[Dataset:] Parsons Case Studies

Citizen science approaches are of great interest for their potential to efficiently and sustainably monitor wildlife populations on both public and private lands. Here we present two studies that worked with volunteers to set camera traps for ecological surveys. The photographs recorded by these citizen scientists were archived and verified using the eMammal software platform, providing a professional grade, vouchered database of biodiversity records. Motivated by managers’ concern with perceived high bear activity, our first example enlisted the help of homeowners in a short-term study to compare black bear activity inside a National Historic Site with surrounding private land. We found similar levels of bear activity inside and outside the NHS, and regional comparisons suggest the bear population is typical. Participants benefited from knowing their local bear population was normal and managers refocused bear management given this new information. Our second example is a continuous survey of wildlife using the grounds of a nature education center that actively manages habitat to maintain a grassland prairie. Center staff incorporated the camera traps into educational programs, involving visitors with camera setup and picture review. Over two years and 5,968 camera-nights this survey has collected 41,393 detections of 14 wildlife species. Detection rates and occupancy were higher in open habitats compared to forest, suggesting that the maintenance of prairie habitat is beneficial to some species. Over 500 volunteers of all ages participated in this project over two years. Some of the greatest benefits have been to high school students, exemplified by a student with autism who increased his communication and comfort level with others through field work with the cameras. These examples show how, with the right tools, training and survey design protocols, citizen science can be used to answer a variety of applied management questions while connecting participants with their secretive mammal neighbors.

公民科学（Citizen Science）方法凭借其可高效且可持续地监测公共与私有土地上野生动物种群的潜力，受到学界广泛关注。本研究介绍两项与志愿者合作布设红外相机陷阱（Camera Traps）开展生态调查的案例：这些公民科学家拍摄的影像经由eMammal软件平台进行归档与核验，由此构建出经过凭证验证的专业级生物多样性记录数据库。鉴于管理者对当地疑似较高的黑熊活动频率存在担忧，第一项研究招募当地居民作为志愿者，开展短期调研，对比国家历史遗址（National Historic Site）内部与其周边私有土地内的黑熊活动情况。结果发现，该遗址内外的黑熊活动频率并无显著差异，区域层面的对比结果显示当地黑熊种群处于常规水平；参与志愿者通过了解当地黑熊种群处于常规水平获得了积极反馈，管理者也借此新信息调整了黑熊管理工作的重心。第二项案例为一项持续性野生动物调查，依托某自然教育中心的场地开展，该中心主动管理栖息地以维持草本草原（Grassland Prairie）生态系统；该中心工作人员将红外相机陷阱融入教育项目，邀请游客参与相机架设与影像审核环节。本次调查历时两年，累计完成5968个相机监测夜（Camera-Nights），共记录到41393次野生动物检测事件，涵盖14个物种；相较于森林生境，开阔生境中的物种检测率与占有率（Occupancy）更高，这表明草本草原生境的维持对部分物种具有积极意义。该项目在两年间吸引了500余名不同年龄段的志愿者参与，其中高中生群体受益最为显著，例如一名自闭症青少年通过参与相机布设的野外工作，提升了自身的沟通能力与社交舒适度。上述案例表明，借助合适的工具、培训与调查设计规范，公民科学不仅能够解答各类应用管理类问题，还能让参与者与身边隐匿的哺乳动物邻居建立联结。