Assessing the Benefits, Challenges and Scientific Value of Community Science Programs: A Case Study Using Bumble Bee Watch

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dc.contributor.advisorColla, Sheila R.
dc.contributor.authorMacPhail, Victoria Joy
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-03T13:59:33Z
dc.date.available2022-03-03T13:59:33Z
dc.date.copyright2021-10
dc.date.issued2022-03-03
dc.date.updated2022-03-03T13:59:32Z
dc.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Studies
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.namePhD - Doctor of Philosophy
dc.description.abstractWe are experiencing a biodiversity crisis but resources to help species are limited. Scientists are turning to community science to complement traditional scientific methods. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators in temperate regions, but many are in decline, and more information is needed to conserve them. The Bumble Bee Watch (BBW) program collects this through photos submitted by volunteers and identified by experts. Yet many community science programs struggle. Chapter 2 reviews common successes and challenges, offering best practices for developing and running programs. To determine whether BBW is filling knowledge gaps, Chapter 3 compares its data to the Bumble Bees of North America database (BBNA) over all years and 2010-2020. BBW recorded 41 species (BBNA had 48) from all parts of the continental US and Canada, confirmed persistence, and provided novel locations for species outside of and within the known extent of occurrence. BBW showed its greatest impact from 2010-2020 by contributing 25% of all records, 28% of all unique locations, and 32% new plant forage genera. BBW does not replace traditional surveys, but does complement them. Chapter 4 shows that B. pensylvanicus is critically endangered in Canada according to IUCN Red List criteria. BBW provided 20% of all B. pensylvanicus records and 36% of its sites over the 2007-2016 period assessed, and thus provided important information on its current abundance and distribution. No experience is required to participate in BBW, but having participants able to accurately identify species is beneficial. Chapter 5 explores the percent agreement and veracity of participant species identifications compared to experts, with the average being 53% and 56%, respectively. With better educational resources, participants may be better trained to identify species more accurately. Understanding the motivations and insights of community science participants is important. Chapter 6 discusses the results of a BBW user and expert survey: participants want to contribute to science and save the bees, and report an increase in knowledge and skills after participating. Although areas for improvement are noted, BBW is an important tool for Bombus researchers, and demonstrates the value that community science has for species conservation.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/39074
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectEnvironmental studies
dc.subject.keywordsBombus
dc.subject.keywordsBumble bees
dc.subject.keywordsBees
dc.subject.keywordsPollinators
dc.subject.keywordsCommunity science
dc.subject.keywordsCitizen science
dc.subject.keywordsCrowd sourcing
dc.subject.keywordsValuing science
dc.subject.keywordsBumble Bee Watch
dc.subject.keywordsAccuracy of identifications
dc.subject.keywordsPerceptions
dc.subject.keywordsParticipant survey
dc.subject.keywordsIUCN
dc.subject.keywordsConservation status
dc.titleAssessing the Benefits, Challenges and Scientific Value of Community Science Programs: A Case Study Using Bumble Bee Watch
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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