Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e25609. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025609. Epub 2011 Oct 10.
Around the world, researchers are using the observations and experiences of citizens to describe patterns in animal populations. This data is often collected via ongoing sampling or by synthesizing past experiences. Since elasmobranchs are relatively rare, obtaining data for broad-scale trend analysis requires high sampling effort. Elasmobranchs are also relatively large and conspicuous and therefore it may be possible to enlist recreational divers to collect data on their occurrence and relative abundance from daily dive activities. For this, however, a good understanding of the value of data collected by recreational divers is essential.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we explore the value of recreational divers for censusing elasmobranchs using a diverse set of data sources. First, we use a simulation experiment to explore detection rates of the roving diver technique, used by recreational divers, across a range of fish densities and speeds. Next, using a field survey, we show that inexperienced recreational divers detect and count elasmobranchs as well as experienced recreational divers. Finally, we use semi-structured interviews of recreational dive instructors to demonstrate the value of their recollections in terms of effort and their descriptions of spatial and temporal distributions of sharks in Thailand.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, this study provides initial ground-work for using recreational divers for monitoring elasmobranch populations. If used appropriately, citizen-collected data may provide additional information that can be used to complement more standardized surveys and to describe population trends across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Due to the non-extractive nature of this data, recreational divers may also provide important insight into the success of conservation initiatives, such as shark sanctuaries and no-take zones.
在世界各地，研究人员正在利用公民的观察和经验来描述动物种群的模式。这些数据通常是通过正在进行的抽样或综合过去的经验收集的。由于鲨鱼相对较少，因此需要大量的采样工作来获取广泛的趋势分析数据。鲨鱼也相对较大且引人注目，因此可能可以招募休闲潜水员从日常潜水活动中收集关于它们出现和相对丰度的数据。然而，为此，必须很好地了解休闲潜水员收集的数据的价值。
方法/主要发现：在这里，我们使用各种数据源探索休闲潜水员对鲨鱼进行普查的价值。首先，我们使用模拟实验来探索休闲潜水员使用的漫游潜水技术在一系列鱼类密度和速度下的检测率。接下来，使用现场调查，我们表明经验不足的休闲潜水员和经验丰富的休闲潜水员一样能够检测和计数鲨鱼。最后，我们使用休闲潜水教练的半结构化访谈来证明他们对努力的回忆以及他们对泰国鲨鱼时空分布的描述的价值。
结论/意义：总的来说，这项研究为利用休闲潜水员监测鲨鱼种群提供了初步的基础。如果使用得当，公民收集的数据可能会提供额外的信息，可用于补充更标准化的调查，并描述各种时空尺度上的种群趋势。由于这种数据的非捕捞性质，休闲潜水员还可以为鲨鱼保护区和禁渔区等保护倡议的成功提供重要的见解。
