you and your students are the scientists: a sampling of citizen-science opportunities
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NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
You and your students are the scientists
Chris BowserNYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program,
National Estuarine Research Reserve, NYS Water Resource Institute at Cornell
A sampling of citizen science
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Mauritania, West Africa
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Citizen ScienceEcological Society of America: “the involvement of citizens from
the non-scientific community in academic research.”
Cornell Lab of O: : “projects in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions."
Success depends on:• Keep it simple• Well-trained volunteers• Know when to quit!• Feedback to
volunteers• Sharing data and
stories
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
National and Regional Programs
• Bird Sleuth: MS and HS students involved in the whole scientific process of bird observations
• Watershed Dynamics: watershed inquiry and community action.
• World-Wide Monitoring Day: annual events, test kits• HBRW: stream studies, guidance document
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
A Day in the Life of the Hudson River
1 day, 3000 participants, 50 sites
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
A Day in the Life of the Hudson River
resources for educators
lesson plans
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Thursday, October 8, 2009
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Amphibian Migration & Road Crossings Project
• address issue of road mortality in migrating amphibians
• help identify important habitat areas
• engage citizen scientists and volunteers
• inform future planning or mitigation decisions
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Amphibian Migration & Road Crossings: 2009 Data
• 16 amphibian species (9 salamanders, 7 frogs & toads)
• 1,143 live and 566 dead individuals counted by volunteers
Clockwise from L to R: northern red salamander, spring peeper, spotted salamander, green frog, wood frog, Jefferson/blue-spotted salamander hybrid.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Study design and materials
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
video and results
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
2008 Results on the Fall Kill 1228 glass eels total form April 3 to March 31
Fall Kill
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Date
# G
lass E
els
Cau
gh
t
0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.55.0
Max T
idal H
eig
ht
Glass Eels
Tidal Height
# G
las
s E
els
Ca
ug
ht
Ma
x T
ida
l He
igh
t
NewFull Full
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
3/18/2009
3/28/2009
4/7/2009
4/17/2009
4/27/2009
5/7/2009
5/17/2009
5/27/2009
6/6/2009
Date
Mo
on
Ph
as
e
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Gla
ss
ee
ls
2009 Results on the Fall Killover 3200 glass eels caught and released
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Sense of place and community
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Multiple models
• Schools• Nature centers• Community groups
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Eel “Mops”• Easy construction• Great for invertebrates• Urban applications?
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the basics, and then some…
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
“Trees for Tribs” Replanting the Streams of the Hudson Valley
• Riparian buffer re-planting effort • Projects must be located within the
Hudson River Estuary Watershed• Open to non-profits, private
individuals, companies, state agencies, watershed groups, etc.
• Site selection• Avoid unstable stream banks & areas
with large invasive plant species infestations
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Trees for Tribs
• One day event for lots of students and families
• Restoration value• Highly visible for a
long time• Strong ecological
component
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Thank You!
Contact: Chris Bowser, Science Education Specialistchbowser@gw.dec.state.ny.us, tel: (845) 889-4745 x104
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Very special thanks to Brittany Burgio
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