Many eyes on the prize: the role of citizen scientists in active weed surveillance

摘要

Engaging and training citizen scientists to detect incursions of new and emerging weed species through active surveillance has proven an effective plant biosecurity strategy in Queensland. Between 2013 and 2015, approximately 550 community members attended Weed Spotter training sessions across Queensland where they were trained to detect declared pest plants in the field and submit specimens for formal identification. During the same three year period, more than 3000 weed specimens were submitted tothe Queensland Herbarium for identification, 45% of which were subsequently incorporated into the Herbarium's collection and databases including Australia's Virtual Herbarium. Data from both specimen backed and non-specimen backed data are also accessible via the Atlas of Living Australia.Submission of weed specimens by the community between 2013 and 2015 has allowed 383 incursions of 88 priority weed species to be notified to Biosecurity Queensland and local government officers, as well as other weed and land management organisations. Inaddition to priority weeds, members of the Weed Spotters Network have assisted in detecting newly naturalised and doubtfully naturalised species for Queensland and for Australia. Since 2013, 25 new naturalisations and 31 new 'doubtful naturalisations' have been detected including six species with no previous record in Queensland and eight species not previously known to occur in Australia. By detecting emerging and priority weeds through active surveillance, Weed Spotters are making a valuable contribution to biosecurity in Queensland.