How Everyday Users of iNaturalist and Merlin Are Revolutionizing Scientific Discovery

In April, over 100,000 people participated in the City Nature Challenge. They logged their observations of plants and animals across nearly 700 cities globally. The outcome? More than 3.3 million sightings of over 73,000 species, many of which are endangered.

This initiative, managed by iNaturalist, invites users to capture and share images of wildlife. The app functions like a global gallery, helping identify species. For example, a participant in South Africa captured a unique slime mold, while someone in the Philippines documented a hawksbill sea turtle.

iNaturalist’s mission aligns with other citizen science platforms, like eBird and Zooniverse. These apps aim to involve people in conservation efforts while gathering crucial biodiversity data. Experts believe that this crowdsourced information can help monitor changes linked to climate change, especially as scientific work faces challenges globally.

Reader Michael Friedman, a scientist and dedicated iNaturalist user, shared insights about urban biodiversity. Although he lives in New York City, he highlighted the unexpected wildlife around him beyond the usual pigeons and rats. Friedman noted that iNaturalist encourages community involvement in conservation. New York boasts over 7,000 species, from groundhogs to painted turtles. Such initiatives engage even non-science students, helping them appreciate the diversity in their surroundings.

Rebecca Johnson, a researcher at the California Academy of Sciences, co-founded the City Nature Challenge in 2016. What started as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco has now grown massively. Johnson emphasizes that this initiative connects people with their local ecosystems and fosters community building.

Research indicates that iNaturalist empowers those with limited science backgrounds, especially from minority communities, to partake in environmental activities. Apps like Merlin, which identifies bird sounds, also assist individuals with hearing impairments in enjoying nature. Interestingly, 2021 data showed that just 1% of iNaturalist users contributed over 60% of the observations.

Once a user uploads an image, it goes through AI for initial identification, followed by verification from volunteer experts. High-quality data can be used in scientific studies, with iNaturalist contributing to over 4,000 research projects. This data aids in understanding endangered species, their habitats, and the effects of climate change.

Corey Callaghan, an assistant professor of global ecology at the University of Florida, highlights the potential of apps like iNaturalist to revolutionize data collection. However, he points out limitations, including geographic bias since most users are urban-dwellers. But even urban data is valuable; a 2022 study used app data to map migratory routes for birds, proving the effectiveness of citizen science.

With ongoing challenges in formal scientific research, especially related to policy changes under different administrations, citizen science becomes increasingly vital. Friedman believes grassroots efforts can help bridge the data gap left by reduced federal resources.

Moreover, there’s a significant push to integrate citizen science into policymaking. Johnson shared that projects in California aim to incorporate iNaturalist data into state conservation decision-making.

As our climate changes, citizen science provides a unique way for everyone to contribute to research and policy. It not only legitimizes science but also democratizes it, making environmental participation accessible to everyone.

For further reading on the impact of citizen science, check out this report from The Revelator.

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