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

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are threatened by numerous global and local stressors. In the face of predicted large-scale coral degradation over the coming decades, the importance of long-term monitoring of stress-induced ecosystem changes has been widely recognised. In areas where sustained funding is unavailable, citizen science monitoring has the potential to be a powerful alternative to conventional monitoring programmes. In this study we used data collected by volunteers in Southeast Sulawesi (Indonesia), to demonstrate the potential of marine citizen science programmes to provide scientifically sound information necessary for detecting ecosystem changes in areas where no alternative data are available. Data were collected annually between 2002 and 2012 and consisted of percent benthic biotic and abiot

SUBMITTER: Gouraguine A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6326458 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature