The publication of the European Crayfish Atlas within the framework of the CRAYNET programme is a major breakthrough in Decapoda mapping in Europe. The current data base contains information from approximately 60-70% of the 50 km × 50 km squares covering the continent. A new method to improve this situation further is the use of photo identification involving volunteers in the collection of distribution data. The crayfish identification ability of two potential user groups, astacologists and biology teachers/students, was tested using the questionnaire given in Figure 2. One picture (Astacus leptodactylus male) was correctly identified by everyone, the others were recognised by 59-94% (astacologists) and 30-88% (non-crayfish specialised biology teachers and students). The first European Decapoda photo identification survey proved that the necessary expertise exists in the continent to determine crayfish species from pictures and also that the quality of the pictures is less important than the presence of key details. Photo identification is a low cost and environmental-friendly approach but it also needs special considerations. Volunteers need to be supported in several ways, such as by providing precise and interesting educational material in an easily understandable language describing e.g. the key parts of the body to photograph. However, the general use of digital cameras and even mobile phones/cameras and the Internet is an effective way to launch such surveys as it gives, on one hand, an opportunity for the specialists to check, and if necessary correct, the field identification of less experienced people and, on the other hand, it provides a much larger data base than what is available now by using the data collected by students, conservationists, scouts or other volunteers.Key-words: crayfish, Decapoda, methodology, mapping, education, conservation.
NOTE TECHNIQUE UNE NOUVELLE MÉTHODE ÉCONOMIQUE, BASÉE SUR LE VOLONTARIAT, POUR LA CARTOGRAPHIE ZOOLOGIQUE : IDENTIFICATION DES ÉCREVISSES (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA) D'APRÈS PHOTOS, ET IMPORTANCE DES VOLONTAIRES DANS LA RECHERCHE SUR LES ÉCREVISSES
RÉSUMÉLa publication de l'atlas des écrevisses d'Europe dans le cadre du programme CRAYNET est une contribution importante pour la cartographie des Décapodes en Europe. La base de données associée contient des informations sur environ 60-70 % des mailles UTM de 50 km × 50 km couvrant le continent. Une nouvelle méthode permettant l'amélioration de cette situation consiste en l'utilisation de photos fournies via la mobilisation de bénévoles réunissant les données de distribution. La capacité d'identifier les écrevisses de deux groupes, les astacologistes d'une part, et les enseignants et étudiants en biologie d'autre part, a été testée en utilisant le questionnaire de la Figure 2. Une photo (Astacus leptodactylus) a été correctement identifiée par tous et les autres photos par respectivement 59-94 % des astacologistes et 30-38 % des enseignants et étudiants en biologie mais non spécialistes des écrevisses. Ce prem...
