This assignment will provide you the opportunity to become an active citizen scientist and participate in a current research project. You will be analyzing images taken from a network of motion-detecting camera traps in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands. The data collected from this study will be used to monitor mammal populations and help guide conservation efforts.
Step 1: Create your Zooniverse account
A. If you are a new user, visit the Zooniverse website to create an account. Click the “Register” link in the upper right corner and complete the form to activate your new account.
Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the De Hoge Veluwe research project
1. Visit the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe About Page to learn more about this research project. You may also find the FAQ page helpful during the completion of this assignment.
2. Before proceeding any further, be sure you are signed in with your Zooniverse account that you just created. While on the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe About page, there will be a “Sign In” button on the upper right corner; you know you are successfully logged in when your username appears in the upper right corner as opposed to the “Sign In” option. You must ensure you are always logged in when analyzing your photos so your participation will be recorded in your Zooniverse account, and so you may pause and continue analyzing at any time without losing your progress.
C. Once you are signed in and have read about the project, you are ready to start identifying animals! Go to the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe Classify page to begin.
D. You will be greeted with a short tutorial before you complete your first classification; be sure to read through these instructions. You may also access this tutorial at any time by clicking on the “Tutorial” tab.
1. Part II: Essay on Citizen Science Conservation
2. Write a 1500 – 2000-word essay discussing biodiversity in Hoge Veluwe and the role of citizen science in conservation efforts. Your essay should be written using the following structure:
Introduction:
Your introduction should be structured as an inverted triangle: begin with a broad overview of the subject and discuss more specific details by the end of the paragraph. Your introduction should address the following questions:
• What is biodiversity?
• Why is biodiversity important?
• What threats to biodiversity exist in the Netherlands? Identify and discuss two factors
having a negative impact on biodiversity
• Introduce De Hoge Veluwe National Park. When and why were they created? • What is the goal of the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe project?
Body of Essay: Species Conservation Status
Of the species you identified in your Snapshot Hoge Veluwe images, select three species. For
each species, write a paragraph that addresses the following topics:
· Habitat needs
· Current biodiversity status locally and globally (Threatened? Endangered? Least
concern? Invasive?)
· Current and historical population trends
· Current or potential future threats that may affect populations of this specific species (or
if it is invasive, describe how it may threaten native species)
· Describe efforts that are currently in place to help conserve this specific species (or
control this species if it is non-native/invasive)
Conclusion:
Your conclusion should be structured as a triangle: discuss more specific details of the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe project and end with a broad overview of future research directions. Your conclusion should address the following questions:
· Did your participation in the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe project give you a deeper understanding and appreciation for diversity? Why or why not?
· How can your photo identifications in this project contribute to the management and conservation of species?
· More generally, describe how the Zooniverse community can assist in conservation efforts. Can citizen science be an effective tool for scientific research? Justify your response
· This citizen science project will result in a large collection of georeferenced photo data of animals in the Netherlands. Describe possible future research projects that the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe team may wish to pursue as a follow-up study to the photo data.
Once you are signed in and have read about the project, you are ready to start identifying animals! Go to the Snapshot Hoge Veluwe Classify page to begin.
Important Guidelines:
· Proofread your work carefully for errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Do not hand in a first draft
· Organize your essay using subheadings
· Be concise; this is a short paper, which should be clear and logical
· Use your own words, simplify the terminology in the articles you use, and define the
terms you use. A non-scientist classmate should be able to understand your paper.
· Italicize scientific names (Genus species)
· Do not use direct quotes; paraphrase and cite
· Citations are required for every statement of fact. If in doubt, cite it. You won’t lose
marks for too many in-text citations, but you will lose marks if your claims aren’t cited!
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