Using Inaturalist As a Citizen Scientist

Using iNaturalist as a Citizen Scientist KGA BioBlitz!! The purpose of this project is to introduce students to the concept of becoming a citizen scientist. This project was developed by the Kentucky Geographic Alliance to help introduce the use of GIS (geographic information systems) as a tool for scientific analysis in the field of biogeography. Before you begin, contact the KGA to have a custom project created for you at: [email protected] Part 1: Software: Before you start you must have access to an internet based computer and a smart phone. If you do not have access to a smart phone, you can use a digital camera. You will upload your pictures from the camera to the iNaturalist program.  Please go to this website and register/sign up: http://www.inaturalist.org o Create an easy to remember username. Do not use any spaces. For example: brownj280. o Select your own password.

 Download iNaturalist web app on your smartphone (iPhone and Android are supported) o Register using the same username and password that you used for the iNaturalist website. o Make sure you allow the application to access your location services (you will need this later) Part 2: Procedure in the field 1. Be sure to have the location services for your phone turned on. Wander the school campus, and search for the following assigned list: 1. 1 Tree 2. 1 Flower/Plant 3. 1 Insect 2. Take a picture of your intended subject (above list) using the iNaturalist app. 1. Make sure you take the picture with your phone held in “landscape mode” 2. When taking a photo of a tree, it is best to hold a leaf in front of the bark. 3. If it is through the iNaturalist app, it will automatically place the lat/lon on your observation (location services ) 4. To use the iNaturalist app: (A) Tap the + button, a menu will come up and select “take photo;” (B) After you take the photo, the app will ask you if it is okay or if you would like to retry. 3. After you like the picture that you take, record the following information on your application, which will probably be called “Details.” 1. Species Name: Be as specific as you can, and the software will help you narrow down your observation 2. Always select “Help me identify this” 3. Make any “field” notes that you can to help in the identification. 4. Select if the observation is cultivated (flower garden), or captive (caught butterfly) 5. Later, for credit, you must add your observation to the class project on iNaturalist. Once you have identified the project on the website, your smartphone will remember the projects that you have been involved in Part 3: Procedure on the computer Log back in to iNaturalist.org 1. Click on the observations tab 2. Select one of your observations to continue the identification process 3. Use the identification button to browse for additional information for identification a. Once you start typing the basic name, the software will provide options for you to continue the identification process. When you scroll down through the list, select “view” for more detail. a.i. Note: You can also select the Guides menu for more detail. b. Once you have identified the subject to the best of your ability, click the save identification button. 4. On the top of your screen (in the center), is a “projects” menu. Select search projects, and type in class project name (select edit button in top right corner) a. Click “join this project” in the upper right corner. b. Select not to receive updates about the project c. Select “Project members” option d. Select “Yes, I want to join” at the bottom 5. Go back to your “observations” tab, select the observation that you are working with. Next to the “Identify” icon above the map, you now have an “Add to project” button. Add your observation to the class project. Good luck, and watch out for traffic! We’d love to hear about your activity in any way we can! Be sure to contact us with any questions or interesting results. We report results to National Geographic, which helps fund future projects.

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