Scientists by chance: what tell us data from unaware citizen scientists?

摘要: In Italy, several citizen science projects dealing with biodiversity have recently been developed involving citizens in surveys and monitoring programs. Most deal animals plants, explicitly encouraging people to collaborate scientific research teams. On the other hand, World Wide Web provides a wide array of opportunities for share publish data their own observations. Are these potentially useful be part rapid grow big system? The aim our work has development "pilot" database georeferenced on Lepidoptera based photographs information published diverse websites unaware scientists. A careful examination some where amateur naturalists posted observations allowed us shortly assemble an introductory consisting more than 2500 records. Starting from textual sites description we collecting localities systematized spatial temporal all photos taxonomically validated by expert entomologists. The dataset was limited few Italian regions and, interestingly, included species listed Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). then used analyze geographical position observation points respect environmental features frequented scientist (e.g. elevation, protected areas, land use). Results this exploratory study confirmed possibility web, at least those taxa like butterflies moths validation taxonomists is affordable. However, attempt also revealed limits bias typically associated lack sampling design.