Citizen Science at IIMyC

At IIMyC, there are citizen science initiatives, which are understood as a way to produce scientific knowledge through collective, participatory, and open research projects (which may or may not be structured), driven by different types of actors who do not necessarily work within academic settings (https://www.argentina.gob.ar/ciencia/sact/ciencia-ciudadana).

These initiatives are generally recent but are growing and improving year after year. The benefits are numerous:

  • Research groups can obtain data and pursue objectives that would otherwise be unattainable.

  • Institutional presence fosters more direct communication with the community, which can feel involved in scientific goals.

Group: Vertebrates

Contact: Román Stella – stellaroman.95@gmail.com

Objective: Determine the annual movement patterns of different species of Neotropical austral migratory grassland birds using citizen science records, considering climatic variables and geographic elements for a better understanding of their yearly distribution.

Platform: eBird

Group: Vertebrates

Contact: Laura Marina Biondi – lmbiondi@mdp.edu.ar

Objective: Through online surveys, sightings of banded Chimango caracaras (Milvago chimango) are collected, along with data on their roosting sites in urban and peri-urban areas of General Pueyrredon. Additionally, information is gathered on behaviors that may lead to interactions between Chimangos and humans. In another research line, the same methodology will be applied to the Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma).

Platform: Google Forms

Group: Marine Invertebrate Biodiversity

Contact: Pablo Meretta – pabloemeretta@gmail.com

Objective: Through the Reef Biodiversity Project (BiodA), in collaboration with the Thalassa Diving School, monitoring is conducted in diving areas of Mar del Plata. Temporal and spatial patterns in the biodiversity of natural and artificial reefs are studied using video transects and photography. Additionally, a recently signed agreement with UNMdP (National University of Mar del Plata) facilitates joint work.

 

Group: Ecology and Conservation of Seabirds and Shorebirds
Contact: Germán García - garciagerman@conicet.gov.ar; g.cangrejera@gmail.com

Objective:

  1. Determine the migratory movements of Olrog's Gull (Larus atlanticus) through citizen reporting of banded individuals

  2. Study habitat selection of this species during non-breeding periods in areas exposed to various anthropogenic impacts, correlating findings with individual condition and behavioral parameters

Platform:
Social media:

An annual flyer is circulated each April via WhatsApp to create a snowball effect in reporting.

Group: Zoology - Invertebrates
Contact: Tomás Luppi - taluppi@mdp.edu.ar

Objective: Through community participation, particularly from fishermen involved in activities at Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon, we monitor the population progression of the recently arrived blue crab (Callinectes sapidus).

Platform:
Monitoring Form