Citizen science in data and resource-limited areas: A tool to detect long-term ecosystem changes

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Ecology
• Conservation science

Background:

• Coral reefs face significant threats from global and local stressors.
• Long-term monitoring is crucial for understanding stress-induced ecosystem changes.
• Citizen science offers a viable alternative for monitoring in underfunded areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the potential of marine citizen science for detecting coral reef ecosystem changes.
• To provide scientifically sound data for areas lacking conventional monitoring.
• To establish guidelines for future marine citizen science projects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized volunteer-collected data from Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia (2002-2012).
• Collected annual data on benthic cover (biotic and abiotic) and fish counts.
• Analyzed data to detect long-term ecosystem shifts and their drivers.

Main Results:

• Observed a continuous decline in hard coral cover over the decade.
• Documented significant impacts of coral decline on fish communities at multiple taxonomic levels.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of citizen science in detecting ecosystem changes.

Conclusions:

• Marine citizen science is a valuable tool for long-term coral reef monitoring and conservation.
• Citizen science data can inform local government and national agencies, especially where funding is scarce.
• Adherence to scientific standards in data collection and evaluation is essential for citizen science data usability.