citizen science 5.19.09
DESCRIPTION
This was given as an invited presentation at the 2009 International Marine Conservation Congress in Washington, DCTRANSCRIPT
Cyndi DawsonDirector of Science California Program
Reef Check Foundation
Kenneth
Kopp
C
Reduced budgets and lack of staff resources in
agencies
Increasing data needs for implementation of EBM
Implementation of adaptive management
Increasing stressors on marine environment
Use immersion learning to build a constituency
of citizen scientists
Reef Check teams are in over 90 countries and
territories worldwide
Citizen scientists support improved management
of marine ecosystems
California program started in 2005 to monitor
rocky reef ecosystem
+ =
+ +
Reef Check Scientists Science Advisory Team
Information
Management
System
Reports
MEETINGS
AND
RELATIONSHIPS
End User =
Decision Makers
Data
Quality/Scientific
Rigor
Scientific
Outreach
Volunteer
Demographic
Experienced Divers
Government
State (e.g. Department of Fish and Game)
Federal (e.g. National Marine Sanctuaries)
Academic Research Programs
Scientific Dive Programs
Universities and Aquaria
Industry
Dive Shops
Charter Operators
MLPA Goals related to
biological monitoring
Protect Habitat
Conserve diversity
Protect populations
Help depleted fisheries?
RCCA Monitoring
Habitat characterization
Density of indicator species
Size structure for selected
organisms (abalone, urchin,
fishes)
Inside/outside site selection
Fishes
0
5
10
15
20
25
HO
PK
INS
LO
VE
RS
MA
CA
BE
E
MO
NA
ST
ER
Y
OT
TE
R_P
T
PE
SC
AD
ER
O
ST
ILLW
AT
ER
WE
ST
ON
Site richness
PISCO
RCCA
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
HO
PK
INS
LO
VE
RS
MA
CA
BE
E
MO
NA
ST
ER
Y
OT
TE
R_
PT
PE
SC
AD
ER
O
ST
ILL
WA
TE
R
WE
ST
ON
Site richness
PISCO
RCCA
Invertebrates
and Seaweed
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Med
ium Large
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
Small
Med
ium Large
DVAC EJAC ELAT GNIG HCAR HDEC OCAL OELO OYT PCLA RTOX SATR SCAR SCAU SCHR SMAR SMEL SMYS SPUL SRAS STRE SMNPN
PISCO
RCCA
Pile SP Blk.SP Green. Sen. Kelp RF Gop. RF Stp. SP B&YRF Blk. RF Blue RF
As new tools like MPAs are implemented as part of fisheries management, data needs will increase
Data quality has been established and is continually assessed
Partnerships multiply resources and lower costs, increasing spatial and temporal scope
Volunteers are engaged and supportive of science based management
Approach can be repeated in other systems/regions
Acknowledgements
• California Coastal Marine Initiative of the David
and Lucille Packard Foundation, Richard and
Rhoda Goldman Fund, California Ocean
Protection Council/State Coastal Conservancy,
Quiksilver Foundation, Body Glove, SIMA,
UCSB Shoreline Preservation Fund, Patagonia,
Campbell Foundation, Code Blue
• Scientific Review Team
• Reef Check volunteers worldwide
www.reefcheck.org