Nature's Notebook Project Design

      When collecting data, citizen scientists have the option of using one of Nature Notebook's observation sheets and entering their data on the website or on the mobile app. Using the observation sheet is optional, but I have found it very useful because it helps to specify what one should look for in their observations. The data that is collected is  submitted to the USA National Phenology Network (USANPN). As mentioned in my first blog post, USANPN runs the Nature's Notebook program. According to their website, the citizen science data is used by researchers, natural resource managers, and others who are interested in conservation in order to make informed decisions and to further scientific discovery (2018). Nature's Notebook is relatively vague in what they use their citizen science observations for, so it is hard to say whether or not they are losing any opportunities with the data they are collecting. However, if it is not already being used for these things, the. citizen science observations would be beneficial for taking an inventory and creating a catalog of biodiversity in certain areas. This information could be beneficial for tracking losses of biodiversity or taking notice of invasive species inhabiting areas that were previously uninhabitable. Furthermore, this data could be used to better plan for protected areas. If populations or individuals of rare or endangered species are found in new areas, then conservationists can make decisions regarding the best way to preserve the species. According to the website, the data that has been collected by citizen scientists over the years has allowed scientists to observe changes in flowering patterns over the past century (Nature's Notebook, 2017). 

     The only aspect of this project that I do think is problematic, and is likely problematic with other citizen science projects, is errors in reporting. Many citizen scientists obviously have an interest in conservation and, therefore, are likely familiar with different plant and animal species. Other citizen scientists may not be familiar with species and, therefore, may make incorrect observations and reports. One way to avoid this would be to require pictures with each observation so that the scientists reviewing the data could check the observations against the picture and make sure the citizen scientist is actually observing the plant or animal that they think they are observing. This would be one aspect of reporting that I would change in order to account for greater accuracy and data. 

     One aspect of this project that I find to be innovative is the use of a mobile app. This makes it extremely easy to make observations and report data. Observers can literally just take their phones into the woods with them and report their observations and pictures as they take them down. I also think it is clever that USANPN includes videos, PowerPoints, and manuals for observers to learn about phenophase in plants and animals and how to observe it in different species. 

     The data from citizen science observations has been put into use by several researchers and scientists. On Nature's Notebook's website, there is a section called "Highlighted Publications." In this section, there are several short articles that explain instances where researchers have used Nature's Notebook data. Below is a list of just a few journal articles that have used Nature's Notebook citizen science data collections. If you follow the hyperlink already mentioned, you can see the exhaustive list of publications. 

Gerst, K.L., Rossington, N.L., and Mazer, S.J. 2017. Phenological responsiveness to climate differs among four 

          species of Quercus in North America. Journal of Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.12774.

Kelly, J.F., Horton, P.M., de Beurs, K.M., Fagin, T., Bridge, E.S., and Chilson, P.B. 2016. Novel measures of    

         continental-scale avian migration phenology related to proximate environmental cues. Ecosphere. doi:   

         10.1002/ecs2.1434

Pearse, W.D., Davis, C.C., Inouye, D.W., Primack, R.B., Davies, T.J. 2017. A statistical estimator for determining

         the limits of contemporary and historical phenology. Nature Ecology and Evolution. Doi: 10.1038/s41559-    

         017-0350-0. 

Xie, Y., Civco, D.L., Silander Jr, J.A. 2018. Species-specific spring and autumn leaf phenology captured by time-

        lapse digital cameras. Ecosphere 9 (1):e02089. Doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2089. 

Yule, K.M., Bronstein, J.L. 2017. Reproductive ecology of a parasitic plant differs by host species: vector 

        interactions and the maintenance of host races. Oecologica. Doi: 10.1007/s00442-017-4038-6.

References 

Nature's Notebook. (14 November 2017). Linking phenology data from the past and present. Retrieved from https://www.usanpn.org/node/34659 

Nature's Notebook. (2018). Why observe? Retrieved from https://www.usanpn.org/nn/why-observe