ABSTRACT

We evaluated an emerging smartphone application, iNaturalist, to increase taxonomic identification and engage first-year undergraduate biology majors in outdoor laboratories of aquatic ecosystems (stream and lake ecology) and terrestrial ecosystems (tree and leaf litter ecology). Labs involved identifying organisms using both standard field guides and keys, and comparing taxonomic identifications using the iNaturalist smartphone application derived from student images of organisms. Students were given post-laboratory surveys which assessed their preference for this increasingly popular smartphone application, whether they were more likely to use the application in the future and rate its ability and ease of use to properly identify organisms compared to traditional keys/field guides. This iNaturalist application worked most consistently for students with terrestrial organisms, when images were of sufficient quality. However, when only medium-high to high-quality photos were used, iNaturalist identifications ranged from 92.3% to 97.3% proper biological taxonomic classifications to standard organismal levels for an introductory biology course. Overall, iNaturalist provided greater taxonomic resolution with proper scientific and common names and additional natural history information for many organisms, piquing student interest. Incorporating this smartphone technology may increase identification of local biodiversity and student engagement in the biological sciences.

摘要

我们评估了一个新兴的智能手机应用程序 iNaturalist，以增加分类识别并让一年级本科生物学专业的本科生参与水生生态系统（河流和湖泊生态）和陆地生态系统（树木和落叶生态学）的室外实验室。实验室涉及使用标准现场指南和密钥识别生物体，并使用 iNaturalist 智能手机应用程序比较生物体学生图像的分类识别。学生接受了实验室后调查，这些调查评估了他们对这种日益流行的智能手机应用程序的偏好，他们是否更有可能在未来使用该应用程序，并评价其与传统按键/现场指南相比正确识别生物的能力和易用性。当图像质量足够时，这个 iNaturalist 应用程序最适合有陆地生物的学生。然而，当仅使用中高质量到高质量的照片时，iNaturalist 识别范围从 92.3% 到 97.3% 的适当生物分类学分类到入门生物学课程的标准生物体水平。总的来说，iNaturalist 提供了更好的分类分辨率，为许多生物提供了正确的科学和通用名称以及额外的自然历史信息，激发了学生的兴趣。结合这种智能手机技术可能会增加对当地生物多样性的识别和学生对生物科学的参与。iNaturalist 鉴定范围从 92.3% 到 97.3% 的适当生物分类学分类到入门生物学课程的标准生物体水平。总的来说，iNaturalist 提供了更好的分类分辨率，为许多生物提供了正确的科学和通用名称以及额外的自然历史信息，激发了学生的兴趣。结合这种智能手机技术可能会增加对当地生物多样性的识别和学生对生物科学的参与。iNaturalist 鉴定范围从 92.3% 到 97.3% 的适当生物分类学分类到入门生物学课程的标准生物体水平。总的来说，iNaturalist 提供了更好的分类分辨率，为许多生物提供了正确的科学和通用名称以及额外的自然历史信息，激发了学生的兴趣。结合这种智能手机技术可能会增加对当地生物多样性的识别和学生对生物科学的参与。