Focal Plant Observations as a Standardised Method for Pollinator Monitoring: Opportunities and Limitations for Mass Participation Citizen Science

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 17;11(3):e0150794. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150794. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Background: Recently there has been increasing focus on monitoring pollinating insects, due to concerns about their declines, and interest in the role of volunteers in monitoring pollinators, particularly bumblebees, via citizen science.

Methodology / principal findings: The Big Bumblebee Discovery was a one-year citizen science project run by a partnership of EDF Energy, the British Science Association and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology which sought to assess the influence of the landscape at multiple scales on the diversity and abundance of bumblebees. Timed counts of bumblebees (Bombus spp.; identified to six colour groups) visiting focal plants of lavender (Lavendula spp.) were carried out by about 13 000 primary school children (7-11 years old) from over 4000 schools across the UK. 3948 reports were received totalling 26 868 bumblebees. We found that while the wider landscape type had no significant effect on reported bumblebee abundance, the local proximity to flowers had a significant effect (fewer bumblebees where other flowers were reported to be >5m away from the focal plant). However, the rate of mis-identifcation, revealed by photographs uploaded by participants and a photo-based quiz, was high.

Conclusions / significance: Our citizen science results support recent research on the importance of local flocal resources on pollinator abundance. Timed counts of insects visiting a lure plant is potentially an effective approach for standardised pollinator monitoring, engaging a large number of participants with a simple protocol. However, the relatively high rate of mis-identifications (compared to reports from previous pollinator citizen science projects) highlights the importance of investing in resources to train volunteers. Also, to be a scientifically valid method for enquiry, citizen science data needs to be sufficiently high quality, so receiving supporting evidence (such as photographs) would allow this to be tested and for records to be verified.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees* / physiology
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Flowers / physiology
  • Humans
  • Pollination*
  • Population Density
  • Research
  • Volunteers

Grants and funding

EDF Energy provided financial support to the British Science Association who subcontracted the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology led the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish and preparation of the manuscript. EDF Energy and the British Science Association played a major role in recruiting participants through their web portals and networks. Additionally educational resources were developed by EDF Energy in consultation with the authors. The authors reviewed all the resources prior to publication. Inclusion of additional insect flower visitors beyond bumblebees, such as the honeybee, Apis mellifera, and stripey hoverflies, was considered but the design of the log book constrained the number of fields. The infrastructure of the EDF Energy web portal “The Pod” was used to disseminate the educational resources and for on-line data collection. The British Science Association are represented within the authorship in recognition of their contributions throughout the study. One of the aims of the study was to submit a manuscript for peer-review and this was disclosed within the subcontract to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. HER and MJOP through the Biological Records Centre receive support from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Natural Environment Research Council.