Jellyfish in Hong Kong: a citizen science dataset

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Citizen Science
• Biodiversity Research

Background:

• Jellyfish populations are crucial indicators of marine ecosystem health.
• Understanding jellyfish distribution in Hong Kong requires comprehensive data collection.
• Citizen science initiatives offer a powerful tool for ecological monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive dataset of jellyfish sightings in Hong Kong waters.
• To enhance the understanding of jellyfish occurrence and distribution patterns.
• To make valuable biodiversity data publicly accessible for research.

Main Methods:

• A citizen science project collected jellyfish sightings data from 2021 to 2023.
• Data submitted via website, iNaturalist, and social media included photographs and location.
• Observations were validated against scientific literature.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,020 usable jellyfish observations were collected.
• The dataset details the occurrence and distribution of jellyfish in Hong Kong during the study period.
• The data is publicly available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Conclusions:

• The Hong Kong Jellyfish Project successfully generated a significant dataset on local jellyfish.
• This publicly accessible data is vital for advancing marine biodiversity research in Hong Kong.
• The findings support the continued use of citizen science for ecological monitoring.