One couldn't dream up a more perfect topic for citizen science than biodiversity. It happens anywhere and everywhere, scientists need more data points than they could ever possibly gather on their own, and you can see (at least some of) it with your own two eyes.
Here are just a few ways you could get involved:
- Project Bud Burst is a citizen science initiative run by the National Ecological Observation Network (NEON). Participants volunteer to record careful observations of a particular plant - it could be the tree outside your kitchen window - as it changes with the seasons. For example, the New England Leaf Out Project, as the name implies, is an attempt to document changes in the timing of first leaves on trees in New England.
- Trees not your thing? eBird is a site that allows members to contribute information about the birds they've sighted, and also play with the body of data accumulated by all contributors.
- Mushroom Observer is a repository for photos and observations about - you guessed it - fungi! The interface isn't for the faint of heart. But if you're in it to discover a new species, this could be your chance. Founder Nathan Wilson says he suspects there are a number of undescribed fungal species lurking right here on Cape Cod.
- If you're really ready to dive in head-first, check out Earthwatch. They organize volunteers to assist scientists on expeditions all over the world, many of which relate to issues of biodiversity.
- Of course, if you're more comfortable with your laptop than your binoculars, you can still get involved. Biodiversity Heritage Library's Art of Life project crowdsources the task of curating their digital images on flickr.
Got a favorite citizen science biodiversity project we missed? Tell us about it!