Citizen Science:The Scientific Process &

Sampling

Idaho Master Naturalist Program

Shane RobertsWildlife Biologist

Idaho Fish & Game

Overview• Scientific Method• Types of scientific inquiry• Common sampling methods

– What are they doing in that helicopter?

• Tips for citizen scientists & volunteers

Scientific Method• Volunteers are

often involved in one specific part of the process

but are also very important to other steps

Observation

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Conclusion

Question

Hypothesis

Methods

Communication

Observation, Question, & Hypothesis• Question

– Whole purpose of the process

– Usually begins with an observation

• Hypothesis– An educated guess– Must be testable &

refutable– Aim is not to “prove”

Research Design• What is the best way to test the

hypothesis?• Designs

– Observational– Case Study– Correlational– Differential– Experimental– Quasi-experimental

Wildlife Populations

• IDFG focuses on populations, not individuals– Exception – rare, endangered species

• A population is a collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species that share a particular characteristic of interest, most often that of living in a given geographic area – Island Park elk

• Can be defined in many ways

Wildlife Populations

• Population estimation• BIDE formula

Nt+1 = Nt + pop growth

Pop growth = birth + immigration – death – emigration

• Sampling seeks to provide estimates for these variables

Methods• What exact things do you need

to do to carry out the experiment?– Census or sampling?

• Census usually impossible in wildlife biology

– Sample size• Very important for reliable results

– Protocols– Consistency and repeatability

Sample Size• Too large

– Waste of time, $$$, resources

• Too small– Bias results– Lack of

“power”• Law of large

numbers

Sample Size

• Sample– 0 Adult– 2

Raghorn– 4 Spike

• Population– 2 Adult– 6

Raghorn– 10 Spike

Sample Size

• Sample– 2 Adult– 1

Raghorn– 1 Spike

• Population– 2 Adult– 6

Raghorn– 10 Spike

Sampling• Subset of population

used to make inferences about the population

• Random• Systematic• Stratified random

– Subpopulations within a population

• Others

Sampling• Transect sampling

– Linear sample taken at numerous starting locations within the survey area

– Common in small mammal surveys

• Plot sampling– Areas sampled at

numerous locations within the survey area

• Common in vegetation surveys

• Canopy cover, diversity, succession, noxious weeds

Sampling• Vegetation

– Robel pole (cover pole)• Vegetation structure and

density– Daubenmire frame

• Frequency, composition, % cover

– 10-pin frame• Species frequency

– Clipping• Biomass

– Core sampling, fruit traps, and many others

Sampling• Birds

– Call & response survey• Presence, relative

abundance– Point counts

• Diversity, presence, relative abundance

– Mist netting (birds & bats)• Diversity, presence, relative

abundance• Species specific• Marking, measurements

– Nest surveys• Presence, production

Sampling• Fish

– Electrofishing• Immobilize fish• Abundance, density,

diversity• Species & size dependent

– Snorkel surveys• Visual observations• Structure/habitat use

– Netting & trapping• Certain species, size

classes, behaviors– Structure passage (dam,

weir)• Mark-recapture

Sampling• Mammals

– Trapping• Relative abundance, mark-

recapture, collaring– Track & scat surveys

• Snow, tracking medium• Diet analysis

– Scent station or hair snare surveys• Secretive carnivores• DNA or marker

– Visual surveys• Aerial, ground, spotlight…

Sampling• Human Dimensions

– Observations• Resource use • Information board use

– Interviews• Telephone surveys• Face-to-face (public

meetings, checkstations)– Questionnaires

• Hunter report cards • Online reporting forms • Public comment

opportunities

Sampling Idaho’s Game Species• Sampling constrained by:

– Time – Weather– Logistics (e.g., pilot availability )– Manpower– $$$– Participation (checkstations,

report cards, etc)– Animal behavior

• Seek to maximize accuracy and thoroughness with the resources we have

Sightability Surveys

• Model provides an estimate of visibility bias by incorporating environmental factors that the observers can not control:– Snow cover– Animal

behavior– Vegetation

type– Group size

• And standardizing factors that they can control:– Flight speed– # of

observers– Type of

aircraft– Observer

training

• Aerial survey + model of visibility bias

Sightability Surveys• Stratified sampling

scheme– Abundance (habitat)– More time spent in

better winter habitat• All portions of the

zone/unit likely to harbor wintering deer or elk are sampled

• Population estimate and composition– Pop estimate only for

mule deer

• 4-year rotation

Sightability Survey Video

Mule Deer Composition Surveys• Antler drop precludes

pop estimate and comp simultaneously

• Less detailed data, more frequent

• 500-1000 total animals• Used to assess:

– Composition of the population • Ratios – Males:Females:Young• Classes of males

– Population direction– Effects of management

Other Aerial Surveys

• Mountain Goats– Trend survey of known

occupied habitat– Geographically restricted

• Bighorn Sheep– Trend survey, working on

sightability• Canada Geese, Swans,

Waterfowl– Pair counts, mid-winter

waterfowl– Assess reproduction and

population trend• Grizzly Bears

– Distribution & abundance• Sage-grouse

– Lek surveys, wintering locations

Other Methods• Some species:

– Aerial surveys inefficient• Difficult to see, low density, solitary

– Funding not available• Moose

– Aerial incidentals– Analysis of harvest success, antler

spread, age• Black Bear & Mountain Lion

– Analysis of harvest success, age– Scent station/post surveys– Snow track, hair snare surveys

Other Methods• Bighorn Sheep

– Aerial incidentals– Assessment of reproduction– Radio-collared subset– Disease monitoring

• White-tailed Deer– Incidental aerials– Harvest data trends

Other Methods• Pronghorn

– Aerial incidentals– Harvest data analysis,

horn measurements• Sage & Sharp-tailed

Grouse– Lek route surveys– Harvest data

• Checkstations• Wing data

• Other upland game birds– Harvest data– Banding

Other Methods• Waterfowl

– Federally controlled– Harvest data analysis

• Guidelines set by USFWS– Banding

• Wolves– Extensively monitored

(until relisting)– Population estimated from

known packs, pack size, lone wolves

– Future may move to a patch occupancy method• Tracks, scat, howling

Sampling• Age

– Tooth wear and replacement, cementum annuli, sexual development, size, coloration, plumage…

– Population reconstruction• Reproduction

– Sexual development, lactation, reproductive tracts

• Size & Condition– Reproduction, survival,

habitat, seasonal influence

Marking Animals• Radio transmitters

– Survival, cause-specific mortality, movements, habitat use, behavior, etc

– Collars, glue-ons, tail tags, eartags, backpacks, internal

• Bands (leg & neck) or tags– Harvest mortality– Movements

• Physical marking– Paint, tatoo, PIT tag, eartag,

fin clips, etc.• Chemical marking

– Tetracycline

Marking Animals• VHF collars

– Manual tracking, labor intensive

– “Beeps” on a certain frequency & pulse rate

– Mortality sensor

– Accuracy depends on terrain & data quality depends on effort

– Cheap

• GPS collars– Automatic

tracking– Accurate

locations– Frequent

relocation (vegetation influence)

– Expensive– Less labor– Remote

programming & download

– Many types…

Marking Animals• Used for:

– Mark-recapture population estimation

– Population modeling– Harvest estimation– Life history, ecology, and behavior

studies– Response to disturbances– Development and fine tuning of

other, non-marking population estimation techniques

– And many others…

Data Collection• Follow previously determined

methods and protocol– Consistency helps validity and

reliability

• Thoroughness– Fill in all information– Blanks can be confusing

• “0 is a number”, N/A, —

• Notes/comments can be very helpful

Data Analysis & Conclusions• Data analysis

– Database development– Statistical analysis– Mapping

• Conclusions– Disproving a hypothesis can be

just as useful as supporting it– Often leads to additional research

ideas– Can make science frustrating to

some!

Communication• Very important step!• Lack of communication

leads to:– Unnecessary replication – Inefficient research &

management– Confusion, misinformation

• Professional literature, agency reports, online, newspaper, etc.

• Volunteers important– Spread the word from

personal experiences

Being a Good Citizen Scientist & Volunteer• Detailed documentation!!!!

– Numbers, dates, weather…– If in doubt, write it down

• Ask questions before, during (depending on situation), and after the operation– Equipment, duration, dangers…– Some operations are time & noise

sensitive

• Let someone know where, when, what

• Good attitude & patience

Global Positioning System (GPS)• Extremely useful tool!• Take waypoints (“Mark” or

pushpin button)– Label appropriately– Mark important locations– Truck or departure point– Track your progress

• Many newer models track automatically

• Learn how to use the “GOTO” tool

• Ask for help!

Questions?