when thousands of citizens monitor common species: the french garden biodiversity observatory...
TRANSCRIPT
When thousands of citizens monitor common species:
the French Garden Biodiversity Observatory
Benoît Fontaine and Romain Julliard
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
12th EEF, Avila
27 September 2011
A research project:
• Impact of gardening practices, garden types and landscape on common species
• Long-term biodiversity monitoring
The Observatoire des Papillons des Jardins
• General public• 28 common species/species groups• Private or public gardens
A program run by MNHN (protocol, analyses) and Noé Conservation (animation)
Launched in 2006
Monthly data (March-October): maximum number of butterflies of each species seen simultaneously in the garden.
Frequency of observation is up to the observer
Frequency of visits
Landscape impact
Surroundings
Distance to closestwood/field/pasture
Commune (~county)
Garden and gardening practices impact
Trees
Flowers
Garden features
Between 2,700 and 4,000 gardens monitored each yearCa. 100,000 monthly surveys, two million abundance data collected since 2006
Six years later…
Impact of urbanization
Ave
rag
e m
on
thly
ab
un
dan
ce
Urbanization classes
Impact of garden characteristics
Garden naturalness Nectar offer
Cross-scale interactions:landscape impact vs. garden impact
Urban avoiding species are more sensitive to garden practices than urban tolerant ones
One-shot operations
Pictures of butterflies feeding
Butterfly and plant identification
« Fleurs à papillons » project
- 4500 pictures- 35 butterfly species- ~300 plant species
Some butterflies species favour exotic plant species
Hypothesis : these butterflies should be abundant in cities
Food availability is not the limiting factor for the presence of butterflies in cities
Sen
sivi
ty t
o u
rban
izat
ion
Exotic flower preference index
The half-full glass:a large pool of dedicated observers
More than 2000 long-term participants
The half-empty glass
Most participants do not stay on the long runN
um
ber
of
gar
den
s
Number of surveys provided
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Non active
Active
New observers are less motivated than those from 2006
Active vs. non active gardens per registration year
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
8 surveys
7 surveys
6 surveys
5 surveys
4 surveys
3 surveys
2 surveys
1 survey
New observers are less motivated than those from 2006
Monthly survey results sent (year of registration)
Less and less new observers each yearN
ew o
bse
rver
s
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Are there only 10,000 potential observers in France?
Cumulative number of gardens having provided at least one monthly survey
The challenge:
• Attracting new observers
• Keeping current observers
Thank you for your attention