"My naturesound" - nature observations with sound recordings.

Observation data are collected by citizen scientists and other users of the application, observations are reviewed by professional biologists or volunteer naturalists recruited by University of Tartu Natural History Museum. As of August 2017, 186 individuals have contributed to the dataset. The full list of contributors and their individual input can be found on the project webpage (University of Tartu Natural History Museum 2017a).

Observation area is not restricted, but as most users live in Estonia, the observations are mostly from Estonia.

The mobile application enables the user to store observation data: date (aquired automatically), location (aquired automatically if GPS is switched on, otherwise manually using map application) and taxon (species-level identification or higher taxon level identification). As the application is intended mostly for citizen scientists, there are no obligatory data fields for environmental parameters, although the user can add additional information as remarks. Moreover, the PlutoF workbench allows later addition of data fields when working with uploaded observation data. Recording and adding an audio file to the observation is a prerequisite for app data flow; adding an image is optional. All observation data are linked to the user's profile and are transmitted via data upload to the cloud database. The app can be used offline for recording therefore the availability of mobile networks will not limit the use of the app in the field. The app uses PlutoF customized API protocol to upload data (University of Tartu Natural History Museum 2016).

Once the data have been stored in PlutoF cloud database and made publicly available, all registered database users can access the observation data and audio files for research purposes. For example, if a user executes a search for observations of Great Tit (Parus major L.) with audio files attached, all such observations obtained via "My naturesound" app will be also retrieved and displayed (Fig. 2). If a single observation record is opened, the audio file can be downloaded (Fig. 3) and analyzed in the user’s computer with appropriate software. The audio file properties - type, format, original name, size etc - can also be viewed on the PlutoF workbench when the file properties menu is open (Fig. 4). As retrieval of audio file metadata from mobile phones is less straightforward than image files, the metadata of audio file is limited. In addition, privacy issues concerning citizen science projects must be adhered to when retrieving information from users’ phones. As PlutoF biodiversity data are regularily published on GBIF, all aforementioned information can be also retrieved from the GBIF data portal (Fig. 5). Occurrence record view also includes multimedia file information with a link to the actual audio file, which can be listened to and downloaded (Fig. 6).

Figure 2.  

The search window of PlutoF workbench for Parus major observations with the audio files attached.

Figure 3.  

The menu item of the PlutoF workbench which shows how the audio file is linked to an observation record.

Figure 4.  

The properties of a multimedia file viewed on PlutoF workbench.

Figure 5.  

The details of an occurrence record viewed on GBIF platform.

Figure 6.  

The details of a multimedia file viewed on GBIF platform.

World

Mostly observations by citizen scientists using mobile application to record coordinates and time of observation and adding audio recordings to the observation. Adding an audio file is obligatory when using the application, otherwise observations cannot be sent to database.

All observations include a audio recording used for species identification. Recordings are reviewed on the PlutoF workbench. Incorrect identifications are corrected; the observation with inappropriate recordings are rejected.

Observations are recorded with the mobile app "Minu loodusheli" (My naturesound), observation records with audio files are transferred to the PlutoF cloud database. Observations are reviewed within PlutoF system by appointed persons.

App users can make observations throughout the world; there are no geographical limitations. As the promotion of the application is mostly in Estonian, majority of observations are also from Estonia (Fig. 7).

Figure 7.  

The occurrence map of "My naturesound" observations (as of August 2017).

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