on the collection of rigorous scientific data and others are positioned towards the public engagement end of the gradient, the majority of initiatives attempt to balance the two. Although meeting multiple aims can be seen as a 'win-win' situation, it can also yield significant challenges as allocating resources to one element means that they may be diverted away from the other. Here we analyse one such programme which set out to find an effective equilibrium between these arguably polarised goals. Through the lens of the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) programme we explore the inherent trade-offs encountered under four indicators derived from an independent citizen science evaluation framework. Assimilating experience from the OPAL network we investigate practical approaches taken to tackle arising tensions. RESULTS Working backwards from project delivery to design, we found the following elements to be important: ensuring outputs are fit for purpose, developing strong internal and external collaborations, building a sufficiently diverse partnership and considering target audiences. We combine these 'operational indicators' with four pre-existing 'outcome indicators' to create a model which can be used to shape the planning and delivery of a citizen science project. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that whether the proverb in the title rings true will largely depend on the identification of challenges along the way and the ability to address these conflicts throughout the citizen science project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poppy Lakeman-Fraser
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 1NA UK
| | - Laura Gosling
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 1NA UK
| | - Andy J. Moffat
- Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH UK
| | - Sarah E. West
- Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Roger Fradera
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 1NA UK
| | - Linda Davies
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 1NA UK
| | - Maxwell A. Ayamba
- Department for the Natural and Built Environment, Faculty of Development and Society, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB UK
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU UK
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18
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van der Wal R, Sharma N, Mellish C, Robinson A, Siddharthan A. The role of automated feedback in training and retaining biological recorders for citizen science. Conserv Biol 2016; 30:550-561. [PMID: 27111194 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The rapid rise of citizen science, with lay people forming often extensive biodiversity sensor networks, is seen as a solution to the mismatch between data demand and supply while simultaneously engaging citizens with environmental topics. However, citizen science recording schemes require careful consideration of how to motivate, train, and retain volunteers. We evaluated a novel computing science framework that allowed for the automated generation of feedback to citizen scientists using natural language generation (NLG) technology. We worked with a photo-based citizen science program in which users also volunteer species identification aided by an online key. Feedback is provided after photo (and identification) submission and is aimed to improve volunteer species identification skills and to enhance volunteer experience and retention. To assess the utility of NLG feedback, we conducted two experiments with novices to assess short-term (single session) and longer-term (5 sessions in 2 months) learning, respectively. Participants identified a specimen in a series of photos. One group received only the correct answer after each identification, and the other group received the correct answer and NLG feedback explaining reasons for misidentification and highlighting key features that facilitate correct identification. We then developed an identification training tool with NLG feedback as part of the citizen science program BeeWatch and analyzed learning by users. Finally, we implemented NLG feedback in the live program and evaluated this by randomly allocating all BeeWatch users to treatment groups that received different types of feedback upon identification submission. After 6 months separate surveys were sent out to assess whether views on the citizen science program and its feedback differed among the groups. Identification accuracy and retention of novices were higher for those who received automated feedback than for those who received only confirmation of the correct identification without explanation. The value of NLG feedback in the live program, captured through questionnaires and evaluation of the online photo-based training tool, likewise showed that the automated generation of informative feedback fostered learning and volunteer engagement and thus paves the way for productive and long-lived citizen science projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, U.K
| | - Nirwan Sharma
- Department of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K
| | - Chris Mellish
- Department of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K
| | - Annie Robinson
- dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, U.K
| | - Advaith Siddharthan
- Department of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K
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19
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Milner JM, Varpe Ø, van der Wal R, Hansen BB. Experimental icing affects growth, mortality, and flowering in a high Arctic dwarf shrub. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2139-48. [PMID: 27066227 PMCID: PMC4769718 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Effects of climate change are predicted to be greatest at high latitudes, with more pronounced warming in winter than summer. Extreme mid-winter warm spells and heavy rain-on-snow events are already increasing in frequency in the Arctic, with implications for snow-pack and ground-ice formation. These may in turn affect key components of Arctic ecosystems. However, the fitness consequences of extreme winter weather events for tundra plants are not well understood, especially in the high Arctic. We simulated an extreme mid-winter rain-on-snow event at a field site in high Arctic Svalbard (78°N) by experimentally encasing tundra vegetation in ice. After the subsequent growing season, we measured the effects of icing on growth and fitness indices in the common tundra plant, Arctic bell-heather (Cassiope tetragona). The suitability of this species for retrospective growth analysis enabled us to compare shoot growth in pre and postmanipulation years in icing treatment and control plants, as well as shoot survival and flowering. Plants from icing treatment plots had higher shoot mortality and lower flowering success than controls. At the individual sample level, heavily flowering plants invested less in shoot growth than nonflowering plants, while shoot growth was positively related to the degree of shoot mortality. Therefore, contrary to expectation, undamaged shoots showed enhanced growth in ice treatment plants. This suggests that following damage, aboveground resources were allocated to the few remaining undamaged meristems. The enhanced shoot growth measured in our icing treatment plants has implications for climate studies based on retrospective analyses of Cassiope. As shoot growth in this species responds positively to summer warming, it also highlights a potentially complex interaction between summer and winter conditions. By documenting strong effects of icing on growth and reproduction of a widespread tundra plant, our study contributes to an understanding of Arctic plant responses to projected changes in winter climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jos M Milner
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen 23 St. Machar Drive Aberdeen AB24 3UU U.K
| | - Øystein Varpe
- University Centre in Svalbard 9171 Longyearbyen Norway; Akvaplan-niva Fram Centre 9296 Tromsø Norway
| | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen 23 St. Machar Drive Aberdeen AB24 3UU U.K
| | - Brage Bremset Hansen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology 7491 Trondheim Norway
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20
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Arts K, Fischer A, van der Wal R. Boundaries of the wolf and the wild: a conceptual examination of the relationship between rewilding and animal reintroduction. Restor Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Koen Arts
- Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group; Wageningen University and Research Centre; Gaia, Building Number 101 6700 AA Wageningen The Netherlands
- Centro de Pesquisa do Pantanal; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso; Cuiabá 78.068-360 Brazil
| | - Anke Fischer
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group; The James Hutton Institute; Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH U.K
| | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES); University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen AB24 3UU U.K
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21
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Newey S, Davidson P, Nazir S, Fairhurst G, Verdicchio F, Irvine RJ, van der Wal R. Limitations of recreational camera traps for wildlife management and conservation research: a practitioner's perspective. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 4:624-635. [PMID: 26508349 PMCID: PMC4623860 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0713-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The availability of affordable 'recreational' camera traps has dramatically increased over the last decade. We present survey results which show that many conservation practitioners use cheaper 'recreational' units for research rather than more expensive 'professional' equipment. We present our perspective of using two popular models of 'recreational' camera trap for ecological field-based studies. The models used (for >2 years) presented us with a range of practical problems at all stages of their use including deployment, operation, and data management, which collectively crippled data collection and limited opportunities for quantification of key issues arising. Our experiences demonstrate that prospective users need to have a sufficient understanding of the limitations camera trap technology poses, dimensions we communicate here. While the merits of different camera traps will be study specific, the performance of more expensive 'professional' models may prove more cost-effective in the long-term when using camera traps for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Newey
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK.
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Hedmark University College, Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway.
| | - Paul Davidson
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Sajid Nazir
- dot.rural, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - Gorry Fairhurst
- Electronics Research Group, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
| | - Fabio Verdicchio
- Electronics Research Group, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
| | - R Justin Irvine
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK.
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
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22
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van der Wal R, Zeng C, Heptinstall D, Ponnamperuma K, Mellish C, Ben S, Siddharthan A. Automated data analysis to rapidly derive and communicate ecological insights from satellite-tag data: a case study of reintroduced red kites. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 4:612-23. [PMID: 26508348 PMCID: PMC4623868 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0711-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of satellite-telemetry data mostly occurs long after it has been collected, due to the time and effort needed to collate and interpret such material. Delayed reporting reduces the usefulness of such data for nature conservation where timely information about animal movements is required. To counter this problem, we present a novel approach which combines automated analysis of satellite-telemetry data with rapid communication of insights derived from such data. A relatively simple algorithm (based on radial and angular velocity calculated from fixes) allowed instantaneous detection of excursions away from settlement areas and automated calculation of home ranges on the remaining data. Automating the detection of both excursions and home-range calculations enabled us to disseminate ecological insights from satellite-tag data instantaneously through a dedicated web portal. The automated analysis, interpretation, and communication of satellite-tag and other ecological data offer clear benefits to nature conservation research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Cheng Zeng
- Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
| | - Danny Heptinstall
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Kapila Ponnamperuma
- ARRIA R&D, University of Aberdeen, Meston Building G05E, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
| | - Chris Mellish
- Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
| | - Stuart Ben
- RSPB North Scotland, Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness, IV2 3BW, UK.
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, Auris, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Koen Arts
- Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
- Centro de Pesquisa do Pantanal, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, CEP: 78.068-360, Brazil.
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24
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van der Wal R, Anderson H, Robinson A, Sharma N, Mellish C, Roberts S, Darvill B, Siddharthan A. Mapping species distributions: a comparison of skilled naturalist and lay citizen science recording. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 4:584-600. [PMID: 26508346 PMCID: PMC4623864 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0709-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
To assess the ability of traditional biological recording schemes and lay citizen science approaches to gather data on species distributions and changes therein, we examined bumblebee records from the UK's national repository (National Biodiversity Network) and from BeeWatch. The two recording approaches revealed similar relative abundances of bumblebee species but different geographical distributions. For the widespread common carder (Bombus pascuorum), traditional recording scheme data were patchy, both spatially and temporally, reflecting active record centre rather than species distribution. Lay citizen science records displayed more extensive geographic coverage, reflecting human population density, thus offering better opportunities to account for recording effort. For the rapidly spreading tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), both recording approaches revealed similar distributions due to a dedicated mapping project which overcame the patchy nature of naturalist records. We recommend, where possible, complementing skilled naturalist recording with lay citizen science programmes to obtain a nation-wide capability, and stress the need for timely uploading of data to the national repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Helen Anderson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Annie Robinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Nirwan Sharma
- dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - Chris Mellish
- Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
| | - Stuart Roberts
- Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society, 1 Waterloo Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2JR, UK.
| | - Ben Darvill
- Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling, FK9 4NF, UK.
- British Trust for Ornithology, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
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25
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Abstract
Digital technology is changing nature conservation in increasingly profound ways. We describe this impact and its significance through the concept of 'digital conservation', which we found to comprise five pivotal dimensions: data on nature, data on people, data integration and analysis, communication and experience, and participatory governance. Examining digital innovation in nature conservation and addressing how its development, implementation and diffusion may be steered, we warn against hypes, techno-fix thinking, good news narratives and unverified assumptions. We identify a need for rigorous evaluation, more comprehensive consideration of social exclusion, frameworks for regulation and increased multi-sector as well as multi-discipline awareness and cooperation. Along the way, digital technology may best be reconceptualised by conservationists from something that is either good or bad, to a dual-faced force in need of guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Arts
- Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
- Centro de Pesquisa do Pantanal, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, CEP: 78.068-360, Brazil.
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - William M Adams
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3EN, UK
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Galán-Díaz C, Edwards P, Nelson JD, van der Wal R. Digital innovation through partnership between nature conservation organisations and academia: a qualitative impact assessment. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 4:538-49. [PMID: 26508342 PMCID: PMC4623857 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0704-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Nature conservation organisations increasingly turn to new digital technologies to help deliver conservation objectives. This has led to collaborative forms of working with academia to spearhead digital innovation. Through in-depth interviews with three UK research-council-funded case studies, we show that by working with academics conservation organisations can receive positive and negative impacts, some of which cut across their operations. Positive impacts include new ways of engaging with audiences, improved data workflows, financial benefits, capacity building and the necessary digital infrastructure to help them influence policy. Negative impacts include the time and resources required to learn new skills and sustain new technologies, managing different organisational objectives and shifts in working practices as a result of the new technologies. Most importantly, collaboration with academics was shown to bring the opportunity of a profound change in perspectives on technologies with benefits to the partner organisations and individuals therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Galán-Díaz
- dot.rural (RCUK Digital Economy Research), University of Aberdeen, MacRobert Building, King's College, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - Peter Edwards
- dot.rural (RCUK Digital Economy Research), University of Aberdeen, MacRobert Building, King's College, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - John D Nelson
- dot.rural (RCUK Digital Economy Research), University of Aberdeen, MacRobert Building, King's College, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
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Verma A, van der Wal R, Fischer A. Microscope and spectacle: on the complexities of using new visual technologies to communicate about wildlife conservation. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 4:648-60. [PMID: 26508351 PMCID: PMC4623859 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0715-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife conservation-related organisations increasingly employ new visual technologies in their science communication and public engagement efforts. Here, we examine the use of such technologies for wildlife conservation campaigns. We obtained empirical data from four UK-based organisations through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Visual technologies were used to provide the knowledge and generate the emotional responses perceived by organisations as being necessary for motivating a sense of caring about wildlife. We term these two aspects 'microscope' and 'spectacle', metaphorical concepts denoting the duality through which these technologies speak to both the cognitive and the emotional. As conservation relies on public support, organisations have to be seen to deliver information that is not only sufficiently detailed and scientifically credible but also spectacular enough to capture public interest. Our investigation showed that balancing science and entertainment is a difficult undertaking for wildlife-related organisations as there are perceived risks of contriving experiences of nature and obscuring conservation aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Verma
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Anke Fischer
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK.
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Wipf S, Sommerkorn M, Stutter MI, Wubs ERJ, van der Wal R. Snow cover, freeze-thaw, and the retention of nutrients in an oceanic mountain ecosystem. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es15-00099.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Smith SW, Johnson D, Quin SLO, Munro K, Pakeman RJ, van der Wal R, Woodin SJ. Combination of herbivore removal and nitrogen deposition increases upland carbon storage. Glob Chang Biol 2015; 21:3036-3048. [PMID: 25930662 PMCID: PMC4973882 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem carbon (C) accrual and storage can be enhanced by removing large herbivores as well as by the fertilizing effect of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. These drivers are unlikely to operate independently, yet their combined effect on aboveground and belowground C storage remains largely unexplored. We sampled inside and outside 19 upland grazing exclosures, established for up to 80 years, across an N deposition gradient (5-24 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) ) and found that herbivore removal increased aboveground plant C stocks, particularly in moss, shrubs and litter. Soil C storage increased with atmospheric N deposition, and this was moderated by the presence or absence of herbivores. In exclosures receiving above 11 kg N ha(-1) year(-1) , herbivore removal resulted in increased soil C stocks. This effect was typically greater for exclosures dominated by dwarf shrubs (Calluna vulgaris) than by grasses (Molinia caerulea). The same pattern was observed for ecosystem C storage. We used our data to predict C storage for a scenario of removing all large herbivores from UK heathlands. Predictions were made considering herbivore removal only (ignoring N deposition) and the combined effects of herbivore removal and current N deposition rates. Predictions including N deposition resulted in a smaller increase in UK heathland C storage than predictions using herbivore removal only. This finding was driven by the fact that the majority of UK heathlands receive low N deposition rates at which herbivore removal has little effect on C storage. Our findings demonstrate the crucial link between herbivory by large mammals and atmospheric N deposition, and this interaction needs to be considered in models of biogeochemical cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W. Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
- The James Hutton InstituteCraigiebucklerAberdeenAB15 8QHUK
- ACESUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - David Johnson
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - Samuel L. O. Quin
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - Kyle Munro
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | | | - René van der Wal
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
- ACESUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - Sarah J. Woodin
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
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Anderson HB, Madsen J, Woodin SJ, van der Wal R. Where to settle in a rapidly expanding bird colony: a case study on colony expansion in High Arctic breeding geese. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-014-1845-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Fielding D, Newey S, van der Wal R, Irvine RJ. Carcass provisioning to support scavengers: evaluating a controversial nature conservation practice. Ambio 2014; 43:810-819. [PMID: 24366570 PMCID: PMC4165841 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-013-0469-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2013] [Revised: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A number of scavenger species have suffered population declines across Europe. In attempts to reverse their decline, some land and wildlife managers have adopted the practice of leaving or placing out carcasses of wild or domestic herbivores to provide a source of carrion. However, this can be a controversial practice, with as yet unclear outcomes for many target species and the ecosystems they are part of. Here we bring out the key aspects of this increasingly common conservation practice illustrated using three contrasting cases studies. We show that the provision of carcasses is often motivated by a desire to benefit charismatic species or to facilitate nutrient cycling throughout an ecosystem. Evidence for the effectiveness of this practice in achieving these objectives, however, is mostly lacking, with ecologists studying "easier" species groups such as beetles and therefore not providing relevant insights. Moreover, conflicts between environmental policies that carcass provisioning is aimed at and other social and economic objectives do occur but these projects are often designed without taking into account this broader context. We conclude that expecting carcasses to simply be "good for biodiversity" may be too naïve a view. A greater knowledge of the impact of carcass provisioning and placement on ecosystems and society at large is required before it can become a more effective conservation tool at a wider scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Fielding
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK,
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Anderson HB, Madsen J, Fuglei E, Jensen GH, Woodin SJ, van der Wal R. The dilemma of where to nest: influence of spring snow cover, food proximity and predator abundance on reproductive success of an arctic-breeding migratory herbivore is dependent on nesting habitat choice. Polar Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-014-1574-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Fischer A, Selge S, van der Wal R, Larson BMH. The public and professionals reason similarly about the management of non-native invasive species: a quantitative investigation of the relationship between beliefs and attitudes. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105495. [PMID: 25170957 PMCID: PMC4149425 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite continued critique of the idea of clear boundaries between scientific and lay knowledge, the ‘deficit-model’ of public understanding of ecological issues still seems prevalent in discourses of biodiversity management. Prominent invasion biologists, for example, still argue that citizens need to be educated so that they accept scientists’ views on the management of non-native invasive species. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey with members of the public and professionals in invasive species management (n = 732) in Canada and the UK to investigate commonalities and differences in their perceptions of species and, more importantly, how these perceptions were connected to attitudes towards species management. Both native and non-native mammal and tree species were included. Professionals tended to have more extreme views than the public, especially in relation to nativeness and abundance of a species. In both groups, species that were perceived to be more abundant, non-native, unattractive or harmful to nature and the economy were more likely to be regarded as in need of management. While perceptions of species and attitudes towards management thus often differed between public and professionals, these perceptions were linked to attitudes in very similar ways across the two groups. This suggests that ways of reasoning about invasive species employed by professionals and the public might be more compatible with each other than commonly thought. We recommend that managers and local people engage in open discussion about each other’s beliefs and attitudes prior to an invasive species control programme. This could ultimately reduce conflict over invasive species control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Fischer
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Sebastian Selge
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) and School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) and School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Brendon M. H. Larson
- Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Smith SW, Woodin SJ, Pakeman RJ, Johnson D, van der Wal R. Root traits predict decomposition across a landscape-scale grazing experiment. New Phytol 2014; 203:851-62. [PMID: 24841886 PMCID: PMC4260134 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Root litter is the dominant soil carbon and nutrient input in many ecosystems, yet few studies have considered how root decomposition is regulated at the landscape scale and how this is mediated by land-use management practices. Large herbivores can potentially influence below-ground decomposition through changes in soil microclimate (temperature and moisture) and changes in plant species composition (root traits). To investigate such herbivore-induced changes, we quantified annual root decomposition of upland grassland species in situ across a landscape-scale livestock grazing experiment, in a common-garden experiment and in laboratory microcosms evaluating the influence of key root traits on decomposition. Livestock grazing increased soil temperatures, but this did not affect root decomposition. Grazing had no effect on soil moisture, but wetter soils retarded root decomposition. Species-specific decomposition rates were similar across all grazing treatments, and species differences were maintained in the common-garden experiment, suggesting an overriding importance of litter type. Supporting this, in microcosms, roots with lower specific root area (m(2) g(-1)) or those with higher phosphorus concentrations decomposed faster. Our results suggest that large herbivores alter below-ground carbon and nitrogen dynamics more through their effects on plant species composition and associated root traits than through effects on the soil microclimate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W Smith
- IBES, University of Aberdeen, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK; The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK; ACES, University of Aberdeen, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
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Smith SW, Vandenberghe C, Hastings A, Johnson D, Pakeman RJ, van der Wal R, Woodin SJ. Optimizing Carbon Storage Within a Spatially Heterogeneous Upland Grassland Through Sheep Grazing Management. Ecosystems 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-013-9731-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Maffey G, Reed M, Irvine RJ, van der Wal R. Habitat monitoring in the wider countryside: a case study on the pursuit of innovation in red deer management. J Environ Manage 2013; 128:779-86. [PMID: 23860380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Policy frameworks for protected areas, such as the EU habitats directive, ensure that environmental monitoring takes place to assess the condition of these sites. However, this monitoring rarely extends to the wider countryside, and there is no obligation for private landowners to detect trends in habitat condition. Using the diffusion of innovations model as an analytical framework we conducted a series of semi-structured interviews to consider the uptake of habitat impact assessment methods throughout a community involved in private land use pursuits in Scotland. It was found that although the community as a whole recognises the benefits of habitat impact assessments there are a number of barriers to their uptake, including the complexity of data gathering and interpretation, and uncertainty around who should be responsible for the conduct of assessments. Analysing the uptake of an innovation at an early stage, rather than retrospectively as is commonly done, highlights the potential for non-adoption and could therefore inform the reinvention of the innovation. In this instance reinvention could lead to more appropriate monitoring methods, which, if taken up, could reduce the need for legislative intervention in situations where both public and private interests need to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Maffey
- dot.rural, RCUK Digital Economy Research, MacRobert Building, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 5UA, United Kingdom.
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Sjögersten S, van der Wal R, Woodin SJ. Impacts of Grazing and Climate Warming on C Pools and Decomposition Rates in Arctic Environments. Ecosystems 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-011-9514-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Gornall JL, Woodin SJ, Jónsdóttir IS, van der Wal R. Balancing positive and negative plant interactions: how mosses structure vascular plant communities. Oecologia 2011; 166:769-82. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1911-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Accepted: 01/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Sjögersten S, van der Wal R, Loonen MJJE, Woodin SJ. Recovery of ecosystem carbon fluxes and storage from herbivory. Biogeochemistry 2011; 106:357-370. [PMID: 26069352 PMCID: PMC4459552 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-010-9516-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The carbon (C) sink strength of arctic tundra is under pressure from increasing populations of arctic breeding geese. In this study we examined how CO2 and CH4 fluxes, plant biomass and soil C responded to the removal of vertebrate herbivores in a high arctic wet moss meadow that has been intensively used by barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) for ca. 20 years. We used 4 and 9 years old grazing exclosures to investigate the potential for recovery of ecosystem function during the growing season (July 2007). The results show greater above- and below-ground vascular plant biomass within the grazing exclosures with graminoid biomass being most responsive to the removal of herbivory whilst moss biomass remained unchanged. The changes in biomass switched the system from net emission to net uptake of CO2 (0.47 and -0.77 μmol m-2 s-1 in grazed and exclosure plots, respectively) during the growing season and doubled the C storage in live biomass. In contrast, the treatment had no impact on the CH4 fluxes, the total litter C pool or the soil C concentration. The rapid recovery of the above ground biomass and CO2 fluxes demonstrates the plasticity of this high arctic ecosystem in terms of response to changing herbivore pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Sjögersten
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU UK
| | | | - Sarah J. Woodin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU UK
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Armitage HF, Britton AJ, Woodin SJ, van der Wal R. Assessing the recovery potential of alpine moss-sedge heath: reciprocal transplants along a nitrogen deposition gradient. Environ Pollut 2011; 159:140-147. [PMID: 20888678 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Revised: 09/07/2010] [Accepted: 09/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The potential of alpine moss-sedge heath to recover from elevated nitrogen (N) deposition was assessed by transplanting Racomitrium lanuginosum shoots and vegetation turfs between 10 elevated N deposition sites (8.2-32.9 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)) and a low N deposition site, Ben Wyvis (7.2 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)). After two years, tissue N of Racomitrium shoots transplanted from higher N sites to Ben Wyvis only partially equilibrated to reduced N deposition whereas reciprocal transplants almost matched the tissue N of indigenous moss. Unexpectedly, moss shoot growth was stimulated at higher N deposition sites. However, moss depth and biomass increased in turfs transplanted to Ben Wyvis, apparently due to slower shoot turnover (suggested to result partly from decreased tissue C:N slowing decomposition), whilst abundance of vascular species declined. Racomitrium heath has the potential to recover from the impacts of N deposition; however, this is constrained by the persistence of enhanced moss tissue N contents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather F Armitage
- Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK; Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
| | | | - Sarah J Woodin
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
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Keith AM, van der Wal R, Brooker RW, Osler GHR, Chapman SJ, Burslem DFRP, Elston DA. INCREASING LITTER SPECIES RICHNESS REDUCES VARIABILITY IN A TERRESTRIAL DECOMPOSER SYSTEM. Ecology 2008; 89:2657-64. [DOI: 10.1890/07-1364.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abstract
Mosses are one of the most diverse and widespread groups of plants and often form the dominant vegetation in montane, boreal and arctic ecosystems. However, unlike higher plants, mosses lack developed root and vascular systems, which is thought to limit their access to soil nutrients. Here, we test the ability of two physiologically and taxonomically distinct moss species to take up soil- and wet deposition-derived nitrogen (N) in natural intact turfs using stable isotopic techniques (15N). Both species exhibited increased concentrations of shoot 15N when exposed to either soil- or wet deposition-derived 15N, demonstrating conclusively and for the first time, that mosses derive N from the soil. Given the broad physiological and taxonomic differences between these moss species, we suggest soil N uptake may be common among mosses, although further studies are required to test this prediction. Soil N uptake by moss species may allow them to compete for soil N in a wide range of ecosystems. Moreover, since many terrestrial ecosystems are N limited, soil N uptake by mosses may have implications for plant community structure and nutrient cycling. Finally, soil N uptake may place some moss species at greater risk from N pollution than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Ayres
- Lancaster University, Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
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Abstract
The impact of reduced light conditions as an indirect effect of nitrogen (N) deposition was determined on three mosses in a montane ecosystem, where sedge and grass cover increase due to N enrichment. Additionally, in the greenhouse we established the importance of low light to moss growth as an indirect N deposition effect relative to the direct toxic effects of N. The amount of light reaching the moss layer was strongly and negatively related to graminoid abundance. Mosses showed differing sensitivities to reduced light in the field. Racomitrium lanuginosum biomass was found to be highest under high-light conditions, Polytrichum alpinum at intermediate light levels, whilst that of Dicranum fuscescens was unrelated to light availability. Moreover, Racomitrium biomass decreased with increasing amounts of graminoid litter, whereas the other species were little affected. All three mosses responded differently to the combination of elevated N (20 vs 10 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)) and reduced light (60 and 80% reduction) in the greenhouse. Racomitrium growth was strongly influenced by both light reduction and elevated N, in combination reducing shoot biomass up to 76%. There was a tendency for Dicranum growth to be modestly reduced by elevated N when shaded, causing up to 19% growth reduction. Polytrichum growth was not influenced by elevated N but was reduced up to 40% by shading. We conclude that competition for light, induced by vascular plants, can strongly influence moss performance even in unproductive low biomass ecosystems. The effects of reduced light arising from N pollution can be as important to mosses as direct toxicity from N deposition. Yet, different sensitivities of mosses to both toxic and shading effects of elevated N prevent generalisation and can lead to competitive species replacement within moss communities. This study demonstrates the importance of understanding moss-vascular plant interactions to allow interpretation and prediction of ecosystem responses to anthropogenic drivers such as atmospheric N deposition or climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- René van der Wal
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 4BW, Scotland.
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Kunst PJG, van der Wal R, van Wieren S. Home ranges of brown hares in a natural salt marsh: comparisons with agricultural systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001. [DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.01-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Kunst PJG, van der Wal R, van Wieren S. Home ranges of brown hares in a natural salt marsh: comparisons with agricultural systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03192435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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