Climate change affects the range of habitats of numerous species, and these changes are usually documented through databases such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). However, in recent times, rapid shifts in species distribution cannot always be tracked through traditional methods, making alternative data sources like social media increasingly valuable.
The range inhabited by many species is changing, and it is typically monitored through formal tracking and research systems. However, these methods can struggle to detect rapid changes and sometimes overlook urban areas.
The usefulness of social media in tracking species was demonstrated in a study led by the University of Exeter, which analyzed posts about Jersey tiger moths on Instagram and Flickr. Instagram posts revealed that these moths are unexpectedly common in cities. The study also considered incorporating data from Twitter and Facebook, but researchers were unable to find enough geolocated and verified images of the Jersey tiger moth (JTM) during the study period.
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„Wildlife research is usually conducted in rural areas, so its data does not always reflect the vital role of cities and urban environments. Our study shows that many people in cities and towns are interested in wildlife, which has the potential to strengthen their connection with nature”, said Niall Stevenson, who led the study.
He added that people are passionate about wildlife and photography and frequently share images of a wide range of species they encounter, providing valuable data for scientists.
JTM data was collected using GBIF and social media based on user-posted photos and descriptions from 2000 to 2018. These years were selected as they allowed for the collection of comparable environmental data and provided a sufficient number of JTM occurrences (at least 50 per year).
The study covered regions including the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Italy.
However, scientists emphasize that social media cannot serve as a replacement for traditional monitoring methods.
