Dumas P et al. (2020), Citizen Science, a promising tool for detecting...

ECB-ART-48647

Sci Rep 2020 Jan 14;101:291. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-57251-8.

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Citizen Science, a promising tool for detecting and monitoring outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster spp.

Dumas P , Fiat S , Durbano A , Peignon C , Mou-Tham G , Ham J , Gereva S , Kaku R , Chateau O , Wantiez L , De Ramon N'Yeurt A , Adjeroud M .

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Monitoring potentially devastating coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) populations at scales relevant to management is a challenging task. Here, we investigated a citizen science approach to detect COTS outbreaks and prioritize management responses. Between 2014 and 2018, 38 000 COTS were recorded through 641 online observation reports submitted across New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji by private stakeholders (51%), NGOs (22%), business operator (11%), research/government agencies (16%). COTS were observed in multiple areas, including in remote/inhabited reefs where they had never been reported. A three-level classification was developed to discriminate risk areas and propose operational guidelines to streamline management actions. About two-thirds of reports had low abundances (<10 starfish sighted) and could be addressed with low priority. Verification surveys at 65 reef sites confirmed outbreaks in half of the cases, along with high peak densities (7 000 ind.ha-1). Combining professional and non-professional observers increased the detection range (+27%) and the number of COTS detections (+129%). Citizen reports were eventually followed by removal campaigns organized within diverse institutional frameworks. While citizen monitoring has intrinsic limitations, we advocate that it constitutes a complementary and promising approach to support the ongoing management efforts in all countries affected by COTS.

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	Figure 1. Spatial distribution of COTS participative reports collected during the OREANET project.
	Figure 2. Evolution of citizen monitoring during the OREANET project. COTS cumulated abundances, number of collected reports with dates of project start in the three target countries. Grey area: COTS abundance; dashed lines: COTS reports per country; VN: Vanuatu; NC: New Caledonia; FJ: Fiji.
	Figure 3. Typology of the participative reports collected during the OREANET project. (A) Stakeholder categories per country and. (B) COTS abundance patterns for professional vs. non-professional observers. PROF: professional observers; NON-PROF: non-professional observers; GOV: government agencies; NGO: non-governmental organizations; RES: research organizations; BUS: small business operators; VAR: others stakeholders including private individuals such as recreational snorkelers, divers, fishermen etc.
	Figure 4. Contribution of professional vs. non-professional observers to the detection of COTS. Spatial range of COTS occurrences, mean observation density and number of COTS detection per abundance categories for professional (PROF), non-professional (NON PROF) and combined observers. Range size: number of 5 km × 5 km geographical quadrats that COTS were detected in; Mean observation density: average number of COTS reports per geographical quadrat; Single COTS: number of reports of single COTS; Aggregations: number of reports with less than 100 COTS; Potential outbreaks: number of reports with more than 100 COTS.
	Figure 5. Spatial distribution of COTS populations in Vanuatu and New Caledonia during the OREANET project. Location and observed demographic status of natural populations of Acanthaster solaris in geographical areas where potential outbreaks were reported.
	Figure 6. Distribution of COTS abundances in A. New Caledonia and B. Vanuatu. Results of UVC scientific surveys conducted across the 65 verification reef sites where citizen reports suggested potential outbreak populations of Acanthaster solaris. Means ± SE for standardized 10 minutes-swims and belt transects.

References [+] :

Adjeroud, Ephemeral and Localized Outbreaks of the Coral Predator Acanthaster cf. solaris in the Southwestern Lagoon of New Caledonia. 2018, Pubmed, Echinobase