Many ecosystems—and the diverse plant communities within them—are imperiled in California, raising an important question: what can a concerned citizen do?
No, this isn't a post about donating money, reducing waste, or calling your representatives (all important actions!), we're talking about empowering science, particularly that which examines the effects of anthropogenic change on Earth's biodiversity.
You don't need to be a trained scientist to help advance science. In fact, you can contribute to California botany and change biology from the comfort of your own home using Notes from Nature, a user-friendly website that enables you to view high-resolution images of plant specimens and transcribe data from the specimen labels.
No, this isn't a post about donating money, reducing waste, or calling your representatives (all important actions!), we're talking about empowering science, particularly that which examines the effects of anthropogenic change on Earth's biodiversity.
You don't need to be a trained scientist to help advance science. In fact, you can contribute to California botany and change biology from the comfort of your own home using Notes from Nature, a user-friendly website that enables you to view high-resolution images of plant specimens and transcribe data from the specimen labels.
The transcribed data are quality-checked and imported directly into the CCH2 portal (cch2.org), where they are instantly available for education and research, such as studies that examine how a warming climate has impacted plant flowering times, or predict how climate change may affect plant species' spatial distributions. Without these critical data in a digital format (i.e., typed into the computer by volunteers like you), such research is severely impeded.
The California Phenology Network is uploading thousands of herbarium specimen images to Notes from Nature for transcribing, and we need your help to get 'er done!
The California Phenology Network is uploading thousands of herbarium specimen images to Notes from Nature for transcribing, and we need your help to get 'er done!
Did we mention it's super simple to get involved? Here's how you can make a difference:
- Visit NotesFromNature.org (the home page may take a couple seconds to load).
2. If you want to track your work and earn badges, create an account by clicking REGISTER in the top right
corner of the page.
corner of the page.
3. Select a project from the home page. (Pick us, please! You can find the California Phenology Network by looking for the orange poppy).
4. On the project homepage, select an "expedition" from one of the buttons below "Get Started".
5. Read the tutorial for instructions on how to transcribe specimen labels and get started! More help can
be found by clicking the Field Guide tab on the right side of the page, or by clicking any of the links
labeled NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS TASK?
be found by clicking the Field Guide tab on the right side of the page, or by clicking any of the links
labeled NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS TASK?
6. Spread the word, be curious, and ask questions! We want to hear what YOU think about these
specimens and the project.
specimens and the project.
References:
- Feeley KJ, Hurtado J, Saatchi S, Silman MR, Clark DB. 2013. Compositional shifts in Costa Rican forests due to climate-driven species migrations. Global Change Biology 19(11). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12300
- Willis CW, Ellwood ER, Primack RB, Davis CC, Pearson KD, Gallinat AS, Yost JM, Nelson G, Mazer SJ, Rossington NL, Sparks TH, Soltis PS. 2017. Old plants, new tricks: phenological research using herbarium specimens. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32(7):531-546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2017.03.015
