Find research datasets worth reusing

opencc-zeroDec 2015View details →

Data from: Historical citizen science to understand and predict climate-driven trout decline

Historical species records offer an excellent opportunity to test the predictive ability of range forecasts under climate change, but researchers often consider that historical records are scarce and unreliable, besides the datasets collected by renowned naturalists. Here, we demonstrate the relevance of biodiversity records developed through citizen-science initiatives generated outside the natural sciences academia. We used a Spanish geographical dictionary from the mid-nineteenth century to compile over 10 000 freshwater fish records, including almost 4 000 brown trout (Salmo trutta) citations, and constructed a historical presence–absence dataset covering over 2 000 10 × 10 km cells, which is comparable to present-day data. There has been a clear reduction in trout range in the past 150 years, coinciding with a generalized warming. We show that current trout distribution can be accurately predicted based on historical records and past and present values of three air temperature variables. The models indicate a consistent decline of average suitability of around 25% between 1850s and 2000s, which is expected to surpass 40% by the 2050s. We stress the largely unexplored potential of historical species records from non-academic sources to open new pathways for long-term global change science.

Data from: Non-invasive genetic monitoring involving citizen science enables reconstruction of current pack dynamics in a re-establishing wolf population

Background: Carnivores are re-establishing in many human-populated areas, where their presence is often contentious. Reaching consensus over management decisions is often hampered by a dispute about the size of the local carnivore population. Understanding the reproductive dynamics and individual movements of the carnivores can provide support for management decisions, but individual-level information can be difficult to obtain from elusive, wide-ranging species. Non-invasive genetic sampling can yield such information, but makes subsequent reconstruction of population history challenging due to incomplete population coverage and error-prone data. Here, we combine a collaborative, volunteer-based sampling scheme with Bayesian pedigree reconstruction to describe the pack dynamics of an establishing grey wolf (Canis lupus) population in south-west Finland, where wolf breeding was recorded in 2006 for the first time in over a century. Results: Using DNA extracted mainly from faeces collected since 2008, we identified 81 individual wolves and assigned credible full parentages to 70 of these and partial parentages to a further 9, revealing 7 breeding pairs. Individuals used a range of strategies to obtain breeding opportunities, including dispersal to established or new packs, long-distance migration and inheriting breeding roles. Gene flow occurred between all packs but inbreeding events were rare. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that characterizing ongoing pack dynamics can provide detailed, locally-relevant insight into the ecology of contentious species such as the wolf. Involving various stakeholders in data collection makes these results more likely to be accepted as unbiased and hence reliable grounds for management decisions.

opencc-zeroDec 2010View details →

Data from: Citizen science reveals unexpected continental-scale evolutionary change in a model organism

Organisms provide some of the most sensitive indicators of climate change and evolutionary responses are becoming apparent in species with short generation times. Large datasets on genetic polymorphism that can provide an historical benchmark against which to test for recent evolutionary responses are very rare, but an exception is found in the brown-lipped banded snail (Cepaea nemoralis). This species is sensitive to its thermal environment and exhibits several polymorphisms of shell colour and banding pattern affecting shell albedo in the majority of populations within its native range in Europe. We tested for evolutionary changes in shell albedo that might have been driven by the warming of the climate in Europe over the last half century by compiling an historical dataset for 6,515 native populations of C. nemoralis and comparing this with new data on nearly 3,000 populations. The new data were sampled mainly in 2009 through the Evolution MegaLab, a citizen science project that engaged thousands of volunteers in 15 countries throughout Europe in the biggest such exercise ever undertaken. A known geographic cline in the frequency of the colour phenotype with the highest albedo (yellow) was shown to have persisted and a difference in colour frequency between woodland and more open habitats was confirmed, but there was no general increase in the frequency of yellow shells. This may have been because snails adapted to a warming climate through behavioural thermoregulation. By contrast, we detected an unexpected decrease in the frequency of Unbanded shells and an increase in the Mid-banded morph. Neither of these evolutionary changes appears to be a direct response to climate change, indicating that the influence of other selective agents, possibly related to changing predation pressure and habitat change with effects on micro-climate.

opencc-zeroFeb 2020View details →

Citizen science improves our understanding of the impact of soil management on wild pollinator abundance in agroecosystems

Native bees provide essential pollination services in both natural and managed ecosystems. However, declines in native bee species highlight the need for increased understanding of land management methods that can promote healthy, persistent populations and diverse communities. This can be challenging and costly using traditional scientific methods, but citizen science can overcome many limitations. In this study, we examined the distribution and abundance of an agriculturally important wild bee species, the squash bee (Eucera (Peponapis) pruinosa, Hymenoptera: Apidae). They are ground nesting, specialist bees that depend on cultivated varieties of Cucurbita (squash, pumpkins, gourds). The intimate relationship between squash bees and their host plants suggests that they are likely sensitive to farm management practices, particularly those that disturb the soil. In this study, citizen scientists across Michigan used a smartphone application to submit field management and bee observation data. Survey results indicated that squash bees occupy a wide geographic range and are more abundant in farms with reduced soil disturbance. Citizen science provided a cheap, effective method for examining impacts of farm management practices on squash bees and could be a valuable tool for monitoring and conserving other native pollinators.

opencc-zeroOct 2019View details →

Data from: Survey completeness of a global citizen-science database of bird occurrence

Measuring the completeness of survey inventories created by citizen-science initiatives can identify the strengths and shortfalls in our knowledge of where species occur geographically. Here, we use occurrence information from eBird to measure the survey completeness of the world's birds in this database at three temporal resolutions and four spatial resolutions across the annual cycle during the period 2002 to 2018. Approximately 84% of the earth's terrestrial surface contained bird occurrence information with the greatest concentrations occurring in North America, Europe, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The largest regions with low levels of survey completeness were located in central South America, northern and central Africa, and northern Asia. Across spatial and temporal resolutions, survey completeness in regions with occurrence information was 55–74% on average, with the highest values occurring at coarser temporal and coarser spatial resolutions and during spring migration within temperate and boreal regions. Across spatial and temporal resolutions, survey completeness exceeded 90% within ca. 4–14% of the earth's terrestrial surface. Survey completeness increased globally from 2002 to 2018 across all months of the year at a rate of ca. 3% per year. The slowest gains occurred in Africa and in montane regions, and the most rapid gains occurred in India and in tropical forests after 2012. Thus, occurrence information from a global citizen-science program for a charismatic and well-studied taxon was geographically broad but contained heterogeneous patterns of survey completeness that were strongly influenced by temporal and especially spatial resolution. Our results identify regions where the application of additional effort would address current knowledge shortfalls, and regions where the maintenance of existing effort would benefit long-term monitoring efforts. Our findings highlight the potential of citizen science initiatives to further our knowledge of where species occur across space and time, information whose applications under global change will likely increase.

opencc-zeroMay 2020View details →

ATN-classification and clinical progression in subjective cognitive decline: the SCIENCe project

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the ATN-model and risk of dementia and cognitive decline in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Methods: We classified 693 participants with SCD (60±9yr, 41%F, MMSE 28±2) from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort and SCIENCe project according to the ATN-model, as determined by amyloid PET or CSF Abeta (A), CSF p-tau (T) and MRI-based medial temporal lobe atrophy (N). All underwent extensive neuropsychological assessment. For 342 participants follow-up was available (3±2yr). As a control population, we included 124 participants without SCD. Results: 56% (n=385) participants had normal AD biomarkers (A-T-N-), 27% (n=186) had non-AD pathologic change (A-T-N+, A-T+N-, A-T+N+), 18% (n=122) fell within the Alzheimer's continuum (A+T-N-, A+T-N+, A+T+N-, A+T+N+). ATN profiles were unevenly distributed, with A-T+N+, A+T-N+ and A+T+N+ containing very few participants. Cox regression showed that compared to A-T-N-, participants in A+ profiles had a higher risk of dementia with a dose-response pattern for number of biomarkers affected. Linear mixed models showed participants in A+ profiles showed a steeper decline on tests addressing memory, attention, language, and executive functions. In the control group, there was no association between ATN and cognition. Conclusions: Among individuals presenting with SCD at a memory clinic, those with a biomarker profile A-T+N+, A+T-N-, A+T+N- and A+T+N+ were at increased risk of dementia, and showed steeper cognitive decline compared to A-T-N- individuals. These results suggest a future where biomarker results could be used for individualized risk profiling in cognitively normal individuals presenting at a memory clinic.

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

Data from: Candelariella clarkii and Lecidea hoganii: two lichen species new to science from White Rocks Open Space, City of Boulder, Colorado

Two new species are described from vouchers collected as part of an intensive lichen inventory of Fox Hills Sandstone outcrops in an open space preserve within the city limits of Boulder, Colorado. Candelariella clarkii is characterized by its cryptolecanorine apothecia, chartreuse areolate thallus, and 8-spored asci. Lecidea hoganii is a member of the L. auriculata morphological group characterized by a thick white chalky thallus, pink pigments in the hymenium, and absence of secondary compounds. We provide IUCN conservation assessments for both new species, which should be considered critically endangered. The discovery of two species new to science in a relatively densely populated region of North America illustrates the ecological relevance of small of patches of native habitat, which are certain to become even more important in the future.

Data from: DIY meteorology: use of citizen science to monitor snow dynamics in a data-sparse city

Cities are under pressure to operate their services effectively and project costs of operations across various timeframes. In high-latitude and high-altitude urban centers, snow management is one of the larger unknowns and has both operational and budgetary limitations. Snowfall and snow depth observations within urban environments are important to plan snow clearing and prepare for the effects of spring runoff on cities' drainage systems. In-house research functions are expensive, but one way to overcome that expense and still produce effective data is through citizen science. In this paper, we examine the potential to use citizen science for snowfall data collection in urban environments. A group of volunteers measured daily snowfall and snow depth at an urban site in Saskatoon (Canada) during two winters. Reliability was assessed with a statistical consistency analysis and a comparison with other data sets collected around Saskatoon. We found that citizen-science-derived data were more reliable and relevant for many urban management stakeholders. Feedback from the participants demonstrated reflexivity about social learning and a renewed sense of community built around generating reliable and useful data. We conclude that citizen science holds great potential to improve data provision for effective and sustainable city planning and greater social learning benefits overall.

Data from: Estimates of observer expertise improve species distributions from citizen science data

1. Citizen science data are increasingly making valuable contributions to ecological studies. However, many citizen science surveys are also designed to encourage wide participation and therefore the participants have a range of natural history expertise, leading to variation and potentially bias in the data. 2. We assessed a recently proposed measure of observer expertise, calculated based on the average numbers of species recorded by observers. We investigated if this observer expertise score is associated with how often an observer records any individual species. Species reporting rates increased monotonically with the observer's expertise score for 197 of 200 species, suggesting that this expertise score describes inter-observer variation in the detectability of individual species. 3. Expertise scores were incorporated into single-species occupancy models as a covariate, to explain inter-observer variation in detectability. Including expertise as a detectability covariate led to improved model fit and improved predictive performance on validation data. The expertise score had a large effect on the estimated detectability, comparable in magnitude to the effect of the duration of the observation period. 4. Expertise scores were also included into single-species occupancy models that estimated seasonal patterns in species occupancy and seasonal expertise effects. The addition of a seasonal effect of expertise led to improved model fit and increased predictive performance on validation data. The seasonal expertise variables accounted for bias that may be introduced by seasonal differences in the effect of expertise, caused by changes in the environment or species behaviour. 5. Measures of observer expertise included in models as a covariate can account for heterogeneity and bias introduced by variable expertise, although in this example the differences in estimated occupancy were small. This method of incorporating observer expertise can be used in any regression model of species occurrence, occupancy, abundance, or density to produce more reliable ecological inference and may be most important where citizen science schemes encourage wide participation. Overall, the results highlight the value of recording observer identity and other detectability covariates, to control for sources of bias associated with the observation process.

opencc-zeroOct 2019View details →

Data from: Aversion to playing God predicts negative moral judgments of technology and science

This research provides, to our knowledge, the first systematic empirical investigation of people's aversion to playing God. Seven studies validate this construct and show its association with negative moral judgements of science and technology. Motivated by three nationally representative archival datasets that demonstrate this relationship, studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that people condemn scientific procedures they perceive to involve playing God. Studies 3–5 demonstrate that dispositional aversion to playing God corresponds to decreased willingness to fund the National Science Foundation and lower donations to organizations that support novel scientific procedures. Studies 6a and 6b demonstrate that people judge a novel (versus established) scientific practice to involve more playing God and to be more morally unacceptable. Finally, study 7 demonstrates that reminding people of an existing incident of playing God reduces concerns towards scientific practices. Together, these findings provide novel evidence for the impact of people's aversion to playing God on science and policy-related decision-making.

opencc-zeroDec 2018View details →

Data from: Bachelors level soil science training at land grant institutions in the USA and its territories

Concern over the status of soil science education in the USA has led to a number of publications in recent years that track trends in student enrollment and offer suggestions for attracting more students to soil science. However, there is little information about changes in the number of degree programs that prepare students for careers as soil scientists, and such changes are obviously an important measure of the status of our field. This study established criteria to identify bachelor's degree programs that prepare students for soil science careers and used websites at land grant colleges to review the degree offerings of these schools in USA states and territories to determine if they met the established criteria. Fifty-nine land grant colleges were identified that offer bachelor's degree programs that prepare students for soil science careers, with a total of 61 degree programs since two of the schools had two separate bachelor's degrees that met the established criteria. This study provides guidelines for conducting similar future studies and a baseline against which they can be compared to allow us to determine whether we are gaining or losing soil science programs at the land grant colleges over time.

Data from: Using citizen science monitoring data in species distribution models to inform isotopic assignment of migratory connectivity in wetland birds

Stable isotopes have been used to estimate migratory connectivity in many species. Estimates are often greatly improved when coupled with species distribution models (SDMs), which temper estimates in relation to occurrence. SDMs can be constructed using from point locality data from a variety of sources including extensive monitoring data typically collected by citizen scientists. However, one potential issue with SDM is that these data oven have sampling bias. To avoid this potential bias, an approach using SDMs based on marsh bird monitoring program data collected by citizen scientists and other participants following protocols specifically designed to maximize detections of species of interest at locations representative of the species range. We then used the SDMs to refine isotopic assignments of breeding areas of autumn-migrating and wintering Sora (Porzana carolina), Virginia Rails (Rallus limicola), and Yellow Rails (Coturnicops noveboracensis) based on feathers collected from individuals caught at various locations in the United States from Minnesota south to Louisiana and South Carolina. Sora were assigned to an area that included much of the western U.S. and prairie Canada, covering parts of the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi Flyways. Yellow Rails were assigned to a broad area along Hudson and James Bay in northern Manitoba and Ontario, as well as smaller parts of Quebec, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, including parts of the Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways. Virginia Rails were from several discrete areas, including parts of Colorado, New Mexico, the central valley of California, and southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the Pacific and Central Flyways. Our study demonstrates extensive data from organized citizen science monitoring programs are especially useful for improving isotopic assignments of migratory connectivity in birds, which can ultimately lead to better informed management decisions and conservation actions.

opencc-by-nd-4.0Nov 2013View details →

Open Access to Excellent Science - the European Research Council's approach (video recording)

Video recording of a presentation given at the event 'Open Access: Authors, publishers, investors and institutions for the dissemination of the scientific research's results' that was organised by the Library of EPFL in the context of the Open Access Week 2013. The video includes the introduction of the presentation by EPFL Director, Dr. Isabelle Kratz. Abstract: We will give an overview of the ERC's approach to Open Access, and how it is reflected in the rules governing the ERC grants under the current 7th EU Research Framework Programme. We will explain how the ERC supports its grantees in providing open access to their research results, and shed some light on the changes to be expected for the new EU Research Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, which will start on 1 January 2014. In doing so, we will also take a look at the different roles of the ERC and the European Commission concerning the promotion of Open Access, and explain some of the differences in approach.

opencc-zeroSep 2015View details →

High Throughput Multispectral Image Processing with applications in Food Science

Raw image samples for the PLoS ONE paper entitled "High Throughput Multispectral Image Processing with applications in Food Science". Segmented images for the PLoS ONE paper entitled "High Throughput Multispectral Image Processing with applications in Food Science".

opennotspecifiedDec 2006View details →

FIGURE 4 in Three species of Acanthaxius Sakai & de Saint Laurent, 1989, including two new to science, from the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia (Crustacea, Thalassinidea, Axiidae)

FIGURE 4. Acanthaxius polyacantha Miyake and Sakai, female (MNHN Th 1498). A, anterior part of carapace; B, telson and uropods; C, large pereopod 1. Scale line: 1 mm.

opennotspecifiedDec 2006View details →

FIGURE 2. Acanthaxius clevai n in Three species of Acanthaxius Sakai & de Saint Laurent, 1989, including two new to science, from the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia (Crustacea, Thalassinidea, Axiidae)

FIGURE 2. Acanthaxius clevai n. sp. A, D, holotype, male (MNHN Th 1491).; B, C, E, F, male paratype (MNHN Th 1492).. A, anterior part of carapace; B, large pereopod 1; C, small pereopod 1; D, telson and uropods; E, antenna; F, maxilliped 3. Scale line: 2 mm.

FIGURE 12 in The most common sponges on the Great Barrier Reef seabed, Australia, include species new to science (Phylum Porifera)

FIGURE 12. Paracornulum fistulosum sp. nov. (QMG329109 (SBD504571)). A, Multispicular tracts forming plumoreticulation throughout the choanosome (scale bar 300 μm). B, View of spicule arrangement at the ectosome (scale bar 300 μm). C, Acanthostyles echinating the basal skeleton coating biogenic substratum with evidence of bioerosion (scale bar 500 μm). D, Holotype (scale bar 3 cm). E, Tylote (Type I) with smooth tips (scale bar 100 μm). F, Acanthostyle (scale bar 25 μm). G, Tylote (Type II), heavily spined at both ends (scale bar 50 μm). H, Tylote (Type II) (scale bar 100 μm). I, Tylote (Type II) head, showing detailed spination (scale bar 5 μm).

FIGURE 5 in The most common sponges on the Great Barrier Reef seabed, Australia, include species new to science (Phylum Porifera)

FIGURE 5. Dercitus xanthus sp. nov. (QMG329976 (SBD513022)). A, Choanosomal structure displaying a high density of foreign material (scale bar 300 μm). B, Surface of foreign material within the choanosome covered in Sanidasters (scale bar 300 μm). C, External morphology (scale bar 1 mm). D, Holotype (scale bar 2.5 cm). E, Sanidaster (scale bar 10 μm). F, Sanidaster (scale bar 10 μm). G, QMG329977 (SBD513042). Triod calthrops (scale bar 50 μm). H, QMG329977 (SBD513042). Triod calthrops (scale bar50 μm).

FIGURE 8 in The most common sponges on the Great Barrier Reef seabed, Australia, include species new to science (Phylum Porifera)

FIGURE 8. Model distribution map displaying predicted and actual distribution and biomass of Xenospongia patelliformis Gray, 1858 from the Great Barrier Reef seabed, displaying: OTU code for this species (TSQMSB.BRS203863), P-AUC: Area Under the Curve performance diagnostic for the Presence/Absence model; Dev. Ratio: Deviance Ratio (P-AUC) performance diagnostic for the Biomass model; Measuresled: a device factor accounting for the difference in sampling rates between devices; Measuretrawllog(AreaHa) and Measuresledlog(AreaHa): offsets accounting for the swept area sampled by the trawl and sled; and influential predictor variables including: CRS_O2_SD: oxygen (ml/l) standard deviation, GA_SAND: sand grainsize fraction (%), GBR_BATHY: bathymetry.

FIGURE 11 in The most common sponges on the Great Barrier Reef seabed, Australia, include species new to science (Phylum Porifera)

FIGURE 11. Spheciospongia vagabunda (Ridley, 1884) (QMG329980 (SBD527235)). A, Section through the choanosome (scale bar 250 μm). B, View of spicule arrangement at the ectosome (scale bar 250 μm). C, Specimen (scale bar 8 cm). D, Spiraster (Type II) (scale bar 5 μm). E, Spiraster (Type II) (scale bar 20 μm). F, Spiraster (Type I) (5 μm). G, Spiraster (Type I) (scale bar 8 μm). H, Style (Type II) (scale bar 50 μm). I, Style (Type I) (scale bar 120 μm).