Experimental evidence that behavioral nudges in citizen science projects can improve biodiversity data
Corey T. Callaghan, Maureen M. Thompson, Adam Woods, Alistair G. B. Poore, Diana E. Bowler, Fabrice Samonte, Jodi J. L. Rowley, Nadiah Roslan, Richard T. Kingsford, William K. Cornwell, Richard E. Major
Abstract
Abstract One way to improve the value of citizen science data for a specific aim is through promoting adaptive sampling, where the marginal value of a citizen science observation is dependent on existing data collected to address a specific question. Adaptive sampling could increase sampling at places or times—using a dynamic and updateable framework—where data are expected to be most informative for a given ecological question or conservation goal. We used an experimental approach to test whether the participants in a popular Australian citizen science project—FrogID—would follow an adaptive sampling protocol aiming to maximize understanding of frog diversity. After a year, our results demonstrated that these citizen science participants were willing to adopt an adaptive sampling protocol, improving the sampling of biodiversity consistent with a specific aim. Such adaptive sampling can increase the value of citizen science data for biodiversity research and open up new avenues for citizen science project design.