Conservation mycology in Australia and the potential role of citizen science

Irga, Peter J.; Barker, Katherine; Torpy, Fraser R.

doi:10.1111/cobi.13121

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Citizen science is a cost‐effective way to collect data over large temporal and spatial scales, particularly in biodiversity conservation (Wiggins & Crowston, 2011). Citizen‐collected data have led to important discoveries useful for the management of threatened species (Irga et al., 2018; Newson et al., 2016; Santori et al., 2018). However, citizen science is not only useful for data collection, but also for the positive effects it has on individuals who participate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in participant behaviour and attitudes are associated with knowledge and skills gained by using a turtle conservation citizen science app

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Citizen science has become a popular way to collect biodiversity data and engage the wider public in scientific research. It has the potential to improve the knowledge and skills of participants, and positively change their behaviour and attitude towards the environment. Citizen science outcomes are particularly valuable for wildlife conservation, as they could help alleviate human impacts on the environment. We used an online questionnaire to investigate the consequences of participating in an Australian turtle mapping app, TurtleSAT, on skills and knowledge gain, and test for any association between these gains and behavioural or attitudinal changes reported by the participants. One hundred and forty‐eight citizen scientists completed our questionnaire, mostly from the states of New South Wales and Victoria. TurtleSAT was the third most common source of correct answers about turtle ecology and conservation, after a talk about turtles and personal observations/research. Citizen scientists who participated more often were more knowledgeable about turtles than infrequent users. Self‐reported gains in knowledge and skills were positively linked to attitudinal and behavioural changes, such as being more aware of turtles on roads. However, behaviour and attitude changes were not related to participation rate. Respondents also reported that after learning about the current decline in turtle populations, they adopted several turtle‐friendly practices, such as habitat restoration or moving turtles out of harm's way, underlining the importance of increasing people's awareness on species declines. The reported changes in attitudes and behaviours are likely to positively impact the conservation of Australian freshwater turtles. Engagement with citizen science projects like TurtleSAT may result in participants being more interested in the natural world, by learning more about it and being more exposed to it, and therefore contributing more actively to its protection. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in participant behaviour and attitudes are associated with knowledge and skills gained by using a turtle conservation citizen science app

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This may not be the most exhaustive search; however, the results effectively demonstrate the relative prominence of mycology across the studied institutions. The current work was constrained in both its timescale and geographical extent, building on previous work (Irga et al 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mycological social network a way forward for conservation of fungal biodiversity

2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Because knowledge of fungal diversity is very incomplete, it is possible that anthropogenic impacts are driving species to extinction before they have been discovered. Fungal inventories are still incomplete and do not reflect the complete diversity of this large taxon. Whilst molecular advancements are leading to an increased rate of species discovery, there is still much to be done to understand the diversity of fungi, identify rare species and establish conservation goals. Citizen science via social media could play an increasingly important role in mycological research, and its continued development should be supported and encouraged. The involvement of non-professionals in data collection helps increase public awareness, as well as extending the scope and efficiency of fungal surveys. Future academic mycological research could benefit from social media interaction and engagement with the amateur mycological community, which may accelerate the achievement of more effective conservation goals.

show abstract

“…As a result, Chilean fungi are now considered when evaluating projects that alter natural environments of Chile. In Australia, conservation mycology is strongly supported by citizen science initiatives in mapping and monitoring fungi (Irga et al 2018). Dead wood, the habitat of saproxylic fungi, is an important subject of ecological and conservation biology research in Europe: The V European Congress of Conservation Biology in 2018 (https://conbio.org/mini-sites/eccb2018) had multiple discussions on dead wood conservation.…”

Section: Saproxylic Fungi Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dead wood fungi in North America: an insight into research and conservation potential

Moose¹,

Schigel²,

Kirby³

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Saproxylic fungi act as keystone species in forest ecosystems because they colonise and decompose dead wood, facilitating colonisation by later species. Here, we review the importance of intact forest ecosystems to dead wood fungi, as well as trends in their diversity research and challenges in conservation. Saproxylic communities are sensitive to transition from virgin forests to managed ecosystems, since the latter often results in reduced tree diversity and the removal of their natural habitat dead wood. The impact of dead wood management can be quite significant since many saproxylic fungi are host-specific. The significance of citizen science and educational programmes for saproxylic mycology is discussed with the emphasis on the North American region. We intend to raise the awareness of the role that dead wood fungi play in forest health in order to support development of corresponding conservational programmes.

show abstract

Conservation mycology in Australia and the potential role of citizen science

Cited by 20 publications

References 27 publications

Changes in participant behaviour and attitudes are associated with knowledge and skills gained by using a turtle conservation citizen science app

Changes in participant behaviour and attitudes are associated with knowledge and skills gained by using a turtle conservation citizen science app

The mycological social network a way forward for conservation of fungal biodiversity

Dead wood fungi in North America: an insight into research and conservation potential

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About