A frog vocalises from a footpath. A hiker captures an image and uploads it to iNaturalist. This solitary action — one individual, one amphibian, and one click — contributes to an expanding worldwide dataset utilised by scientists to delineate changing species distributions, identify invasive concerns, and perhaps uncover new species.

A global study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) demonstrates that iNaturalist, the worldwide technology platform enabling individuals to share wildlife photographs through a website and an app, serves a purpose beyond merely connecting users with nature. It is swiftly emerging as a fundamental element of scientific inquiry.

“The scientific use of iNaturalist has grown tenfold in five years, closely tracking the platform’s data growth,” Brittany Mason, lead author and data management analyst at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Centre (FLREC), stated. “This suggests that increasing observations, especially in less-documented geographic areas and lesser-studied species groups, can further expand its research applications.”

“Until now, the scientific value of iNaturalist has been recognized in isolated case studies, like how a user rediscovered a century-lost Vietnamese snail, how the data are used to provide high-resolution maps of plants or how iNaturalist is becoming critical for early detection of invasive species,” stated Corey Callaghan, the principal author of the study and an assistant professor of global ecology at FLREC.

Those occurrences have remained rather isolated until the present.

“This study is the first to systematically assess the full scope of how iNaturalist data are being used in research,” stated Mason.

The research team evaluated the utilisation of technology, identifying the geographic regions and scientific enquiries for which the data is applied. The findings underscore how platforms such as iNaturalist enable anyone equipped with smartphones to collect data and assist scientists.

“Millions of people are now directly shaping how we understand and conserve biodiversity,” stated Callaghan. The research identifies multiple trends that influence and improve the future of biodiversity science.

The prevalent application of iNaturalist in species distribution modelling and range mapping highlights the platform’s effectiveness in monitoring the global dispersion of organisms. The utilisation of photographs contributed to iNaturalist is increasing in scientific research, offering novel insights into species behaviour, colouration, and habitat preferences. The exponential increase in scholarly articles utilising iNaturalist data indicates that as participation expands—especially in under-represented areas and among less-studied species groups—its influence on research will similarly grow.

Established in 2008, the platform is a non-profit organisation that permits users to post images or audio recordings of flora, fauna, fungi, and other species, accompanied by information regarding time and location.

A collective of contributors evaluates observations, and those authenticated as “Research Grade” are disseminated to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an international repository serving as a clearinghouse for all biodiversity records.

The research indicates that ordinary individuals sharing their findings via iNaturalist are significantly enhancing scientific understanding. “Millions of people are helping scientists track biodiversity in ways that would be impossible through traditional scientific fieldwork alone.” stated Carrie Seltzer, the iNaturalist head of engagement, who was not associated with the study.

These significant contributions originate from 128 nations and 638 species categories, demonstrating the extensive worldwide influence on biodiversity studies. Research subjects encompass conservation planning, habitat modelling, education, machine learning, and species finding. Authors observed that the platform is utilised by conservation authorities, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, to evaluate the status of endangered species and monitor the proliferation of invasive species.

“By contributing observations and identifications, everyday citizens become key players in tackling one of the planet’s most pressing challenges: biodiversity loss,” said Callaghan. “Now, an important frontier remains to really understand how iNaturalist data can be strategically paired with other biodiversity data to continue to inform biodiversity and conservation work in the future.”

The research, published in BioScience, included scholars from 15 institutions in the United States, Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, and South Korea. Participating institutions comprise the University of Florida, UNSW Sydney, Meise Botanic Garden, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, University of Münster, and Changwon National University, among others.

Original Publication
Journal: BioScience
DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaf104