Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Environ Pollut. 2011 Aug-Sep;159(8-9):2203-10. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.02.053. Epub 2011 Mar 31.
OPAL is an English national programme that takes scientists into the community to investigate environmental issues. Biological monitoring plays a pivotal role covering topics of: i) soil and earthworms; ii) air, lichens and tar spot on sycamore; iii) water and aquatic invertebrates; iv) biodiversity and hedgerows; v) climate, clouds and thermal comfort. Each survey has been developed by an inter-disciplinary team and tested by voluntary, statutory and community sectors. Data are submitted via the web and instantly mapped. Preliminary results are presented, together with a discussion on data quality and uncertainty. Communities also investigate local pollution issues, ranging from nitrogen deposition on heathlands to traffic emissions on roadside vegetation. Over 200,000 people have participated so far, including over 1000 schools and 1000 voluntary groups. Benefits include a substantial, growing database on biodiversity and habitat condition, much from previously unsampled sites particularly in urban areas, and a more engaged public.
OPAL 是一个英国国家项目，它将科学家带入社区，调查环境问题。生物监测发挥着关键作用，涵盖以下主题：i）土壤和蚯蚓；ii）空气、地衣和悬铃木上的叶斑；iii）水和水生无脊椎动物；iv）生物多样性和树篱；v）气候、云和热舒适度。每个调查都是由跨学科团队开发的，并由志愿者、法定和社区部门进行测试。数据通过网络提交并立即进行映射。本文呈现了初步结果，并讨论了数据质量和不确定性。社区还调查了当地的污染问题，范围从石南地的氮沉积到路边植被的交通排放。到目前为止，已有超过 20 万人参与，其中包括 1000 多所学校和 1000 多个志愿者团体。其好处包括生物多样性和栖息地状况的大量、不断增长的数据库，其中大部分来自以前未采样的地点，特别是在城市地区，以及更积极的公众参与。
