Sarah FaulwetterHellenic Centre for Marine Research

Pilot citizen science project initiated under the EU project

ViBRANT

Scope: Record coastal (fish) biodiversity

Target group: divers and snorkellers

Where & when: Greece (mainly Crete), 2011–2012

Concept

Train interested persons in identifying coastal fish

Offer an easy-to use website to record the data (Drupal)

Analyse how useful the data are for scientific analyses

Concept

Train interested persons in identifying coastal fish

Offer an easy-to use website to record the data (Drupal)

Analyse how useful the data are for scientific analyses

Benefits for divers

Learn more about nature

Create scientific knowledge

Acknowledgement in scientific publications

Get in contact with other divers and natural scientists

Get the BIOWATCH fishcard for free

Year 1

Seminars in dive schools by HCMR scientists

Guided dives (underwater training)

Data collection

Questionnaire

Year 1

very abundant rare common

http://www.comber.hcmr.gr

Year 1 - results

48 users from 10 countries20 users with >1 dive1,879 observations95 dives / snorkelling trips9 locations

Experienced divers: more efficient in recording

Positive feedback from questionnaires, willingness to continue but lack of motivation

Year 1 - results

48 users from 10 countries20 users with >1 dive1,879 observations95 dives / snorkelling trips9 locations

Experienced divers: more efficient in recording

Positive feedback from questionnaires, willingness to continue but lack of motivation

2 main user groups:

● Young, local, divers or biology students

● >35 years, tourists, male, academic but no biologists

Lessons learned

Time-consuming for HCMR staff

Entering data online on-the-spot difficult

Conflicts with schedule of dive centres

Heterogeneous user groups with different skills

Year 2 - results

93 users –> almost doubled3732 observations –> doubled274 dives / snorkelling trips –> tripled~20 locations –> doubled

Time-consuming for HCMR staff

Data gathering difficult

Low participation through dive schools

Tours in Cretaquarium successful

Year 2 - results

93 users –> almost doubled3732 observations –> doubled274 dives / snorkelling trips –> tripled~20 locations –> doubled

Time-consuming for HCMR staff

Data gathering difficult

Low participation through dive schools

Tours in Cretaquarium successful

Top-down approach

Year 2 - results

93 users –> almost doubled3732 observations –> doubled274 dives / snorkelling trips –> tripled~20 locations –> doubled

Time-consuming for HCMR staff

Data gathering difficult

Low participation through dive schools

Tours in Cretaquarium successful

Top-down approach

Plans

Community-driven approach – redefine target group

HCMR provides software & guidance

Include all taxa – use Scratchpads

Increase “citizen science awareness” in Greece

Quality control of data, data analyses

Conclusions

Successful as a pilot project

Next: transition from BioBlitz-style to independent, community-driven project

Conclusions

To continue:

Know your target groupDefine your approach

Respond to the “market”

Successful as a pilot project

Next: transition from BioBlitz-style to independent, community-driven project