Methods Review: Two Citizen Science Projects in the Truckee Meadows Region, Nevada

Citizen science provides many benefits to society and nature. Valuable community connections form when scientists and institutions collaborate with local residents on environmental research projects. These collaborative... [ view full abstract ]

Citizen science provides many benefits to society and nature. Valuable community connections form when scientists and institutions collaborate with local residents on environmental research projects. These collaborative studies create education and environmental awareness opportunities that facilitate the future conservation of wildlife and habitat. In the Truckee Meadows region of western Nevada, the Truckee River flows through the urban area of Reno-Sparks. The blending of humans and wildlife habitat provides opportunities for citizen scientists to help document how wildlife survive in urban environments. This is especially important with regard to species which are top consumers who are highly sensitive to urbanization of natural habitat. This poster presents methods and preliminary results of two citizen science projects aimed at connecting Truckee Meadows residents with local wildlife: 1) A public education and participatory mapping project using online map entries, via the WordPress Google Maps plugin, which allows citizens to contribute wildlife observations and photos to an interactive digital Truckee River wildlife guide; and 2) An urban raptor nest locating and monitoring study conducted by voluntary residents and trained scientists across urban density gradients classified as urban, suburban, exurban, and wildland. The quality of the observational raptor data collected by residents will be assessed by supplementary nest camera and trained scientists’ records. Both projects will use related websites to serve as communication media and provide gateways to external resources. The outcomes of these projects are expected to engender awareness of urban wildlife, create engagement in community stewardship, increase public scientific literacy, and contributing to the scientific understanding of local ecosystem health in the Truckee Meadows urban habitat.