Citizens, social media and science: Citizen Science as a tool for public engagement in cetacean research

Abstract

Citizen Science brings together the interest of researchers in obtaining data and the public's availability to produce it, favoring a reciprocal relationship between academia and society. This partnership between experts and the lay public allows for the increase of data that is incorporated in the production of knowledge. This study highlights the effectiveness of collaborative research, through a network of volunteers who play an important role in obtaining data on the occurrence of cetaceans in coastal waters of the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The information was collected from data compiled through a group of the social network, Facebook, called "Where are the Whales and Dolphins?" between the years 2015 and 2019. A good analysis for Citizen Science programs should include a survey of demographic indicators on the characteristics of their volunteers. A greater adhesion of the group members was identified in January, a period of school recess in Brazil and in the summer, when there is increased coastal recreation and leisure activities. Membership in the social media group is mainly Brazilians (96.4%), natives of the state of Rio de Janeiro (49.3%), most often females (65.0%) with a professional profile related to Environmental Sciences (34.9%). From the information posted in the group, 315 sightings of eight species of cetaceans were recorded. The popularity of these animals, as a charismatic marine fauna, seems to facilitate the availability of the public to contribute to the acquisition and improvement of species' knowledge. The volunteers' information can either complement the records made by researchers or corroborate results already obtained.