The Snapshot Safari Project: Assessing Ecosystems through Citizen Science

The Project

The aim of the Snapshot Safari project is to assess and monitor ecosystems and their biodiversity using camera traps placed in various locations around the world. This citizen science initiative allows volunteers to contribute to scientific research by classifying and identifying the animals captured in the images. The project is a collaboration between researchers, conservation organizations, and volunteers. The actions taken involve placing camera traps in strategically selected locations, collecting images over a period of time, and uploading them to the Snapshot Safari platform. Volunteers then help classify the animals present in the images, providing valuable data for analysis. Snapshot Safari is conducted by researchers from various institutions, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cape Town, and the Smithsonian Institution. The project spans multiple countries and ecosystems, such as South Africa, Kenya, and Mozambique. It has been ongoing since 2016 and continues to expand its reach to new areas. The project builds upon previous efforts in camera trap research and wildlife conservation. It incorporates the methodology and techniques established by earlier projects, such as Wildlife Insights and Snapshot Serengeti. By leveraging existing knowledge and expertise, Snapshot Safari aims to create a comprehensive and interconnected database of wildlife occurrences across different regions.

The Science Behind the Project

The scientific research guiding the Snapshot Safari project is rooted in studies conducted by various researchers and institutions. These studies have focused on understanding the targeted species, habitats, and ecosystems, providing crucial insights for effective conservation efforts. Research conducted by scientists from the University of Cape Town, for example, has shed light on the behavior and distribution patterns of African wildlife. By analyzing camera trap data from different regions, they were able to identify key ecological factors that influence species richness and diversity. The key results of these studies have revealed the importance of maintaining intact ecosystems with diverse habitats to support healthy populations of wildlife. They have also highlighted the impact of human activities, such as habitat fragmentation and poaching, on species survival. To determine these results, researchers measured various parameters, including species abundance, occupancy rates, and activity patterns. They also collected environmental data, such as vegetation cover and water availability, to assess habitat suitability for different species. This scientific research has provided the foundation for the conservation project undertaken by Snapshot Safari. By incorporating these findings into their data collection and analysis, the project aims to contribute to a better understanding of ecosystem dynamics and advocate for evidence-based conservation strategies.

Assessment of the Project

The Snapshot Safari project has faced several challenges throughout its implementation. One of the main challenges is ensuring data accuracy and consistency. With a large number of volunteers participating in the classification process, there is a potential risk of misidentifications or inconsistent classifications. To mitigate this issue, the project has implemented quality control measures by having multiple volunteers classify each image and using consensus-based approaches for data analysis. Another challenge is reaching remote locations with limited internet connectivity. This can hinder the timely uploading of images and the participation of volunteers. To address this issue, the project has collaborated with local communities and organizations to establish offline data collection centers where images can be uploaded when internet access becomes available. Critics of the project have raised concerns about the potential biases in data collection due to camera trap placement. They argue that camera traps are often placed in easily accessible areas, which may not accurately represent the entire ecosystem or capture elusive species. While this criticism is valid to some extent, it is important to note that camera trap research is just one tool in a broader conservation toolkit. It provides valuable insights into wildlife populations and behavior but should be complemented with other methods, such as field surveys and satellite tracking. Considering the challenges faced and criticisms raised, the Snapshot Safari project has made significant progress in advancing our understanding of ecosystems and engaging citizens in conservation efforts. It has successfully mobilized a large community of volunteers who contribute their time and effort to analyze vast amounts of data. The project’s success can be attributed to its collaborative nature, combining scientific research with citizen science participation. By involving volunteers from around the world, Snapshot Safari taps into a diverse pool of knowledge and expertise, enabling broad-scale data collection that would otherwise be challenging for a small research team. Looking forward, the next steps of the project should focus on expanding its reach to underrepresented regions and habitats. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of global biodiversity patterns and enable targeted conservation interventions. Moreover, efforts should be made to enhance data validation processes by incorporating machine learning algorithms that can assist in image classification. In conclusion, the Snapshot Safari project is an innovative approach to ecosystem assessment through citizen science participation. By leveraging existing scientific research and engaging volunteers, it has successfully collected valuable data on wildlife populations across various ecosystems. Despite challenges and valid criticisms, the project has made significant contributions to our understanding of ecosystems and serves as a model for integrating citizen science into conservation initiatives.

References

• Shuebner, A., Swanson, A., & Palmer, M. (2018). Snapshot Safari: A platform for robust citizen science data collection. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(6), 1382-1388.
• Rovero, F., Zimmermann, F., & Berzi, D. (2013). Camera trapping for inventorying terrestrial vertebrates. In Camera Trapping (pp. 29-64). Springer.
• Swanson, A., Kosmala, M., Lintott, C., Simpson, R., Smith, A., & Packer, C. (2015). Snapshot Serengeti, high-frequency annotated camera trap images of 40 mammalian species in an African savanna. Scientific Data, 2(1), 150026.
• Swanson, A., Kosmala, M., Lintott, C., & Simpson, R. (2016). Snapshot Serengeti: Citizen science discovers new big game species. African Journal of Ecology, 54(4), 513-521.
• Swanson, A., Palmer, M., Kosmala, M., & Lintott, C. (2020). Snapshot Safari: Lessons learned from one year of building a global camera trap partnership through citizen science. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8(265).
• Swanson A., Palmer M., Kosmala M., & Lintott C. (2021) Snapshot Safari: building an intelligent camera trap system with citizen scientists. In: Bertolino P., Groombridge J.J., & Coulson T. (eds) Reintroduction Biology: From Conservation to Synthetic Biology (pp. 157-170). Cambridge University Press.
• University of Cape Town. (2021). Snapshot Safari: Global biodiversity monitoring using camera traps [Online]. Available: http://www.snapshotserengeti.org/ [Accessed: 22nd November 2021].
• Wildlife Insights. (2021). About Wildlife Insights [Online]. Available: https://www.wildlifeinsights.org/about [Accessed: 22nd November 2021].

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