Using citizen science to study saguaros and climate change at Saguaro National Park
Swann DE, Springer AC, O'Brien K. 2011. Using citizen science to study saguaros and climate change at Saguaro National Park. Park Science. 28(1):69–72
The Saguaro Census is a long-term monitoring project in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, that features citizen scientist volunteers who learn about ecological change in the park while gathering data on saguaros. In 2010, more than 300 volunteers measured more than 20,000 saguaros. Results of the 2010 Saguaro Census suggest that, after years of decline in at least some areas of the park, the population of this slow-growing, long-lived southwestern cactus species has increased dramatically in recent decades, following the end of a long drought in the 1950s and a warming trend since the 1970s. Citizen science has the potential not only to help parks gather large amounts of data but also to promote greater understanding and communication of natural resources management and climate change science.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Swann, Don; Springer, Adam; O'Brien, Kara
- Units
- NRSS , SAGU
- Keywords
- citizen science, Climate Change, Long-Term Monitoring, Saguaro, Saguaro National Park